I don't always like sleeping in a strange bed at another person's house but I usually like hotel beds. At least for a few nights. You never know, though, when the novelty of a hotel stay can slide into sadness. Especially if you're staying alone. One or two nights in a tightly cornered bed with sheets washed by someone you'll never lay eyes on can be bliss. It's a delicate balance though. Too generic and you might feel alienated. Big corporate chains are particularly soul draining. Throw in a view of a parking lot and you get Willy Loman traveling salesman vibes. Boutique hotels and updated travel lodges have figured this out and place a few personalised touches amid the template. (In this room it's a copy of an Elizabeth Bishop poetry book) which can let you pretend they knew you were coming. Sprinkle in a local newscast on TV and you create the right combination of home and away from home to sleep the sleep of kings.