If you’re someone who travels often, whether for work or fun, you’ve probably experienced that moment of waking up in a hotel room and thinking, “Where am I?” It can be disorienting, especially when you’re in an unfamiliar place, far from the comforts of home. Well, it turns out that pilots—those seasoned travelers who practically live out of suitcases—have a simple, clever solution to ease this nighttime confusion. And it’s as easy as flipping a switch.

The Travel Hack That’s So Simple, It’s Brilliant

Ron Wagner, a pilot who spends plenty of nights in hotel rooms across different cities, shared his go-to travel trick on Quora. His advice? Leave the bathroom light on, with the door cracked just a little. That tiny sliver of light helps you get your bearings when you wake up in the middle of the night.

You might wonder, why bother? Here’s the thing: sleep disorientation is very common among travelers. You’re in a strange bed, in a room that looks nothing like yours. When you wake up suddenly, it can take a moment (or several) to remember where you are. Wagner admits he’s had nights where he woke up in complete darkness, not knowing which way to turn. “I lay there with my eyes wide open, trying to find some visual clue. Nothing. Total blackness,” he said. “Not only could I not recall the city, but I didn’t even know how to get up. Where was the wall? Where was the lamp? Which way to the bathroom?”

Why the Bathroom Light?

It’s not just about illuminating your way to the bathroom (although that’s a nice perk, too). Wagner explains that just a sliver of light can be enough to help you orient yourself. That small glow can remind your brain, “Oh right, I’m in a hotel room in Chicago,” instead of fumbling around in confusion.

And it doesn’t have to be the bathroom light specifically. If your curtains don’t fully block out city lights, you may already have enough light. But if the room is pitch black, leaving a bathroom light on can make all the difference. Wagner says that even though he still occasionally wakes up wondering what city he’s in, that little light gives him enough clues to figure it out much faster.

What Is Sleep Disorientation, Anyway?

While “sleep disorientation” isn’t an official medical diagnosis, it’s very similar to what sleep experts call “confusional arousal.” This happens when you wake up suddenly from deep sleep and parts of your brain are still “asleep.” As a result, you can feel confused, groggy, and disoriented. According to VeryWell Health, about 20% of adults and kids experience it at some point. Symptoms can include staring blankly, slurred speech, or even acting aggressively—although that part usually lasts just a few minutes.

The pilot’s bathroom light hack helps reduce the panic that comes with waking up in an unfamiliar place. It gives your brain a gentle reminder of where you are, helping you transition back to full awareness more smoothly.

More Travel Tips from Seasoned Pros

Wagner’s bathroom light trick isn’t the only travel tip shared by frequent flyers and airline staff. Here are a few more nuggets of wisdom from the folks who know the travel game inside and out:

1. Keep Valuables With You

Never check in your most valuable items. Whether it’s sentimental jewelry, important documents, or tech devices, keep them in your carry-on. Lost luggage happens, and you don’t want to risk losing something irreplaceable.

2. Budget for Emergencies

Things can (and often do) go wrong when traveling. Flights get canceled, hotels overbook, and things get lost. Always have an extra stash of cash or a backup credit card in case you need to make last-minute changes or find yourself stranded.

3. Pack a Power Strip

Outlets are often in short supply at airports and hotel rooms. A compact power strip lets you charge multiple devices at once and even helps you make friends at the gate when someone else needs to plug in!

4. Write Down Key Info

Technology is great—until it isn’t. If your phone dies or you lose Wi-Fi, it helps to have your hotel address or important details written on paper. Grab a few of your hotel’s business cards and keep them in your wallet or bag. It makes giving directions to cab drivers way easier, too.

5. Pack Smart

Rolling your clothes instead of folding saves space and helps prevent wrinkles. Flight attendants often use a “fold and roll” method, where they tuck smaller items inside larger ones to maximize suitcase real estate. Think socks inside shoes, and underwear rolled into shirts.

Final Thoughts

Traveling can be exciting but also exhausting. Whether you’re on the road for work or fun, little things—like leaving a light on—can make a big difference in how restful and stress-free your trip is. So next time you’re checking into a hotel, crack that bathroom door, switch on the light, and give yourself a gentle nightlight to keep confusion at bay.

You’ll thank yourself at 3 AM when you’re not bumping into furniture trying to find the bathroom.