Why go on vacation? Is it a chance to discover new places? Thinking about those weeks spent soaking up the sun? Or are you joining the growing trend of people ditching their best mattress and traveling with the goal of getting a good night's sleep?
According to the Hilton Trends Report, a survey of more than 10,000 travelers across nine countries, the number one reason people will want to travel in 2024 is to “rest and recharge.” Sleep tourism, or the opportunity to get a good night's sleep, is motivating people's vacation choices, from what they bring to where they stay.
A comfortable night's rest drives your travel choices
The promise of a luxury hotel at the end of a trip may be all you need to get a good night's sleep, but a report from Hilton found that travelers are taking relaxation into their own hands.
(Image courtesy of Hilton)
Even the best hotels can't promise quiet neighbors, so 33 percent of those surveyed listen to music or podcasts to help them sleep while on vacation, and 22 percent use earplugs. Ta. However, with 10% of travelers bringing a white noise machine with them, it may not be long before in-room noise machines become the norm.
Gone are the days of choosing a hotel based on its proximity to pools, restaurants, and local cultural attractions. These days it's all about the bed. Although not perfect, his 27% of survey respondents said it was important to “stay with a trusted brand with a consistently good mattress” when traveling to relax.
We've long extolled the benefits of hotel beds, as luxury hotels tend to stock their rooms with top-of-the-line luxury mattresses. (In fact, you can even buy the Serta mattress used at Hilton hotels for your home. Although it's a luxury bed, it's cheaper than paying every night at the Hilton.)
Beyond the mattress, 18% admitted to bringing their best pillow when traveling. Discerning pillow packers should take note of the Pillow His menu, a staple of five-star hotels. This menu allows you to choose your favorite pillow.
(Image courtesy of Hilton)
In response to this research, Hilton teamed up with sleep science expert Dr. Rebecca Robbins to develop a series of Hilton Sleep Retreats hosted at Kilolani Spa at Grand Wailea on Maui. While a vacation to Hawaii probably sounds like plenty of rest to many of us, these retreats take relaxation a step further and explore the science and practice of achieving restful, restorative sleep. We aim to provide you with a comprehensive journey.
Even if you can't attend a Hilton sleep retreat, there are still ways to improve your sleep while traveling. Avoid the first night effects with our guide to sleeping better on the go, and consider investing in some white noise to help you sleep so other guests don't disturb your sleep. Finally, when you choose a blackout sleep mask, you won't know where you're falling asleep. Maybe you're on Maui after all.