How to Sleep Well While Traveling in LatAm
We’ve all been in this situation:
You rent a lovely looking Airbnb apartment while visiting a new city for the first time.
You nailed the location, the apartment looks wonderful, and you arrive to a clean spot with fast Internet.
But there’s an issue…
Around 7:00am you’re woken by some random noise coming from below.
You pull the blackout curtain back to see some plump lady below selling avocados screaming through a loudspeaker:
“AGUACATEEEEEE!!!! AGUACATEEEE!!!”
Or better yet…
Even though you asked the Airbnb host if there was construction nearby, which was promptly answered with a “NOOO!” — you’re woken by the sound of drilling next door — bright and early.
Only to pull back the blackout curtain to a full-fledged construction site beside your building — which promptly starts drilling at 6:00am.
And of course there’s the Brazilian version…
Of which you’re awoken at 4:00am on one random morning from random moans and screams next door
Because your neighbors are, well, Brazilians ;)
I think you catch me drift here…
Getting a great nights’ sleep in Latin America isn’t always easy, especially with the omni-present:
Luckily, after damn-near a decade of trial and error, I has figured this one out.
I sleep damn well in LatAm each and every night — no matter what the Latin Hammer™ throws my way.
Here’s how…
How to Sleep Well While Traveling in LatAm
This is more “art than science” in LatAm, good sers.
But the first step to a great nights’ sleep in LatAm is…
#1. Lodging
By far the most important aspect of not being awoken by the Latin Hammer™ each and every morning is simply picking a good place to stay.
You have two options:
High-End Hotel — preferably a global chain, like a Marriott
Luxury Airbnb — MUST have great reviews
Saving money on accommodation is a fools’ errand in Latin America.
It NEVER works out…
You must pay-to-play.
And by that, I means you MUST pay to live like an upper-class local.
Upper-class Latinos shield themselves from the Latin Hammer™ admirably. You should mimic this.
When searching for spots to stay, you’re looking for:
The most expensive area in the city
Surrounded by yoga studios
Ideally a Starbucks nearby
Once you know the upper-class Latino area, then we can niche down to specific hotels and apartments.
Hotel
If staying at a hotel like the Marriott or Hyatt, the only things you need to do are:
Read recent reviews on Booking.com and Google to make sure no one is complaining about noise and/or construction nearby — recently.
Request the highest floor humanly possible.
If reviews check out, get a 10th floor or up hotel room and you should be solid.
If reviews do NOT check out, then you cannot stay there.
PUNTO.
Airbnb Apartment
When searching on Airbnb, we must pay even closer attention.
First step is to — read all reviews.
If any review mentions noise or issues sleeping, do NOT rent that apartment.
If reviews are good, then we ask the host what floor the apartment is on. Low floor apartments do NOT work in LatAm.
The Latin Hammer™ relentlessly attacks gringos who book low-floor apartments in LatAm.
Simply a different form of Montezuma’s Revenge ;(
Anything above floor 5 should be sufficient, but the higher the better.
After the floor of the apartment…
We MUST ask the Airbnb host a few questions:
Is there construction anywhere nearby that would affect my sleep?
Does the master bedroom have blackout curtains?
If the host doesn’t have great answers for both of these questions, then you should book a different place.
P.S: Can you spot the “hammer” in this photo?!
#2. Tools of the Trade
Now…
Even with careful planning and asking the right questions, the Latin Hammer™ is still omni-present.
As such, we need a few “tools” to use and abuse in times of distress — like the neighbors having violent, screaming “amor” at 4:00am in Brazil.
Luckily, this part is simple…
The MOST important tool in your toolbox is:
Bedtime Fan App
This little app has saved me hundreds of hours of sleep!
Simply put it on full-blast on your nightstand as you dooze off at night.
At least a 50% reduction in “AGUACATE!!!!” screaming that you’ll hear — although not strong enough to completely rid us of morning construction noises or hornt neighbors.
Next…
Ear Plugs
If the Latin Hammer™ is too much for the fan app noises to handle, our next play is using ear plugs for sleeping.
The combination of ear plugs + the fan app = a decent nights’ sleep even if you’re staying in a hostel where your neighbors are smangin’ hot and heavy.
No need to overcomplicate these…
Just find ones that work for you.
A couple options:
And lastly…
Eye Mask
Many a Latino Airbnb host will claim their curtains are completely “blackout” or whatever.
This is rarely the truth…
As such, we have two options:
First, you can buy black trash bags and some tape — and tape the trash bags to the windows in the master bedroom.
This will completely eliminate the light coming in during the morning hours — but issa massive pain in the ass.
I have done it myself a few times and it usually takes two sets of hands and 15-20 minutes to setup.
The easier option?
Just buy a solid eye mask.
Like this one…or maybe this one.
Simple for the good sers.
#3. Sleep Supplements
I have tried nearly every sleep supplement known to man.
From pharmaceutical options to all-natural “hippie” tings’ from all over the world.
Here’s what works best for me:
High-Dose CBD Oil
Melatonin
Chamomile Tea
I take these three things every damn night for two reasons…
To turn my mind off and stop thinking
To drown out the Latin Hammer™ noise
In LatAm…
CBD oil can be harder to source.
You’re looking to take 50-150mg per night, which is a pretty heavy dose.
Usually, you’re better off buying it in the USA and bringing it along for the ride. NOT legal advice.
Just make sure the bottle does NOT mention THC or cannabis in any which way.
I take this brand of Melatonin, which can often be found online in LatAm.
You will find many pharmacies in LatAm also sell melatonin over-the-counter.
Chamomile tea can be bought in every supermarket in LatAm.
The name is:
Te Manzanilla
If ordering online in the USA, I prefer this brand.
I usually drink 2-4 tea bags of this stuff a night.
Sleeping Well in LatAm | El Fin
That about does it!
By following my tried and true methods, developed over damn near a decade of living in LatAm…
You too can sleep well in Latin America.
And avoid the dreaded…