LUXLY GLOSSARY

Sleep retreat

In short

A sleep retreat is a stay centred on better sleep: with rest, exercise, daylight, light food and often advice on your sleep habits.

Duration: Usually 4 to 7 nights
Typical: Daylight, exercise, relaxation, advice
Well proven: CBT-I for insomnia
Suits: Stress, exhaustion, restless sleep

Poor sleep has many causes: stress, irregular hours, too little daylight, alcohol in the evening or a screen until just before falling asleep. A sleep retreat tackles exactly that. You get out of everyday life, spend a lot of time outdoors during the day and find a steady rhythm again.

Typical are exercise in the fresh air, relaxation such as yoga or breathing exercises, a light dinner, spa and warmth. Some houses measure sleep with sensors or offer sessions with doctors and coaches. For insomnia the best-proven approach is cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT-I for short; elements of it often feature in the advice.

Honestly: a few nights at a hotel will not solve years of insomnia. But they can show you what helps and give you a plan for home. If you snore loudly, stop breathing at night or can hardly stay awake during the day, have it checked by a doctor, for example in a sleep lab.

Good to know

Ask whether sleep is really measured and discussed, or whether it is mainly about the spa.
Do not stop or start sleeping pills on your own.
The plan for home matters more than the pillow menu.