Is anyone else bothered by thin shades at motels?
 

Ever noticed that most motel chains have bright lights outside of your room (to scare away criminal types) but fail to have decent shades to darken your room.

At a recent stay at a est Western along the PA Turnpike I was not able to sleep because the room was so bright. The shades (drapes) were so thin, it did nothing to block all the light from coming in the room. Once dawn came it was not any brighter in the room than it was all night!

Why don't motels have better drapes?

I know what you mean. In Alaska, the sun never sets in summer and I had a hard time sleeping. I couldn't ever get the curtains pulled together enough.

I now keep eye covers in my travel bag.

Never had the problem. Most hotels I stay in have adequate window treatments.

Never. Every hotel I have ever stay in had opauqe curtains. Road side hotels to high rise urban hotels.

I think that's where the phrase "you get what you pay for" comes into play.

My favorite gripe.....huge lights outside your room,skimpy curtains, flashing red light fire alarms and sprinkler systems in rooms, hair dryers with nite lights on them (why????), alarm clocks designed by rocket scientists that throw a glow clear into the next county....
Each hotel chain should have the "light police" for folks like us!!!
It seems that the original purpose of the room has been lost to security!

Three things I always do when motel traveling is involved: 1. pack eyeshade/blindfold; 2. pack hinged/spring action claw-type hair clips -- they work wonderfully to hold mis-meeting curtains closed, among other uses; 3. check the alarm clock to make sure someone hasn't set it for 3:42 am.

I've also been known to put a towel across the crack under the door to shut out hall lights, turn the alarm clock's lighted face down on the nightstand or with a book over it, and even use those hair clips as clothes pins to clip towels over the thin curtains for added darkness.

Go to the drug store, spend 5 bucks and get some sleep shades. mine are velour on the side that touches my skin and satin on the other side. I even use 'em at home. I call 'em my blinders.

Oh by the way: state of the art eyeshade made by Brookstone: it is padded and molds itself to your head. Possibly used by astronauts, possibly not. I love it.