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Is a vacation really a vacation if you can’t sleep?
As cult hottie Dr. Andrew Huberman said, high-quality sleep is critical, and is the foundation of mental health, cognitive health, and performance.
Have you ever had a vacation where you spent most of the night tossing and turning, trying to conform the pillow to what you are used to at home? Have you finally kicked off all the sheets because you can’t tell if they are just itchy sheets, or bed bug-filled sheets? Have you ever wished that you had actually just brought your pillow with you from home, because the hotel or short-term rental pillows are just not cutting it?
Whether you are hosting a short-term rental, equipping a guest bedroom, or just having trouble sleeping at home, a good pillow, comfortable sheets, and listening to Huberman’s podcast about sleep can make a big difference.
I’m one of the hosts of Mad Violette Cottage, located in the biophilic Serenbe community in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia. Serenbe is a community focused on wellbeing, farm fresh food, clean air, and intentionally beautiful and harmonious architecture. Our cottage is full of books and board games, and is minutes from two spas, a yoga studio, a pilates studio, and a juice store, with miles of hiking trails a minute’s walk from the house. But all of this is meaningless if our guests are not sleeping well.
We’ve been hosting for almost two years, and I want to share with you some of the things we do to ensure that our guests get a good night’s sleep.
- Sound Soother Sanctuary. Serenbe is completely quiet at night. Some might say ominously so. Sometimes, the quiet is too much, and sound needs to be added back in for those used to sleeping with city sounds.
Yes, we have a ceiling fan in the main bedroom, and a portable smaller fan if targeted cool air is desired for focused cooling and soothing sound while in bed. We also have a metal roof, which is a nice auditory treat in the event it rains. We added a portable record player and some classical albums, an Alexa speaker in case a guest wants to stream Spotify, and this portable speaker, in case a guest needs sound to sleep but believes Alexa is spying on them. Finally, we have what I use to sleep at night – a sound soother machine.
- The Itchy Scratchies. There is nothing in the world worse than itchy sheets. While bamboo sheeting is extra soft and silky, it can also sleep hot and tends to discolor more quickly. I am not offering many choices here because we have found a sheet brand that has eclipsed all others, so that we are now using the 1000 thread count version in our own homes.
The California Design Den sheet choices on Amazon are excellent. We buy white only, so they are interchangeable (no need to keep sets together), and they can be bleached as needed. We also buy extra pillow cases. At this point, we have about 8 sets of sheets for the two queen beds at Mad Violette Cottage.
One extra tip: we wash with free and clear unscented laundry detergent, but add about 1/8 cup of this to each load for a delicious but subtle scent: Tyler French Market
- Pillow talk. For pillows in particular, personal preference is just so personal that the safest route for a short-term rental property is to have alternate pillow options stored in a closet just in case what’s on the bed doesn’t work for a guest. We have comfortable affordable pillows, with a variety of firmness and loft. We have elected to skip down pillows, due to the fact that they cause allergy symptoms in many people. Also, since we do use pillow protectors, we don’t want guests to have to unclothe the pillow to determine whether they are at risk of an allergy attack.
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing pillows for others to use. First, it’s important to realize that some people (like me) prefer flatter pillows. I’m a back sleeper, and it’s very awkward for me to have my head elevated substantially above the rest of me. It produces neck and back strain. Second, these Amazon selections are harder to test without slightly screwing over Amazon, as you do have to remove them from the vacuum seal to see how they feel. For me, this unpackaging (and the radical expansion of the pillows once the plastic comes off) makes them a bit harder to return if they are not what you want.
Below are some of the pillows we have tried, and the pros and cons of each. If you want to see three of the pillows on YouTube, click here and here.
Here are the top five pillows, ranked very loosely, since what works for you will depend entirely on what kind of pillow firmness and thickness you like. These were chosen with affordability in mind, since pillows do need to be replaced fairly regularly in rental properties.
A tip: All of these pillows arrive vacuum-sealed. Be sure to fluff the pillows manually or by putting them in the dryer before using so they reach their full loft.
#5: Utopia Bedding Bed Pillows for Sleeping Queen Size, Set of 2, Cooling Hotel Quality, for Back, Stomach or Side Sleepers. These pillows are highly rated on Amazon, and are the more basic and affordable Utopia pillow. To me, they are fairly firm and lofty. The fill level is not adjustable. Short-term rental hosts in FaceBook forums have said these are long-lasting, and we have also found that to be the case. And the pricing is right – they are also only $21.99 as of the time of this article for a set of two pillows, queen sized.
