This morning, even before first light, I was awoken at least 3 times by bags being dragged across floors, people talking and all sorts of irritating echoing sounds that resonate throughout old guest houses with wooden floors and walls that feel like they are more than thin paper.

Granted, when you book to stay in an old guest house, a tough reality must be faced : people will come and go ALL hours of the day and night. (The 5am bus seems to be the most popular around here! ) It might book a Guesthouse in turffonteinseem however that the average backpacker would prepare their bags the night before. (Or maybe not : but I hope You do! )

The truth is that people make Huge amounts of noise in the early hours of the morning. They drop things, zip up their cases, tromp around their rooms and speak out loud. And in doing just that, they jarringly jolt sharp every person sleeping in harmony with in nearby rooms. This is the reality. The question is, exactly what do You do about it?

In my scenario, I keep things simple. A good quality pair of soft rubber earplugs (they come in a glowing bright orange colour) does the key perfectly. Slide those in (not the foam ones) and you won't hear any more raucous nearby neighbours! They block out a product like 85% of the crunching early morning sounds that are inevitable in every guesthouse. (Drop something heavy on a wooden floor to see what I mean).

Wow, and by the way, it's not just the getting yourself ready for a 3am ferry or bus tones that you might want to block out. Guest houses can also be the perfect place for romantic liaisons so those earplugs comes into play handy for those sorts of enthusiastic sounds too!

The best thing of all though is that these little earplugs are the easiest things in the world to carry. Take about 3 pairs with you. Earplugs are also ideal for reducing 'aeroplane noise' if that irritates you as much as it does me!