The idea of heading off on vacation to sleep might sound strange, but it’s a very real concept. Just look at social networks like TikTok, where the hashtag #sleeptourism has close to 200,000 views.
Similarly, the number of people who searched for “sleep retreats” on Google increased by a whopping 1,100% between January and February, according to Martin Seeley, CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay.
But why is a simple vacation no longer enough to rest and recuperate? Why do we feel the need to take days off for the pure purpose of sleep?
“People often associate travel with decadent meals, extending their bedtimes, the attractions and the things you do while you’re travelling, really almost at the cost of sleep.
“Now, I think there’s been a huge seismic shift in our collective awareness and prioritisation on wellness and wellbeing,” explains Dr Rebecca Robbins, a sleep researcher and co-author of the book “Sleep for Success”, speaking to CNN Travel.
It appears that the pandemic has played a major role in this. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that 40% of over 2,500 adults surveyed reported a decrease in the quality of their sleep since the onset of Covid-19.
This could prove a major problem considering that insufficient sleep can be responsible for many health conditions, such as hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, as well as depression.
But even before Covid, the issue of sleep was already being raised by health studies. In 2019, research from French public health agency Santé Publique France reported that the country’s residents have lost between one and 1.5 hours of sleep per night over the past 50 years.
And for the first time, their total amount of sleep time fell below seven hours a night. Suggested causes include the proliferation of screens, including the omnipresence of smartphones, plus busy, fast-paced lifestyles and noise pollution.
From CBD to smart beds
The need to sleep to physically and mentally recharge one’s batteries has been well understood by the tourism industry. Several hotel companies and resorts have seen an opportunity to expand their offerings to include breaks specifically focused on sleep.
To accompany their guests in their quest for rest, hotels are offering meditation, yoga, massages, hot baths with essential oils, and multiple tips for promoting good sleep. Some establishments add extras that focus on CBD, the compound extracted from hemp reputed for destressing and soothing properties.
Others provide luxury pajamas and lavender-infused cashmere sleep masks, or propose sound-based therapies.
Another important point for a successful sleep break is the bed. Here, again, hotels are not skimping, with connected beds capable of analysing – and regulating – several criteria essential to a good night’s sleep (or a good nap), such as body temperature or mattress firmness.
Others opt for water mattresses to relieve stress on pressure points. Not to mention the many gadgets that now equip these sleep-focused hotel rooms, like soundproofing, aroma diffusers, and so on.
Luxury breaks
Sleep retreats and packages are available all over the world and can take many forms. You can book a week in a fitness clinic in sunny Spain, with a modern room overlooking the sea, or in a quiet, more remote location.
You can also book a weekend, or even just one night, in a hotel – usually of the luxury variety – in a major metropolis, such as Paris, New York or Tokyo.
Regardless of the location and duration of a sleep retreat, this type of break is usually aimed at wealthy clientele who are on the lookout for the latest lifestyle trends on social media.