A review: “These pillows strike the perfect balance between softness and support, conforming to your head without bottoming out. Moreover, they keep your head cool throughout the night, ensuring a good night’s rest.”
#4: Fern and Willow Pillows for Sleeping – Set of 2 Queen Size Down Alternative Pillow Set w/ Luxury Plush Cooling Gel for Side, Back & Stomach Sleepers. What made me rate this pillow highly is that it is easy to access the filling and adjust it for loft by removing some of the fill. These are $47.99 on Amazon for a set of two queen at the time of publishing.
A review: “I’ve had this set for well over a year, and they are still like new. They haven’t lost their shape or fullness. I’ve bought tons of pillows trying to find one that is worth what I paid for them, and these are.”
$27.99 for a queen-sized pack of 2, with a discount coupon for 20% off from Amazon at the time of this article. I like these pillows because the gusseted finish is really pretty, and comes in a wide variety of color choices for the gusset.
A review: “The first thing I noticed about these pillows is their exceptional softness. They have a plush and inviting feel that instantly cradles my head and neck, providing a gentle and cozy sensation. This level of softness helps to alleviate any pressure points, allowing me to sink comfortably into the pillow while maintaining proper alignment for my spine. What sets these pillows apart is their remarkable ability to provide ample support despite their softness. They strike the perfect balance by offering enough loft to keep my head in a neutral position without causing any strain or discomfort. I wake up feeling refreshed and free from any stiffness or pain in my neck or shoulders.”
#2: HIMOON Bed Pillows for Sleeping 2 Pack,Queen Size Cooling Pillows Set of 2,Top-end Microfiber Cover for Side Stomach Back Sleepers Ok, folks, these pillows are $20.99 for two pillows with a 10% coupon at Amazon for the standard-sized pillow, and $24.99 for a queen two pack. And because I like a flatter pillow, these are my favorites.
A review: “For starters, I don’t leave reviews on things unless they are outstanding or horrific. My husband is picky about his pillows. When I say “picky,” I mean he stop sleeps with his favorite 8 year old pillow that has been stained permanently yellow (🤢). I have bought at least 10 expensive pillows for him over the years, but they usually go right back to the store. Anyway, these arrived and he immediately complained that they were too fluffy before we slept on them. The next morning (and the following three mornings), he raved about how much his neck didn’t hurt and how much he loved his new pillow! If he approves, YOU WILL, TOO! You cannot beat these pillows, especially for the price. 10/10 would HIGHLY recommend.”
#1 Beckham Hotel Collection Bed Pillows Standard / Queen Size Set of 2 – Down Alternative Bedding Gel Cooling Pillow for Back, Stomach or Side Sleepers. These are the priciest pillows of the bunch, but are incredibly popular and are very nice. At article time, the pricing was $61.37 for two queen-sized pillows. Note that these come in Down Alternative and in Firm Down Alternative, if you need a firmer pillow.
A review: “These are great pillows. I bought two queen size in 2021, and they’ve held up pretty well. They’re not quite as perky now as when I bought them, but they still fluff up nicely and support my neck. I usually start sleeping on my back, switch to side to fall asleep, and I often end up on my stomach before morning. These work very well for back and side. They’re a bit too fluffy for stomach sleeping (for my comfort, anyway), but that’s fine with me. I don’t know about being “cooling” pillows, but I don’t get super hot with them. I use them every night, sometimes propping myself up to read, sometimes using one between my knees when I sleep on my side. They do well for all of this.I just bought two more, and after giving them 24 hours, they seem just as fluffy as the first two I bought, when they were new. I’ll keep buying these as long as they keep making them to this quality.”
We hope this has been helpful, and that you will come visit us at Serenbe soon. Please note that links to Amazon products are affiliate links, and we will receive a small commission if you buy through any of these links.
California Design Den King Sheets, 1000 thread count – recommend trying these at home!
One final tip: If you want guests to be really happy with how you handle coffee creamer at your short term rental property, check out these individual cream and sugar combos to keep in the refrigerator for guests. Copper Cow is a woman-owned business, too!
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