Sleeping well on vacation is key to a great trip. If that doesn't happen, the restorative vacation you have planned and saved for could be in jeopardy. For the 18 million-plus Americans suffering from sleep apnea and treated with a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP), traveling with this critical sleeping device need not turn your dream trip into a nightmare.

With proper planning, a good night's sleep is only a flight away.

Packing

It's important that the CPAP arrives safely at your destination because — let's face it if it gets lost or broken, the vacation is over for you and your traveling companion. Snoring related to sleep apnea is extremely loud and consistent.

Therefore, the CPAP should be a carry-on item and not left to the mercy of a baggage handler. Pack it carefully and make sure the water tank of the humidifier is dry to prevent moisture backing up into the unit and damaging the electrical components.

In a separate bag, pack a copy of your medical prescription, a letter of medical necessity from your physician, as well as details of the unit, including the make, model and serial number of the machine. If you have the original packaging information take that. No matter what precautions you take, the CPAP could still be lost, and having this information readily available will make it easier to replace or repair the device at your destination.

Airport security

TSA regulations currently require the traveler to take the unit (but not the tubing or mask) out of its bag and put it in a bin for X-rays. If you're worried about the sterility of the bin or the X-ray machine (and you should be), seal it in a clear plastic bag before putting it in the bin.

Once it is through the X-ray machine, the TSA agent will probably want to conduct an explosive trace detection test on it. A small, white swab will be run over the CPAP and then analyzed for trace amounts of explosive substances. You can request that the handler wear new gloves and use a new swab to test it.

Accommodations

When settled in your hotel room, you will need to find an electrical outlet for your unit. Many of the newer models use a universal power supply that accommodates a range of voltages, usually 100 volts to 240 volts. This allows the CPAP to be used with standard United States voltage (110 volts) and, for example, the European standard voltage (220 volts) without having to attach a voltage converter to the plug.

Depending on where you are traveling, however, you may still have to purchase a plug adapter to use the electrical outlet in your room. Recognize that some older-model CPAP machines may not accommodate a range of voltages. For those, you will have to purchase a voltage converter as well as a plug adapter.

Pack an extension cord. Believe it or not, there are some hotels that have no usable electrical outlets near the beds. Before leaving, confirm with your hotel the voltage of their outlets (probably 220 volts) and make sure the extension cord you purchase is rated to handle that voltage. Remember that most household extension cords are only rated for 125 volts, so double-check the cord you purchase.

Finally, make sure you use bottled or distilled water for the humidifier on the CPAP while traveling. While distilled water is the standard, bottled water can be used in most machines, and it is definitely preferable over local tap water, which can cause mineral deposits to form in the humidifier.

Follow the above advice and you can travel confidently with a CPAP, enjoy restful sleep while away and have the wonderful vacation you have been planning and waiting for.