This is the only way to guarantee a good night's sleep": the travel expert shared what she never goes on vacation without

TRAVEL expert told us about what she never leaves home without in order to always have a good night's sleep. She said that this is a must-have - it is necessary not only for flights, but it can also be used during vacations.

It's not easy to spend the night while traveling - and not just because you're in an unfamiliar place. The Sun Travel reporter, Hope Brotherton, knows this problem all too well, writes the-sun.com.

"Whether it's the light from the air conditioning panel, the TV, the burglar alarm, or blackout blinds that just don't close properly, many hotel rooms just aren't dark enough," she said.

So leaving home with your own blackout tool is a must.

"I never travel without an eye mask," the expert emphasized.

"In my opinion, eye masks are already necessary for long flights," she added.

But their usefulness does not end there. Hope said they can also be extremely useful when travelers are staying overnight in a hotel, motel, or Airbnb. The trick, she noted, is to make sure it's made of dark fabric so that "there's no chance of light coming through."

There are many options online, but this particular hack shouldn't cost a cent.

"While there are many expensive eye masks on the market, my favorite one I got for free at the hotel," Hope said.

When it comes to her favorite mask, there is one that stands out above the rest.

"The black one from Virgin Atlantic is my favorite of the freebies," she said.

In her opinion, masks are a welcome addition to any vacation bucket list. Not only are they easy to pack, but they fit in your pocket or purse, so they take up almost no space. They can be used over and over again, and if they get a little dirty, just pop them in the washing machine.

Ultimately, her top travel tip is: "If you get one for free, take it with you."