Sleep Divorce: Why More Couples Choose Separate Beds On Vacation

Well, you may be wrong if you consider curling up in your significant other’s arms to be the best part of a holiday. Even couples by now are realizing that having separate beds on a trip could actually enhance the quality of a vacation. This is becoming a prevalent trend in the tourism industry as many people are showing interest in having separate beds when they go on vacations with their partners.

Sleep Divorce: Why More Couples Choose Separate Beds On Vacation

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This trend is popularly known as "sleep divorce" and it has made many couples who love traveling come up with means of getting quality rest on their tours, Hilton’s 2025 trends report noted. According to the report by Hilton company, 63% of the travellers stated that they tend to sleep better when they are not accompanied by other people.

Traveling As A Couple: The ‘Sleep Divorce’ Trend

Believe it or not, 37% of travelers would rather sleep in a different bed from their partner when on a trip; and most parents (3 in 4) do think that it is ideal to sleep away from kids while on a journey, cited Hilton’s report on the travel habits of people. Therefore, go ahead and book that solo trip – it is a great opportunity for some much needed rest in the course of family gatherings!' The term ‘sleep divorce’ came to prominence in 2023 as the Illinois-based American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) surveyed the prevalence of the practice, with some couples admitting they sleep in separate rooms for healthy reasons.

According to the survey, sleeping apart is more common among men than women, with 45% of men declaring that they do this ‘from time to time or all the time’ while only 25% of females say the same. A licensed mental health counselor at the telehealth platform Grow Therapy, from Florida, named Stacy Thiry, shared her views with Fox News regarding the phenomenon of enamored couples who embrace the concept of ‘sleep divorce’ – especially in traveling noting it has both advantages and disadvantages.

Analyzing The Pros And Cons

The greatest advantage is being able to sleep well, Thiry states to Fox News Digital. For instance, a person may want to sleep in a cold room with no noise or even snoring. Sleeping apart may reduce conflict caused by lack of space, and in fact some couples may feel a stronger bond because they don’t sleep angry due to each other’s disturbances. 

It allows freedom from resentment but it also hinders spontaneous displays of affection because some people are not comfortable with that and it can also be considered as a stigma, she pointed out. Describing this historical context, she said, From the very beginning sharing a bed used to represent a certain kind of intimacy but couples today are understanding that that is not the most important thing.

But I think also we, as a society, are slowly waking up to the importance of sleep, says Thiry. Dr. Troxel, who is also a senior behavioural health scientist at the RAND Corporation and a clinical psychologist in Utah, agreed and said that many couples tend to sleep in separate rooms even when they are on vacation to enhance quality of sleep.

Sleep Needs In Relationships

Troxel told Fox News Digital that this is part of a broader trend towards appreciating the importance of sleep not only for personal health but for the health of the relationship. She cites a study in her book, Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep that says, Sleep problems, as research shows over and over, lead to irritability, poor problem-solving, and strife.

She added, These problems can affect relationships. If separations are not out of the question for couple sleeping, it is very important to talk about it open communication to ensure that both parties do not feel neglected or rejected. To enhance attachment, Troxel said it was important to have some time for connection before going to sleep, as those last few moments before one actually sleeps are very important in keeping the intimacy alive.

Troxel emphasizes the importance for partners of managing their relationships while ensuring that both individuals have adequate sleep, especially during trips. When a couple decides to sleep apart, that decision is different for every couple because there is no one way of doing things. So, if it brings improved sleep and greater happiness, therefore, it can do more good than harm to relationships. As per a Hilton spokesperson, the focus of the guests during the holidays is increasingly on the quality of sleep and "sleep divorce" conversations are projected to rise in 2025. In turn, many hospitality establishments started providing rooms with connecting doors that allow couples or families to be close to each other while simultaneously benefiting from separated beds.