Dream Destinations: The best places to catch some zzz’s across the world

Dream Destinations: The best places to catch some zzz’s across the world

People in the UK are increasingly sacrificing sleep to keep up with the fast-paced lifestyles of the modern day. Sleep is key to health and happiness, yet half of the UK population isn’t getting the optimal seven to eight hours of sleep a night, according to the Twinings 2023 Sleep Census. The importance of sleep has now been embraced by the travel industry and with sleep tourism a fast-growing trend, travellers can prioritise their well-being and take the time to get the rest that their minds and bodies need. Whether nodding off for a siesta, snooze or slumber, MMGY Hills Balfour has curated a list of some of the best sleep-focused stays in destinations and hotels across the world.

Canberra: The best city in the world for a good night’s sleep

Canberra was voted the best city to get a good night’s sleep in 2021 by UK’s Lenstore and with the lowest levels of light and noise pollution and the third-best air quality in the world, the city is the perfect choice for a rejuvenating night’s rest. Visitors can escape to Cubby and Co. and experience the serene magic of slumbering under the stars in a luxurious bell tent or tiny home nestled in Mount Majura Vineyard. Enveloped by panoramic views of the vineyard, lush pine forests and the black and blue hills of Canberra, Cubby and Co. allows guests to hide away and relax in the great outdoors. Guests will drift into a peaceful sleep as they sink into their luxurious mattresses and are soothed by the surrounding noises of nature. With one in five new cars in Canberra being electric, zero-emission vehicles, guests will not be disturbed by the outside world. Encouraged to leave behind Wi-Fi and technology, visitors are left with the bare necessities, including a soft queen bed, books and board games, allowing them to switch off and reconnect with loved ones and nature.

For more information go to visitcanberra.com

AYUS wellness retreat at Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa

Located in the lush rainforest of Borneo, adjacent to Gunung Mulu National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage site, Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa offers a unique AYUS wellness retreat. From calming sunset yoga to a host of natural treatments, Madara Spa provides a variety of methods to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep. Designed to help guests rediscover and rejuvenate their mental wellness in otherworldly settings, the retreat features a bespoke ‘Peaceful Sleep’ programme. Visitors start by unwinding in a luxurious private room, designed as a sleeping sanctuary with blackout shades and in-room temperature controls. While settling in for the night, their sleep therapist begins an expertly designed AWE journey that combines ancient Eastern wellness traditions with cutting-edge wellness science – easing participants into the ultimate deep and restful sleep. Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa demonstrated the success of this programme by using the app Sleep Cycle on a select guest and saw that the app recorded 100% sleep quality, the second night was recorded at 97% and the third night recorded 100%. Room rates start at £100 per room, per night.

For more information visit www.marriott.com

‘Accessible seclusion’ at the foot of the mountains with Boca De Le Roca

Boca de la Roca offers guests not just a place to lay their heads, but a Big Bend lodging experience like no other. At over 9 million acres, the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky

Reserve, West Texas, is currently the world’s largest Reserve and protected Dark Sky and this one-of-a-kind cabin sits at the heart of it. Guests can gaze at the stars in the certified clear skies until they fall asleep in what is one of the most remote national parks in the US – an unparalleled opportunity to harness the outdoors in an accessible, secluded and utterly serene getaway. Built on 81 acres of private desert mountain property, the cabin is nestled at the base of a 4,700-foot mountain peak in the most majestic mountain range in Big Bend making for a dreamy escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

For more information visit traveltexas.com

‘Swing and Drift’ into a relaxing stay at Long Beach Resort, Mauritius

For a dreamy getaway, guests can kick back and relax at Long Beach Resort Mauritius with their new ‘Swing and Drift’ experience. The restful experience, focused on wellbeing, is part of the new Come Alive Collection by Sunlife. Guests can choose one of many comfortable canvas hammocks dotted along the East Coast beachfront, lie back, listen to the soothing sound of the crashing waves and swing into serenity. Drifting off under the palm trees is made even more peaceful by a member of the spa team providing a neck and head massage to expel knots and ease temple tensions. Long Beach’s sleep experiences are perfect for deep jet lag shut-eye or shorter moments of calm reflection, and waking up in paradise is an added bonus.

For more information visit mauritiusnow.com

Master the art and science of sleep at Equinox Hotel New York

Guests can check in to Equinox Hotel New York and embark on a restorative journey of relaxation. The Art + Science of Sleep by Equinox Hotels is a science-backed programme, providing guests with the tools and treatments needed to unlock a deep, revitalising sleep. The 2-night programme offers sound, movement and breath-work techniques designed to regulate circadian rhythm as well as a range of amenities to help guests wind down in the evening and wake up refreshed each morning in rooms especially optimised for sleep. Guests on the programme can also enjoy the Spa Wave Table which provides the equivalent of 3 hours of sleep in just 30 minutes, along with two cryotherapy treatments which are designed to improve deep sleep quality by reducing cortisol levels and increasing oxygen and blood flow throughout the body. A combination of science, mindfulness and serenity ensures a restful sleep in the city that never does!

A 2-night stay on The Art + Science of Sleep Programme by Equinox Hotels is £1,451.17 For more information visit nyctourism.com

Switch off at Wilderness Magashi Camp in Akagera National Park, Rwanda

Rwanda’s Wilderness Magashi Camp invites guests to surrender to the serenity of sleep and experience a deep connection to the wild beauty of Africa amidst the calm of Akagera National Park. With a gentle breeze, the distant echoes of wildlife and the murmuring waters of the lake creating a soothing symphony, guests are lulled into a peaceful sleep, cushioned by the luxury cottons and accommodations of Magashi Camp. After a transformative sleep and as dawn approaches, the environment comes alive with the sounds of nature, and guests awaken to the African sunrise with opportunities to encounter Africa’s Big Five.

For more information visit wildernessdestinations.com

Drift off in a floating cabin in Québec

Escape to the Bora Boréal floating cabins secluded on private lakes with panoramic mountain views for the ultimate night’s sleep. Guests can experience the tranquillity of the waters at Bora Boréal’s cabin just 30 minutes from Québec City or visit the Estrie cabins available from 13 September 2023. Located a short drive from the Mont-Mégantic National Park, the world’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, protecting 5,260km of nocturnal landscapes and far from disruption, the little oasis provides a sanctuary to unwind in the wilderness and experience a peaceful night’s sleep under the stars.

For more information visit boraboreal.com