Sleep tourism is booming. But would you really pay for a good night's sleep?

Sleep is something that has always plagued me. I rarely get the desired amount of hours recommended by health governing bodies, and it almost never feels restful. 

But there's a whole other cohort who are undoubtedly doing it tougher than me: sleep-deprived parents. And let's face it, it's mainly the mothers. 

I work in an office where I'm surrounded by sleep-deprived mums. Recently, someone in the office came across an advertisement for a sleep-filled hotel experience and it immediately piqued all our interest. We began asking ourselves: how much would we actually pay for a slumber suite?

Think of a space that oozes tranquility. It isn't your run-of-the-mill fancy hotel room.

Instead, it's a space designed solely for sleeping and no other late-night hotel activities... Imagine blackout curtains to decrease light, pillow menus, herbal teas, sleep-focused audiobooks, even the calming scent of essential oils wafting through the room. 

With just this image in mind, several mums began to feel a certain way.

Watch: an expert dives deep into Intensive Sleep Retraining. Post continues below.

"This sounds like a dream. It's the kind of thing I wish someone had gifted me as a sort of postpartum pack. New motherhood is always mainly focused on the babies, but this is just for parents. And I love that," says Gemma, whose son is 18 months old.

Annaliese Todd, host of Mamamia's parenting podcast This Glorious Mess and mum of two boys aged nine and 12, is a big fan too.

"As an insomniac this very much appeals to me. It's something I would want to do by myself, like a mini self-care sleep holiday. Bring it ON."

But there were others who needed more convincing.

Eliza, who has three boys under seven, noted: "It depends on what stage I was at. When I was pregnant with my third child, I was so exhausted and sore that doctors even recommended that I should go to a hotel away from the boys so I could get some rest. There have also been times, especially when I had two kids under two, that a couple of nights to just sleep would be so appealing."

"Now, however, I think I'd rather spend money on an island holiday or health retreat where I can focus on all different elements of my health — fitness, sleep and diet. Also, the idea of audio bedtime stories makes me want to vomit."

With varying perspectives among parents, I decided to do some digging. What does a slumber suite actually involve? 

Sleep tourism is booming.

Research shows there are various hotels across Australia, and the world, who are jumping on the sleep tourism bandwagon. 

Pan Pacific Melbourne has a Happy Sleepers Program which includes a bedding collection, a slumber supper and sleep enhancers. Their aromatherapy bath soak options are hilariously boujee — all organised by a Bath Butler Service.

In Western Sydney, we have Pullman Penrith's Sleep Therapy Kit. They're $50 each and are ideal for couples, exhausted new parents, and a lot of corporate guests who have been busy travelling. 

Maybe online you've seen content creators enjoying the Sleep at Hyatt hotel experiences too — fit with fluffy bathrobes, an exxy food and beverage credit, sleep masks, essential oil roll-ons and so forth. It will set you back just over $1000 depending on the day/room you choose. 

The MACq 01 hotel in Hobart also boasts a slumber suite, which includes a sleepy mocktail and sleepy snack bar. There is a weighted blanket and pillow menu, Tassie sleepy teas, audio bedtime stories, red room lighting, fresh lavender and salt lamps. There's a nightly reduced rate of $300 per night (though there are some stipulations of course).

Speaking to Mamamia, MACq 01's Head of Brand and Marketing Danika Porter said: "Tired parents in particular are at the top of the list of people that are most suited. We conducted research before we designed the slumber suite, and what we found was that more than two thirds of Australians are getting less than eight hours of sleep, with almost 1.2 million only getting four hours or less each night."

InterContinental hotels have an app which curates a restful program for each guest to assist them in minimising jet lag on long-haul trips. The examples could go on and on.

Sleep suite guests rate it too.

As for the people who have enjoyed these sleep suites for themselves... they all rate it highly. Interestingly, many women we spoke with opted for these experiences overseas, where the offerings are even wider. 

Leah Greengarten is a tired mum of a six-month-old. She participated in The Sleep Enhancement program at Thailand's Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa.

"I arrived there exhausted and sleepless. After days of yoga, meditation, and bodywork to aid my sleep, I felt so good. It's one thing to talk about relaxation and rejuvenation, but it’s a whole other thing to actually feel the benefits yourself. I can't wait to recommend this to others — it's such a game-changer!" she tells Mamamia.

Of course Bali has to get a shout out too. Alison Bone shares with us: "I did a sleep retreat at Revivo Bali, and it went beyond getting a good night's rest. It was about understanding the nature of my sleep problems and arming me with techniques to overcome them."

"My personalised schedule was like a sleep boot camp, packed with daily yoga, hydrotherapy, fitness training, meditation sessions and spa treatments. There were customised meals too that consisted of delicious and nutritious food and drinks containing sleep-promoting vitamins and minerals."

A good night's sleep is the new coolest thing.

It's not just hotels catering to our lack of a good night's sleep either — brands are too.  

If you're after organically grown bamboo viscose fabrics in your pyjamas, Boody now sells buttery-soft sleepwear.

Sheet Society is famous for their beautifully designed cotton sheets — known for their softness, breathability and durability. They also stand the test of time after countless cycles through the washing machine. That means they're great for sleep, but also for your wallet. I've tried them myself, and it's like sleeping on a cloud. 

So so soothing. Image: Sheet Society.

There are also plenty of apps designed for sleep-deprived people, particularly insomniacs. Calm is ideal if you enjoy listening to relaxing stories while you fall asleep. And who doesn't want to nod off to the soothing Texan drawls of Matthew McConaughey (who voices some of the stories btw).

Aussie spa endota even has a specialised sleep range on their website, where they sell roll-on essential oils, soothing tea blends, and also a calming sleep mist.

Linen House says their bamboo sheets have been designed with quality sleep in mind too.

It all sounds rather dreamy, hey.

According to the Royal Australian College of GPs, 48 per cent of Australian adults are reporting at least two sleep-related problems, and 40 per cent aren't getting enough sleep. It's something that Rachel Beard has seen, as Sleep Wellness Manager at A.H. Beard's Sleep Wellness Centre.

"Sleep impacts how we look, feel, perform and influences how we live our lives. Medical research has shown that ongoing sleep deprivation or poor-quality sleep across years can increase the risk of serious conditions. So, while sleep not only makes us feel better, it's also crucial for our health now and in the future," she tells Mamamia.

Then in comes sleep tourism.

"I personally think sleep tourism is a great trend and can understand why it's becoming so popular. For most of us we go on holiday to relax, so supporting this with a destination or hotel focused on offering a good night's sleep makes perfect sense," says Beard.

"For busy, sleep-deprived mums, sleep tourism offers a unique and luxurious way to experience a new environment while embracing a key pillar of health and getting the well-deserved sleep they need. It's permission to totally switch off and invest in overcoming sleep debt — a challenge any new mum knows well."

Do we wish an ultra-luxe sleep experience was available to all exhausted parents? Absolutely. 

But if you're looking to purchase a special gift for an insomniac or tired loved one in your life... maybe a night's stay in a sleep suite could be right up their alley. 

Feature Image: Getty.

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