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Why Is Sleep So Important?
Getting a good night’s sleep is incredibly important for our health. Alongside eating a balanced, healthy diet and exercising regularly, rest is one of the most critical factors necessary to keep our bodies in tip-top shape.
There are many reasons why we should aim to get enough good quality sleep every night. When we sleep our bodies repair cells, restore energy and carry out several processes which keep our physical and mental health working correctly.
Good quality sleep helps with concentration, supports a healthy immune system, and can help to aid in weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. Whilst poor sleep can lead to an increase in inflammation, depression and a higher risk of sickness.
Let’s face it. We all know sleep is vitally important for our overall well-being. Yet many adults don’t get enough of it. Whether it’s not enough sleep, poor-quality rest or even none at all – it’s a growing problem exacerbated by the fast-paced, connected lifestyle we lead.
Medication can be used in the short term to help get back into a routine, but longer lifestyle habits may need to be made.
If you are struggling to sleep and have tried medication, then perhaps it’s time to look for an alternative option – consider a break at a dedicated ‘sleep spa hotel’ or ‘sleep wellness program’. There’s been an emergence of hotels catering for guests who are looking for the ultimate sleep retreat. Think ultimate comfort beds, pillow menus, sleep routines, sleep-inducing menus and so much more.
Specialist sleep hotels are a new and emerging trend for 2023. Providing comfort for frazzled, burnt-out adults who want to catch up on some well-earned rest, or get back into a good sleep routine – they are the perfect antidote to our over-connected unhealthy modern lifestyles.
Let’s have an in-depth look at one of the finest and most innovative hotel brands that specialise in personalised sleep programs – the luxurious Six Senses Douro Valley.
Six Senses Douro Valley Sleep Experience
The Six Senses Resorts are world leaders when it comes to unique, sustainable and luxury travel experiences. Located in some of the world’s most far-flung and exotic destinations, the award-winning hotel group offers exceptional guest experiences centred around transformative travel. A big part of their ethos is well-being – they have a dedicated spa in all of their resorts – and their passion for wellness, sustainability and community-led eco-tourism, means they stand out from the crowd in terms of purposeful, responsible travel.
Their integrated wellness pillars involve six important elements: food, spa, mindfulness, movement, growth and of course, sleep. Featured at all of their resorts are programs, classes, locally grown ethically sourced food and knowledgeable treatments all designed to enhance both your travel experience and your overall wellness journey. They really pull out the big guns when it comes to looking after your mind and body.
The Douro Valley resort was the Six Senses’ highly acclaimed first venture into Europe, and the hotel opened in 2015 to a resounding success. This gorgeously designed hotel is located in the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Douro Valley, Portugal’s celebrated wine region. Offering guests all of the luxury elements that the Six Senses brand is synonymous with, the resort brings an elegant, refined touch to the breathtakingly beautiful landscapes of the valley.
At the Six Senses Douro Valley Resort, guests can opt to take part in one of the specially-designed sleep programs which aim to improve sleep patterns, restore energy and create a happier, healthier sleep routine meaning a happier, healthier life.
The resort offers three different length programs – 3 days, 5 days and 7 days – all depending on the length of your stay. During the sleep program, you will have a wellness screening with the Sleep Doctor, you will be given nutritional advice on the foods to eat and what to avoid, as well as access to spa treatments and fitness/wellness activities all designed to help improve your sleep.
The sleep program will provide a complimentary sleep tracker to track and analyse your sleep, helping to understand where problems arise. The program promotes several incredible benefits including:
- Giving you insights into your sleep patterns thanks to the complimentary two-night sleep tracker
- Boosts your mood and energy levels
- Strengthens your immune system
- Improves your memory and helps you better retain information
- Stopping weight gain/keeping a manageable weight
- Stopping the ageing process
- Prevents inflammation which is linked to several diseases
The sleep experience also comes with several in-room sleep essentials to help you to sleep better, improve your sleeping habits and recharge:
- As mentioned, a sleep tracker can be installed in an unobtrusive place near the side of your bed to monitor and track your sleep. Your first two nights are complimentary.
- The resort offers complimentary access to the Timeshifter app to help adjust your body to a new time zone if you are suffering from jet lag. You can set up a personalized program featuring your sleep pattern, itinerary and personal preferences. The app is approved by NASA and elite athletes.
- The resort also offers a personalized room design service to suit your preferences. They will provide different sheets if you suffer from overheating, provide a sound therapy machine, change your lighting and even bring sleep-inducing snacks.
The Room
There are 71 guest accommodations with features such as vineyard views, panoramic river views, spaces balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. The Six Senses Resorts combine a mix of natural style as well as traditional location-appropriate design for the ultimate authentic stay.
Spacious serene surroundings with cozy, natural designs make these the perfect spaces to sleep peacefully. All rooms come with amenities such as a minibar, tea/coffee making facilities, hair dryer, flat-screen TV, pillow menu and air conditioning as standard.
Room service, lighting and blinds can all be operated by an in-room tablet. From here you can order sleep-inducing snacks which are welcomed in the sleep program.
