By Emma Di Salvo

When it comes to holidays, I’ve never been the adventurous type. While some enjoy hiking, scuba diving and sightseeing, I’m happy chilling by the pool, reading my book and ordering room service. Part of the reason I prefer this kind of vacation versus the action-packed one is that I need a lot of sleep. So naturally, when I heard about the latest craze—sleep tourism—my ears pricked up, and my curiosity was piqued. 

My husband and I have always differed in how we behave on holiday. He likes to “do stuff,” and, well, I don’t. It’s not as if I spend the whole holiday in bed at the hotel, but I definitely do see it as an opportunity to catch up on much-needed rest. No kitties waking me up at 5 a.m. for food, no dishes to do, cooking or other chores. 

No, it’s just time away where I can truly be myself and not have to worry about the maintenance of the house or stress from work. It seems that I am not alone in this, as more and more people are opting for this kind of relaxed holiday. Let’s find out more about sleep tourism…

Room For One, Please!

Zedwell, a new and swanky hotel in London, advertises itself as being dedicated to sleep and well-being. It’s a hotel where you “check-in to tune out.” To ensure its customers get a well-deserved night’s rest, all rooms are soundproof, and there are no electronics such as TVs, hair dryers, or anything else that might be distracting. 

Each Zedwell room (or, as they call them, cocoons) is designed explicitly with optimal relaxation and comfort in mind. Egyptian cotton sheets adorn the bed, and there is ambient mood lighting and walk-in rain showers as just a few of the luxuries you can expect when staying here. The aim is to disconnect. To forget about the stresses of your everyday life and switch off. Sounds like absolute heaven to me! 

If you can’t fully unwind at Zedwell, there’s always the Park Hyatt, based smack bang in the centre of New York. This hotel offers one-bedroom sleep suites, perfect for solo travellers or anyone who needs a little “me” time. 

The Park Hyatt uses the very latest in ‘sleep science’ to ensure all your needs are met for a heavenly night’s rest. They have smart beds, which adjust throughout the night to mould perfectly with your body and hit all those vital pressure points, ideal for those with bad backs or sore muscles. They also play what the hotel describes as ‘sleep-inducing music’, and every room comes fully equipped with an air diffuser with their signature Sleep blend. Again, sounds like absolute bliss to me! 

How Did We Get Here? 

So why is there an increase in these sorts of hotels? Why is there a sudden demand for them? Are we really so stressed and sleep-deprived that we must go to a hotel just to get a decent night’s sleep? 

According to sleep researcher Dr Rebecca Robins, this shift in how we view hotels is partly because people are generally prioritising sleep and well-being more than ever. The pandemic might be one of the reasons for this. 

It was something that appeared out of nowhere and had such a significant impact on our lives. It was a time of worry, panic, uncertainty and sadness. Not ideal ingredients for a good night’s sleep! One study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that since the start of the pandemic, 40% of over 2,500 adults reported a reduction in their sleep quality. 

Remember, those are just the numbers reported in this study; it doesn’t consider the possible millions of people whose sleep has been affected. I also had enormous trouble falling asleep. Being so far away from my family and unable to leave the house was a kind of stress I didn’t know existed before the pandemic. 

But I don’t think the pandemic is solely to blame for our unrest. Money worries, job opportunities (or lack thereof), mental illness, children, marriages, family disputes, all these things have made us unable to unwind how we need to. As sad as this is, at least hotels are recognising the need and providing a sanctuary to those lucky enough to be able to afford it. 

Sleep tourism is something you may not have heard of before. Lately, more and more hotels are acknowledging the need for some of us to escape our normal environment just to get a great night’s sleep. And increasingly, people are happily using the services. None of us should feel ashamed for needing “me” time and relaxation. Mental health is a priority, not a luxury. 

So, if you are feeling burnt out and need a good rest, why not treat yourself to a sleepcation. Sleep tight!