The best hotels for great pillows and mattresses
To listen to this podcast, click here. To watch on Youtube, click here. Feeling your best depends on four things, in my opinion: good nutrition, physical activity every day, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough quality sleep. Quality sleep equals seven to nine hours per night for most adults, although that can vary from person to person.
Sleep makes us happier, healthier, and more successful. It helps our brainpower, our immune system, our emotional resilience, helps our bodies produce collagen so our skin looks younger, and helps with depression and weight loss, as well as helps fight against type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
I’ll never forget my first time staying at an amazing wellness resort in Maine called the Cliff House. I woke up after about eight hours of blissful, uninterrupted sleep, and I felt great. I couldn’t remember feeling that good right after waking up, for a really long time. I had so much energy; my whole body just felt so well. It was incredible.
I don’t do as well at prioritizing my sleep as I should. I love waking up early; that’s my time to exercise and have some quiet time to myself. But sometimes there are just so many reasons and people to stay up late for. I know: they’re just excuses. I need to do a better job of getting more sleep on a regular basis.
When you’re on vacation, it’s especially important to get some quality zzz’s. Sleep can make all the difference between feeling exhausted vs. excited to explore your destination. More and more hotels are paying attention to and specializing their sleep services because, let’s be honest: their business depends on you having a good night’s sleep.
Navigating hotel pillow menus
If you’re staying at the right hotel, you don’t have to add an additional piece of luggage because you’re trying to squish your pillow into it. Many hotels now offer pillow menus. Here are some of the most common types:
Feather: Modern feather pillows are incredibly fluffy and are great for those who don’t crave much support. They can retain heat, so if you’re a warm sleeper, these might not be for you. They’re often combined with down.
Goose down: These pillows are made from the soft undercoat of a goose and are super soft. They can be fluffed to the desired shape, so they’re great for cuddling. They don’t hold their shape well, so not the best choice for back or neck support.
Hypoallergenic: This is the pillow for you if you often wake up with a runny or plugged nose. They’re made from synthetic materials like latex or polyester, are a nice side-sleeper pillow with good support, and are not to be confused with anti-allergy pillows (which have been treated to deter dust mites).
Buckwheat or microbead: These pillows are made from the husks of buckwheat seeds, or from its synthetic alternative, microbeads. These offer strong support because they mold well. If you’re a light sleeper, the rustling sound of the buckwheat may bother you; opt for the microbead version instead.
Memory foam: These are great for back sleepers, since they conform perfectly to your body shape. A shredded memory foam pillow circulates air more freely than a solid one, so it’s well-suited for hot sleepers.
The Conrad Hotels are one example of resorts that offer pillow menus. Their pillow menu includes everything from tension headache-easing pillows, to an essential oil infused “cold and flu” pillow, to a pillow that fits with the city theme you’re staying in.
Great sleep isn’t just about an amazing pillow. Let’s talk about mattresses! Which hotels offer the top-rated mattresses out there?
The best hotel mattresses
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts use a Sealy Posturepedic mattress, which are some of the most-raved about beds on social media. The mattress has a shock-absorbing foundation, a support layer that resists body impressions, and a quilted plush foam top.
The Westin Hotel’s Heavenly Bed uses a plush, 10-layer pillowy top that provides support plus comfort. Made by Simmons, this signature bed is worth trying.
The Ritz-Carlton uses an exclusive Sealy Posturepedic mattress made from gel-infused memory foam, individually wrapped coils, and inviting silk and wool. Luxurious 400-thread-count sheets complete this exceptional sleep experience.
Four Seasons hotels use a Simmons mattress with customizable topper. Their standard bed has a GelTouch Foam Center which absorbs heat, pocketed coils that minimize movement for your partner, and a medium, plus, or firm topper.
Marriott uses the Jamison bed, with either the Jamison Supreme foam, Supreme foam plus (with 2.5 extra inches of foam), or the Jamison innerspring mattress, which balances the sleeping surface for more than one person in bed. All have the signature pillow top.
Hilton uses a Serta Suite Dreams Mattress with a plush top and edge support for a bigger sleeping surface. This mattress is great for warm sleepers because of its plush, rather than pillow top, which increases circulation and makes for a dreamy sleep.
So, what’s your answer? Do you think you might be a wellness traveler? Do you crave a good sleep while you’re vacationing? I know I do. Let me know where your next vacation plans will take you, and I’ll help you get an incredible night’s sleep!