KAYAK reveals 1 in 4 Brits now seeking a 'Sleepcation'

New study crowns Sligo, Ireland as the ultimate Sleep Tourism destination

As new research finds 1 in 4 Brits are now considering booking a holiday focussed primarily on sleep, KAYAK, the world’s leading travel search engine, has launched its new Sleep Tourism Guide for tired Brits in need of a restful escape, with Sligo, Ireland coming out on top as the ultimate ‘sleepcation’ destination.

The travel search enginge's new Sleep Tourism Guide found that 2 in 5 (39%) put R&R top of their holiday requirements this year while one third (39%) of Brits finds they return from holiday in need of another holiday.

Moreover, over half (53%) of travellers report better sleep quality on holiday.

To develop the guide, KAYAK,collaborated with Sleep Scientist Dr. Jason Ellis, to analyse the most searched destinations for accommodations, worldwide from KAYAK.co.uk.

This was then scored them against their potential for enhancing sleep quality. 

The guide evaluates key factors including air quality, noise pollution, political stability, proximity to nature, as well as access to accommodation with spa amenities and accommodation prices. Ultimately, revealing the top 50 destinations for British travellers seeking to optimise their sleep while on holiday.

Dr Jason Ellis, sleep expert, said: “It’s clear from KAYAK’s new research that we’re sleep deprived as a nation. ‘Sleepcation’ holidays are a great way to pay off some of the ‘sleep debt’ we experience in daily life. By choosing the right destinations that excel in factors that contribute to better sleep, travellers can maximise their rest and return home feeling truly rejuvenated.”

The top ranked sleepcation destination from the analyses goes to Sligo, Ireland. 

The sleepy coastal destination on Ireland’s beautiful west coast balances an impressively good air quality and political stability score with low noise pollution, along with a wide range of accommodation featuring spa and wellness amenities. 

It found the destination the other top destinations for optimising your sleep are Kyoto, Japan and Funchal, Portugal, followed by Zadar and Split in Croatia, to complete the top five.

The shift to more restful escapes is also reflected in KAYAK’s recent search data. 

The travel search engine’s analysis of the top trending destinations for autumn travel signals a growing preference towards nature-focused getaways and coastal retreats, with flight searches for destinations like Tromsø, Norway, Koh Samui, Thailand, and Thiruvananthapuram, India amongst the top list, with flight searches up 74%, 49%, 36% and compared to last year, respectively. 

Rachel Mumford, travel expert of KAYAK UK, said: "From constant digital distractions to the fast-paced demands of everyday life, we believe more Brits are turning to more relaxing, sleep-focused holidays as a form of self-care. That’s why we launched the Sleep Tourism Guide—to provide travellers with the info they need to find the best destinations to rest and recharge.”