By Heather Gann
People take vacations for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they want to explore a new experience, have fun at a different location, or simply enjoy some time away from their daily grind. What about a vacation dedicated to barely leaving your bed, though? Well, more and more adults are opting for a type of vacation known as a sleepcation, where they desperately try to get the rest they’ve been missing in their daily lives.
As the name suggests, a sleepcation is a vacation that’s dedicated to getting some well-needed relaxation. The difference between this and a regular vacation is that the whole trip is built around getting you to sleep well. This can mean special beds, a built-in bedtime routine, or even moderate activities during the day that are meant to promote a good night’s sleep. In some cases, you may leave the destination with a whole new personalized program that will encourage better sleep when you get home.
The cost of a sleepcation can vary drastically, though, so it’s a good idea to do some research before you take the plunge. A few factors that can influence how much your trip costs include the destination, the accommodations, the activities included in the package, and how long you plan to stay.
When planning a sleepcation, it may be helpful to see what’s available at the lowest price point and work your way up from there.
The sleepcation options are always expanding as more and more destinations aim to participate in the growing trend. Depending on your budget, you can find sleepcations at resorts that are friendly to your pocket as well as higher-end resorts. There are even retreats that are focused solely on getting some sleep.
Variations on pricing are usually due to what’s being offered. At the lower end of the scale, you may find places that have soundproof rooms, blackout curtains, eye masks, and white noise machines. Others have herbal teas or different beverages that have been proven to encourage sleep. At the higher end, you may access special full-body massages that are meant to relax you before going to bed.
Some hotels also have smart technology-equipped beds that can track how long you sleep, the amount of restful versus restless sleep, your heart rate, your breathing rate, and more. In this case, you may leave the sleepcation with helpful information that you can give to your doctor. This information may signal that an undiagnosed condition is the cause of your poor sleep.
If you need more expert guidance on getting some sleep, then consider a sleep retreat instead of just booking a hotel. These retreats usually have dedicated programs to helping you sleep better. They may have daily relaxation activities like yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, or sound therapy that can help you sleep better. Some retreats also encourage you to take breaks from your devices so you can focus on more mindful activities like journaling.