Would you pay to go on a… sleep holiday?

Sleep tourism, where travellers invest in holidays designed specifically to improve rest and rejuvenation, is on the rise. But would you pay to go on a sleep holiday?

Words by Dilvin Yasa and Tianna Nadalin

Forget adventure holidays and surfing or yoga retreats.

The hottest trend in tourism is… sleep.

Yes, travellers have moved quality shut-eye to the top of their holiday wish list.

A HTF Market Intelligence report estimated sleep tourism to be worth more than $US690 billion (about $1 trillion) in 2023, a figure forecast to grow by billions more in coming years.

Senior postdoctoral research fellow Dr Charlotte Gupta, from CQUniversity’s Appleton Institute, says the sleep tourism industry began in response to the overwhelming need to get more sleep.

“In Australia, almost half of adults are not getting the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep per night, meaning much of the population is chronically sleep restricted,” Dr Gupta says.

While sleep tourism won’t fix our sleep long term, Dr Gupta says booking packages designed around slumber has its merits.

“They provide an opportunity to relax and recharge and try out some of these sleep services such as weighted blankets, pillow menus and a dark, cool room,” she says.

“The best thing to do is then continue on with these healthy sleep practices when you get home from your sleep holiday.”

In need of some quality sleep? Here are 9 luxurious destinations for some seriously sweet dreams.

9 bucket-list sleep holidays

#1. The Langham, Gold Coast, Queensland

Celebrated for its refined seaside elegance, this luxurious hotel is always a good idea.

For those needing a little help in the sleep department, the property offers a Sleep Matters by Chuan program, available under its Refresh and Renew Package.

Sure, resting by the property’s swim-up pool bar or enjoying the soothing surrounds of Chuan Spa is always going to tip a good night’s sleep in your favour – but it’s hard to argue against a package that includes a daily revitalising breakfast, a one-hour Chuan Harmony massage, in-room yoga mat, mini Sleep Collections pack, calming playlist and late checkout (subject to availability).

#2. MACq 01, Hobart, Tasmania

Arriving in Hobart can be a dilemma: Should you take advantage of Tassie’s bounty of fresh produce and wineries or dedicate yourself to improving your health?

MACq 01 solves the problem with its Slumber Suite, a carefully curated waterfront room that is all about saying yes to the great things in life, including quality sleep.

The suite, developed in partnership with sleep expert Shea Morrison, boasts scientifically backed lighting and temperature settings to help you go – and stay – under.

A weighted blanket, pillow menu, eye masks, ear plugs, bath salts and sleep-inducing food and drinks menu are other inclusions.

In a bid to encourage even better sleep, the property also offers limited promotions where guests booking a minimum two-night stay can cut $100 off their bill for every hour of sleep they get over six hours on the first night, to a maximum of $300 (with your sleep monitored by a sleep analyser).

#3. Park Hyatt, Sydney, New South Wales

Most people staying at this stunningly located hotel are usually keen to stay awake as long as possible, seeing as it boasts front-row seats to the Sydney Opera House.

But the hotel’s Sleep at Hyatt room package may make it tough to keep those peepers open.

The package includes a Sleep at Hyatt Ritual Pack, created with iKOU, which contains a sleeping mask, sleep-friendly tea, de-stress linen mist, relaxing bath salts, and aromatherapy pulse points roll-on.

The package also includes a $100 food and beverage credit – which you can use towards in-room dining
or other food and beverage venues – along with some handy sleep tips from The Sleep Ambassador sleep expert Nancy H Rothstein.

Perhaps you would like to elevate your experience for some serious decompression and decadence?

Stay in a suite with enhanced inclusions, including the ritual pack, a $200 food and beverage credit, two plush bathrobes, two pairs of Dreamers Lucid Sleep glasses (to mitigate potential negative impacts on your sleep from exposure to blue light at night) and round-trip airport limousine transfer.

#4. The Reef House, Palm Cove, Queensland

Located in the heart of Palm Cove, where swaying palm trees and rolling waves conspire to send you into a semi-catatonic state, this adults-only escape has long been about rest and relaxation.

No surprises then that it now offers Sleep Easy retreats, developed with sleep science graduate Sabine Christelli, to help you learn ways to achieve better sleep.

Expect support and sleep education in both group and private sessions and access to a portal loaded with meditations, videos, relaxing music and journalling prompts.

Will there be massages, poolside R&R and a wealth of curated herbal teas and essential oils? It wouldn’t be
a sleep retreat without them.

#5. The Louise, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Located in the picturesque Barossa Valley, The Louise not only offers a luxurious stay but also focuses on enhancing sleep quality through its serene environment and tailored wellness activities.

Rooms equipped with high-quality linens and customised pillow menus ensure a comfortable and restful night, while in-suite massage ups the relaxation vibe.

#6. Peninsula Hot Springs, Victoria

Tucked away on the picturesque Mornington Peninsula, the Peninsula Hot Springs is primed for relaxation.

The latest addition to its retreat menu includes a suite of new eco lodges that are thoughtfully designed to support deep rest.

Boasting features like circadian lighting to enhance sleep cycles and serene decor that minimises sensory overload (including no televisions and boxes to stow away mobile phones), these innovative eco lodges are literally made for sleep.

Beyond the cabins, the thermal springs beckon; their mineral-rich waters are not just a lure for relaxation but are scientifically recognised for enhancing sleep quality by naturally decreasing cortisol levels and soothing muscle tension.

#7. Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion, Vietnam

Keen to experience a sense of deep relaxation beyond Australian shores?

Venture beyond the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in Vietnam – some 40 minutes from Hue, a peaceful retreat awaits where tranquil lakes and lush rice paddy vistas compete for your attention.

Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion invites you to (gently) face-plant on its sumptuous beds immediately.

In fact, with its five- or seven-night Sleep Well Retreat, there is every chance that is what you’ve signed up to do.

The retreat offers soothing spa treatments, long soaks in the nearby hot springs and onsite onsen, and a range of wellness activities, including yoga and meditation sessions.

To tire you out when you really need it, opt for zip-lining, biking and hiking.

Exploring the local dining, shopping and cultural scene in and around Hue is possible too.

#8. COMO Shambhala Estate, Ubud, Bali

COMO Shambhala Estate in Ubud is a riverside health retreat that merges holistic wellness with luxurious facilities, nestled in the heart of a lush tropical forest.

This tranquil setting forms the ideal backdrop for the retreat’s comprehensive wellness programs, which are designed to foster relaxation and rejuvenation.

Guests can indulge in tailored programs focusing on stress management, yoga and sleep improvement, all curated to enhance mental and physical wellbeing.

#9. The Benjamin Royal Sonesta, New York, USA

The Benjamin in New York is renowned for its unique Rest & Renew program, designed to ensure guests receive a perfect night’s sleep.

This includes access to a sleep concierge who helps guests choose from a 10-pillow menu to suit individual sleep preferences.

Additional amenities aimed at enhancing sleep include white noise machines, on-demand meditation, sleep masks and ear plugs.

The program emphasises creating an optimal sleeping environment and providing tools for deep relaxation, ensuring guests wake up refreshed and rejuvenated, right in the heart of bustling Midtown Manhattan.