All of the beds feature a hand-made mattress, temperature-regulating pillows and duvets and organic cotton sheets. All allowing for the deepest most relaxing sleep you have ever had.
As well as a sleep-aiding bed, the rooms can be personalized specifically for guests taking part in a sleep program. Sleep trackers can be installed to monitor your sleep which is then analyzed by the in-house Sleep Doctor, guests can make special sleep requests such as different sheets and a change in lighting, and sleep-inducing food can be requested to help aid you in a tranquil slumber. There is also a Sleep Mini Bar with skincare products designed to help you drift off.
The Bed
The handmade mattress is made from organic lamb’s wool with a special coir fiber that provides unbeatable air flow whilst you are sleeping. The quilted duvet is hypoallergenic as well as breathable and anti-bug repellant – perfect for keeping creepy crawlies out at night. The bed features a unique latex layer which is proven to provide excellent orthopedic support for your body to recharge whilst you snooze.
All pillows are organic, non-allergenic and feature a three-tier chamber system which prevents the pillow from flattening as you sleep, providing you with the perfect place to rest your head. The rooms all feature a pillow menu for you to choose a suitable softness.
All linen is hypo-allergenic and luxurious and provides the perfect temperature for you to sleep in. The specially designed sheets help to regulate the body’s temperature and stop you from overheating or getting too cold. All of the bed’s elements combine to create the most comfortable sleep experience that guests will want to melt into.
The Staff
The Six Senses staff are a world-class team of employees who are there to help you enjoy the travel experience of a lifetime. They listen to the guests’ needs, provide an exceptional level of service and go above and beyond what is expected, to ensure every guest feels welcomed.
Alongside the reception staff, spa staff, waiters and bartenders, there are a team of people who provide the knowledge and experience of the many activities available for guests to enjoy at the Douro Valley Resort. From an intimate dining experience at the chef’s table to the knowledgeable sommeliers and bartenders who showcase the delights of the Douro Valley on a wine tour, the team look to make your experience more than just a holiday.
Any Extras?
The Six Senses Douro Valley is a 5* resort with all the trimmings of a luxury, transformative travel experience. Set atop a hill overlooking the gorgeous UNESCO-protected vine-covered terraces of the valley below, this 19th-century manor exudes style. Featuring contemporary designs and traditional elements reflecting the region’s rich heritage, the resort keeps its Six Senses design values whilst honoring the country’s traditional beauty.
There are 71 guest accommodations for you to choose from, some with beautiful river views as well as private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The wellness spa offers a huge range of treatments and places to unwind and relax. There is an indoor pool with massage jets and underwater sound therapy and a Vitality pool in the dedicated Vitality Suite. Here you can also find an infrared sauna, regular sauna and steam rooms including a therapeutic herbal steam room. Indulge in one of the many treatments including cryotherapy, color therapy, and even alchemy. Take in nature and have a go at forest bathing if you want to reconnect to the natural world. The spa also has a fitness center, studio and nail bar as well as 10 treatment rooms for you to relax and enjoy a specialist treat.
The resort has a vegetable garden where local, organic produce is grown and then showcased in incredible farm-to-table dishes in the on-site restaurants. Sit back and enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the cozy Wine Library and terrace. If you are visiting in the summer then be sure to enjoy a relaxed al fresco meal in the Summer Garden. Home-grown local produce awaits as well as freshly grilled Atlantic seafood.
Six Senses want guests to enjoy everything that each region offers, and at the Douro Valley Resort, there is no shortage of incredible experiences. Take a cooking class, enjoy a pickling workshop, go paddle boarding on the stunning river and enjoy a tour of the organic garden, as well as much more.
Location
Six Senses Douro Valley Resort is in a prime location. Nestled on the hilltop of the UNESCO-protected Douro Valley overlooking the spectacular River Douro sits the 19th-century manor oozing romance and decades of history. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a painting with lush, sweeping panoramas, fairytale forests and rolling hills awaiting you.
The city of Porto is close by as well as plenty of picturesque Portuguese villages to explore. The hotel has bicycles for you to rent which is a fantastic way to explore the nearby towns and villages and really get a sense of the history of this beautiful region.
Of course, one of the most popular things to do in the area is to enjoy a wine tour and wine tasting which can be organised through the hotel.
How To Get To Six Senses Douro Valley
Located just a 75-minute drive from the nearest airport – Airport Francisco Sá Carneiro in Oporto and a four-hour drive from Lisbon, the resort is easy to get to by car. The hotel also offers a meet-and-greet airport arrival experience if you aren’t planning on driving.
Anything Else I Need To Know?
This resort puts out all the stops to create the dream travel experience for its guests. Alongside fantastic wellness programs including the ever-popular sleep program, there are meditation spots throughout the forest, a gorgeous infinity pool overlooking the incredible views of the valley, an open-air cinema in the heart of the resort – the Wine Library, and so much more. Surprisingly child-friendly, this resort should be at the top of your list if you are looking for somewhere to relax, unwind and benefit from the Six Senses award-winning wellness concept.