COUNTING SHEEP may not be enough to send you to sleep when, at 3am, your mind is wandering through unread emails, project deadlines – and did you remember to take the bin out? Life has funny ways of getting on top of us, and sometimes, we just need a break. But whether your idea of a dream holiday is lounging on a beach in the Maldives or independently scaling Machu Picchu, today’ s fast-paced corporate landscape may have pushed you too far into the depths of burnout for a quick-fix return. So much so, that holiday-makers are taking the concept of a‘ dream’ holiday literally, booking themselves into hotels specifically designed to provide an amazing night’ s sleep – a concept known as sleep tourism. Don’ t be fooled – sleep tourism isn’ t just for those who can’ t wait to jump into bed after a long day. Its goal is to give you a few nights of undisturbed slumber while providing you with the knowledge of how to maintain good sleep hygiene. After all, how many times have you woken up after a night’ s rest feeling even more exhausted than before you fell asleep? In specialist sleep hotels, everything is carefully designed to ensure you receive maximum comfort with minimal interruptions – from top-quality bedding to soundproofed rooms.“ In the same way that yoga retreats have become very popular, sleep retreats are a new variation of the wellbeing trend,” Dr Lindsay Browning, Sleep Expert at Trouble Sleeping, says.“ Sleep tourism not only allows people to catch up on much-needed rest when they are on holiday, but it also offers activities to learn about maintaining sleep quality even after the holiday has finished. These activities can be anything from breathing and relaxation techniques to learning about good sleep hygiene and how to manage jet lag.”