As a light sleeper surrounded by snorers (family, boyfriend… you name it), I’m well acquainted with the unique rage of lying awake, listening to someone else snooze blissfully while you brace for a miserable, sleep-deprived day ahead.

This frustration only compounds when you’re traveling, with a packed itinerary and no room for exhaustion. After a long day of exploring, sightseeing, and making the most of your trip, a good night’s sleep is essential—but a snorer can turn it into a battle against noise and fatigue.

Instead of spending your vacation tossing, turning, and contemplating drastic measures (like shelling out for an extra room), check out my tried-and-true tips for getting some actual rest with a snorer.

1. Go to sleep before they do.

One of the most effective ways I’ve found to survive traveling with a snorer? Fall asleep before they do. When you first drift off, your body enters deep sleep (when you’re least likely to be roused) before hitting REM, meaning if you’re out cold before the snoring starts, you’ll have a much better chance of sleeping through it.

If you’re worried about waking up in the middle of the night and struggling to fall back asleep, I swear by ZzzQuil LiquiCaps—a total lifesaver on trips with my family or my boyfriend, who are all Certified Professionals Snorers.

Just be sure to grab the tablets instead of the liquid (TSA and unmarked liquids don’t mix), and keep them in the original blister pack to avoid any unnecessary airport hassles.

2. Invest in some earplugs.

Foam earplugs are a game-changer when traveling with a snorer. I prefer the contoured ones, but I’ve found that most any shape work as long as you get them in the right place. I dug up this uncomfortably thorough but extremely helpful guide to help you insert them.

You can find foam earplugs in most grocery stores and drug stores as well as as all over the internet. Buying them in bulk can save you a pretty penny, too. Plus, it’s good to grab a fresh set after a couple of uses to minimize the risk of an ear infection.

3. Try noise-cancelling headphones.

Noise-cancelling headphones are another solid option—though, I’ll be the first to admit, they’re not the easiest. They can be pricey, and since many models are bulky and over-ear, sleeping in any position other than on your back can be a challenge. But if you can make it work, they do an excellent job of blocking out snoring.

Here are some products that have worked especially well for me:

• TOPOINT Sleep Mask Headphones Bluetooth Wireless 5.4 – Doubling as a black-out sleep mask, this all-in-one contraption cuts you off from the world around you. Play anything you want through the Bluetooth headphones, like rain sounds or an audiobook.
• Soundcore Anker Sleep A10 Noise-Cancelling Earbuds – These in-ear headphones are great for side sleepers—you can barely even feel them. While they’re a little pricey, they offer a four-point noise masking system that truly works.
• Edifier V80 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones – If you sleep on your back, these are an excellent (and affordable) option. The ear pads are super soft and fit perfectly around your whole ear (trust me—I’ve got some pretty big ones).

Beyond snoring, noise-cancelling headphones are a travel essential—perfect for tuning out crying babies on flights, getting work done on the go, or just enjoying some peace and quiet while your travel buddies yap away.

4. Grab some extra pillows.

If you can’t stop the snoring, you might be able to minimize it— starting with extra pillows. Elevating the upper body can help reduce snoring by keeping the airways more open, preventing soft tissues in the throat from collapsing and causing that dreaded nighttime symphony.

Sleeping at a 30-degree incline can significantly decrease snoring and even mild obstructive sleep apnea, according to the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

So, before bedtime, politely (or aggressively, depending on your level of desperation) stack some extra pillows under your snoring travel companion’s head and shoulders. If you’re feeling generous, you can even suggest they try a travel-friendly wedge pillow for a more stable incline.

Worst case scenario? You’ve at least got a few extra pillows to barricade yourself from the noise.

5. Get more than one bed.

Sharing a bed with a snorer can feel like pure torture, so don’t be afraid to explore all possible sleeping arrangements. If your room only has one bed, check with the front desk—many hotels offer complimentary upgrades to a two-bed room if availability allows. You can also ask about suite options, which often have pull-out sofas or separate sleeping areas. If it means actually getting some rest, a couch might be well worth it.

If switching rooms (or booking an Airbnb with more than one bedroom), most hotels can provide a rollaway cot. Sure, it’s usually a small twin bed, but a little extra space from your snoring travel buddy could make all the difference. At the very least, it puts a buffer between you and the sound—because let’s be real, desperate times call for desperate sleeping measures.

Sweet dreams!