3 top tips for a good night’s sleep on holiday

So, you’ve been looking forward to your holiday in Devon for months now, a time where you can fully relax and unwind. Whether you are on a family holiday with your children, or a couples getaway to one of our Woolacombe holiday parks, you deserve to detach yourself from the worries and stresses of everyday life.

One sure way to guarantee that you’ll return from your holiday feeling refreshed is to make sure you get a good night's sleep throughout the duration of your stay. At Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks, making sure our guests get a good night's sleep is one of our priorities and that’s why we consulted a sleep expert to find out the things you can do to help you to sleep well whilst on holiday.

Quality bedding means quality sleep

It might sound obvious but the mattress, pillows and bedsheets available will all impact the quality of your sleep whilst you are on holiday.

For the mattress, generally speaking a medium firm suits most people. However, it is important to identify the right type for your personal preference. Research has indicated that being equipped with the right mattress can promote increased comfort, suitable spinal alignment, and even a better-quality sleep.

Similarly, pillows also encourage better spine alignment, helping to prevent neck and back pain which is frequently known to cause difficulties sleeping. To get a good night sleep on holiday it is also important to note the type of linen that you find most comfortable. The type of material that is being used can affect your body temperature as some types can trap heat causing you to overheat and endure a disrupted sleep. Your skin may also be more sensitive to some fabrics than others meaning you can experience itching or irritation.

If you’re finding that you are regularly struggling to get comfortable at night during your holiday it could be an indication that the mattress, sheets or pillows are not conducive to your normal sleeping conditions. Depending on your sensitivity to these issues, it could be a good idea (if you have the packing space) to bring your own pillows or other items to give you a good home-from-home sleep.

The perfect sleeping environment

There are lots of factors that can impact the environment that you sleep in when you are on holiday. Even small changes to your space can have significant effects on the quality of sleep that you have. This can range from the temperature of the room, noise, lighting, to who you’re sharing a space with.

Think about Circadian Rhythms

For example, imagine you’ve taken the kids on a camping holiday to Twitchen House in the summer months. The sun is going to be setting at around 9/10pm and begin rising at around 5am. If you’re used to blackout blinds at home, the sun is likely to wake you up by illuminating the tent in the early hours. Light has a significant impact on your body’s Circadian Rhythms, these include your sleep-wake cycles as your body responds to light as a cue to be awake. Our expert recommends fixing this and avoid being woken up earlier than desired, by trying an eye mask to block out the light.

Mask background noise

When on holiday, you’re likely to be sharing the area with other holidaymakers, some of whom might have slightly later bedtimes. Even quiet background noise that you are not used to can prevent you from sleeping soundly. Similarly, sharing a sleeping space with people you don’t normally, can add another symphony of noises like breathing, fidgeting and potential snoring. If you are a light sleeper, it is best to take some good quality earplugs for sleeping on holiday to help block out the additional noise. Alternatively, using a white noise app can help to mask louder noises that would otherwise stimulate your brain, and allow you to fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer.

Optimise temperature

Another factor that can impact your sleep on holiday will be temperature. Whether you are camping or staying in a luxury lodge with a hot tub, you’re going to be at the mercy of the climate. Preparing for both hot and cold temperatures is going to be an essential factor in helping you to sleep well on your holiday. According to the Sleep Foundation, the best temperature for optimum sleep is around 18.3 degrees celsius. This means if you think you might experience temperatures below that, you should put on the heating or pack some extra layers for bedtime, likewise if you think it might be warmer, check if your accommodation has air conditioning or a fan.

Keep a sleep routine

It’s very common to let loose on holiday and enjoy later bedtimes than usual. Unfortunately, this deviation from routine can also be another reason why you aren't sleeping through the night and are waking up feeling tired and sluggish. Keeping a regular sleep schedule even on weekends and holidays is paramount to maintaining the routine of your internal body clock. Straying from your normal sleep schedule can hinder your ability to fall asleep, wake up, and can even reduce the quality of your sleep during the night.

Aside from keeping a regular bedtime routine, the activities you do before you go to bed can have a big impact on the quantity and quality of sleep that you experience during the night. Try to limit your screen time in the hours before you sleep as the blue light that devices emit can send confusing signals to your brain that it is still daylight. Instead try reading a book, listening to music or stargazing if it is a nice evening. If you are regularly waking up in the middle of the night, here are a number of tips to get back to sleep.

Time away on holiday means that some adults will indulge in a few alcoholic beverages to unwind in the evenings. Although these drinks may help to induce feelings of relaxation and even make you feel sleepy, they can in fact be one of the reasons that you are not sleeping well on your holiday. You might fall asleep quickly after a few drinks, but the alcohol will reduce your REM sleep, an important stage of sleep that is vital for both physical and mental health. Being mindful of your alcohol consumption and stopping 3-4 hours before you go to bed will reduce the negative impacts on your sleep.

Sleep well on your holiday at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks

“At Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks, ensuring our visitors have a good sleep is an essential part of creating a relaxing and revitalising holiday experience. We provide quality bed linen in all Holiday Homes and beds will be made up for your arrival for a comfortable night’s sleep. All of our Holiday Homes also have heaters in the bedrooms to ensure you can sleep at a comfortable temperature whatever the weather.”

If you find yourself regularly unable to get a good night sleep on holiday and at home, you should consider speaking to a sleep specialist.