More Couples Are Adopting This Controversial Vacation Sleep Hack for Real Rest

If there’s one overriding trend that we’ve noticed during global leisure travel’s massive resurgence over the last few years, it’s a constant forecasting of the latest upcoming travel trends. The goal: to presciently track everything we'll be seeking or prioritizing the next time we go away.

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Some of them don’t sound all that new ( solo travel , digital detox ). The supposed novelty of going it alone on your next big trip or unplugging from gadgets and social media when you’re out there may not strike fellow travelers as trailblazing concepts at this point. But the results of Hilton’s latest 2025 Trends Report do include emerging ones for the coming year that you may want to file away, or at least mull over, before your next trip.

A frosty new travel trend term, coined “sleep divorce,” specifically awakened our attention.

According to the Hilton report, over a third of travelers now prefer to sleep in a separate bed from their partner while away together. Among vacationing couples, 37 percent would opt for the Ernie and Bert bed arrangement at night rather than sharing a single hotel mattress—in an effort to boost sleep and reduce the impacts of keeping each other up at night. According to numerous studies , sleep issues can add significant stress on relationships.

These latest findings in sleep tourism (or “tourizzzm”)—a growing trend prioritizing quality sleep during travel, and amenities that help provide it—extend to families in the Hilton report. About three-quarters of those traveling with children think it’s best to sleep apart from their kids while on vacation. Exactly how far apart wasn’t specified. Presumably enough to avoid being roused by constantly kicking feet or emergency Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! readings at 3 a.m.

An uptick in solo vacationers—a.k.a. “MeMooners”—is predicted as well in 2025, with 64 percent of lone travelers considering a good book to be their favorite travel partner, and 25 percent of them opting to travel with their pets instead of a human companion. If there was ever a corollary travel trend to “sleep divorce,” this must be it.

“Our 2025 Hilton Trends Report uncovers what has been simmering for years—the intersection of work and play, of relaxation and adventure, of being alone but together,” said Hilton president and CEO Chris Nassetta in a company press release .

Other upcoming trends in the report include an increasing interest in slow travel (traveling like a local), "frolleague" travel (with work colleagues who are friends), and adventure tourism—with nearly 70 percent of global travelers seeking more activity, specifically unique experiences in the outdoors.

“Travelers don’t just want to choose their own adventure—they want to maximize every moment of their time away,” added Nassetta. “This new data reveals a fascinating dichotomy and growing focus on experiences that that will keep us on our toes, constantly evolving to meet the needs of tomorrow’s traveler.”

As far as basic needs go (e.g. sleep), one of the biggest new travel trends for 2025 could be more amicable than it sounds. In fact, a trial "sleep divorce" on your next vacation may just prove to be even more restorative (if not romantic) than a couple's massage, tandem bike ride, or sunset stroll.