• When you first get to your hotel room, be sure to check the room carefully - bathroom, bed, pillows. Test the air conditioner and the TV (although, who needs a TV in a tropical resort?).  It's much easier to request a new room before unpacking
• Locate the fire escape if you are on an upper floor; locate the fire extinguisher.
• Request an iron and ironing board
• Unpack essentials - it's so much more pleasant to pull your undies out of a drawer, especially if you have to get up early.  
• Hang wrinkled items in the bathroom while you shower
• Put out your candle and flashlight; plug in the nightlight
• If you are traveling with children, be sure to set up their beds
• THEN: explore the hotel, find the ice machine, check the gift shops, restaurants, coffee shops, etc. You'll feel better knowing what's there, even if you don't plan to use it.
• Try to stay awake until the local bedtime, no matter how tired you are - it'll help you cope with jet lag

If you are staying at a friend's or relative's home, it is still a good idea to unpack as much as possible and put the suitcases out of the way. If there is no place to put your things, having them separated into zipper bags will help you find them in the suitcase.