I Traveled Halfway Across the World In Search of a Good Night's Sleep — And I'd Do it Again in a Heartbeat

It’s 8:54 a.m. in Champagne, France (yes, that Champagne), and, even though I arrived the afternoon before — that is, following an eight-hour-long overnight flight and a nearly two-hour drive, I felt, for the first time in months, well-rested. I lie in bed for a bit, gazing into the darkness (thank goodness for blackout curtains) before finally getting up to unplug my phone from the charger and head down to breakfast (it may be before 9:00 a.m., but the flaky French croissants are already calling my name…). 

See, I’ve struggled with falling — and staying asleep — for years. In terms of remedies, I tried (pretty much) every remedy under the sun: Melatonin, CBD gummies, prescription medicines (which, while effective, made me feel groggy the following morning, so much so that getting out of bed was near impossible), sleepytime teas, and, most recently, the now-TikTok-viral sleepy girl mocktail. 

Because of my notoriously awful sleep hygiene, I was especially intrigued by an invitation to the uber-luxe Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa in Champagne, where I would have the opportunity to partake in the property’s Royal Sleep Experience. That said, I was careful not to get my hopes up: The one-night sleep retreat almost sounded too good to be true, especially when factoring in jetlag. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how rejuvenated I felt the following morning, even though I did take a nap — a major no-no when it comes to beating jetlag — the following afternoon before dinnertime. Suffice to say, I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. 

About the Experience 

One thing that stood out to me about the Royal Sleep Experience is that it extends far beyond the bedroom — though the en-suite amenities are pretty spectacular (more on those in a bit!). What’s more, as part of the package, guests enjoy dinner from a specially prepared menu from executive chef Paolo Boscaro. While the specific offerings change seasonally to incorporate the freshest ingredients, you can always expect a selection of lighter fare so as to not upset the stomach before bed, along with lean meats, veggies, and foods that are rich in tryptophan — an amino acid that can help boost sleep — such as eggs, milk, and dairy products. 

Pro tip: Order the roast chicken, served with hazelnut praline, heirloom veggies, a delicious lemon-thyme gravy, and ‘gram-worthy edible flowers, and thank me later. 

Guests will also enjoy a special “Sleeping Beauty” mocktail made with soothing ingredients like cucumber, mint, cranberry, hibiscus, and black currant. The meal also concludes with a bit of sugar — I opted for the pear tart topped with tonka bean ice cream — to encourage insulin and serotonin production to help support a good night’s sleep. 

After dinner, I was delighted to head back to my room to find a sound machine for some pre-bedtime meditation sessions and a satin sleep mask. Guests also receive an AIME© Sleep & Glow Kit featuring a soothing sleep mist and lemon-flavored melatonin drops (which I still swear by to this day). The curtains were closed, the sleeping mist was sprayed, and there was even a pot of homemade herbal tea paired with some mini chocolates to enjoy. Before nibbling on chocolate and sipping a bit of tea, I opted for a relaxing warm bath — I live for an en-suite soaking tub — which, fun fact, has been scientifically found to help cool you down and help you sleep better.

Post-bath, it was finally time to change into PJs and mix half a pipette of melatonin drops with water.  At this point — for the first time in years — I put my phone on the other side of the room so that I wouldn’t be tempted to play with it before hopping into bed. In fact, it’s been found that screen time before bed can have a negative effect on sleep quality. I figured if I flew halfway across the world for a sleep retreat, I might as well do it the right way, which, in this case, meant ditching my phone — despite how difficult it may have seemed! (Hey, go big or go home, right?) So, instead of doomscrolling, I used the sound machine to brush up on my meditation skills — which, you guessed it, can also help improve sleep quality. Before I knew it, I was asleep in less than a half hour. A few months ago, if you told me I’d fall asleep so fast without taking a prescription medicine, I would have laughed in your face.

…But Did it Actually Work?

Spoiler alert: Yes. Staying asleep was surprisingly effortless. While I did get up twice to use the bathroom, I didn't struggle to fall back asleep. (While I didnt calculate it, I would estimate it took me five minutes to fall back asleep post-bathroom.) I also didn’t set an alarm for my morning wakeup. Instead, I woke up at a reasonable hour on my own, sans any grogginess. 

Perhaps the best part of the package is the inclusion of a one-hour candle massage at the serene spa, which offers sweeping valley views, an expansive indoor pool area, and plenty of room to lounge. While I did not have the chance to try this treatment — I already had back-to-back facial and massage services the following morning — this specific massage is especially great for softening and moisturizing the skin while alleviating stress. Additionally, it’s important to note that research has concluded that massage therapy can help improve sleep. 

The Bottom Line

While it seems extra AF to fly eight hours in search of a good night’s sleep, I’m glad I seized the opportunity to do so. Not only did I experience some of the best zzz’s of my life, but I also learned valuable information to help improve my sleep hygiene at home, including what to eat and drink before bed and what products are worth incorporating into my nighttime routine (spoiler alert: I now can’t live without my beloved AIME Sleep & Glow drops).