Sheets on Vacation: Why Your Sleep Might Be the Biggest Travel Inconvenience

How to sleep on vacation when you suffer from night sweats. Yes, it's a thing.

You’ve packed the magnesium. The melatonin. Your trusty CoolYourSweats sleepwear that’s helped you battle the nightly tidal waves. You’ve double-checked for chargers, passports, and that one overpriced neck pillow you swear by.

But here’s the thing no one tells you before takeoff: your night sweats didn’t book a separate trip. They’re right there in your carry-on.

And while you may have researched the perfect Mediterranean café or found the most scenic hiking trail on TripAdvisor, there’s one wildcard that could unravel it all by 3 AM: the sheets.

Whether you’re camping or staying in 5-star hotels, your bedding can send your night sweats into a new level of discomfort, robbing you of the sleep you crave – and perhaps of your vacation enjoyment.

Luxury Sheets, Sweaty Nights

Let’s talk about upscale hotels for a second. You walk into your suite: there’s a monogrammed robe, a complimentary chocolate, and bedding that looks like it belongs in an Architectural Digest feature.

But somewhere between those 800-thread-count cotton sheets and that puffy goose-down duvet, something goes horribly wrong.

By midnight, you’ve kicked off the covers. By 2 AM, your thighs are sticking to the sheets like they’re lined with cling wrap. And by 3, you’re Googling: “can you ask the front desk for a fan in five-star hotels?”

It’s the irony of high-end hospitality: luxury cotton is lovely, but not necessarily breathable enough for anyone managing night sweats. And don’t get us started on down duvets — essentially wearable saunas.

The Budget Hotel Sheet Lottery

Now let’s flip to the other end of the travel budget. You open the door and spot a double bed with vaguely floral sheets and a polyester-filled comforter that audibly crackles when you sit on it.

Welcome to the Sheet Lottery.

Some nights, you luck out with a thin 100% cotton setup that’s breathable… if slightly exfoliating. Other nights, it’s full-polyester mayhem: slippery, plasticky sheets that trap heat like a clingfilm burrito.

The comforter? Likely 100% synthetic and about as breathable as a rain poncho. It doesn’t matter if the AC is blasting — your body can tell it’s trapped.

Duvets That Should Come With a Warning Label

Let’s give an honorable mention to all the duvets out there — both at high-end and low-end spots — that seem to exist purely to cause overheating. In cooler climates, you’ll get a massive down-filled blanket that could insulate an igloo. In warmer spots? Somehow still thick, comfy duvets -- when you need them the least.

So, What’s a Sweaty Sleeper to Do?

Traveling with night sweats doesn’t mean you have to settle for sleepless nights. A few smart strategies can turn your vacation sleep into a true escape and it’s a little easier when you’re driving to your destination, rather than flying. However, here are some tips to help you sleep more comfortably and try to keep those night sweats at bay.

• Bring your sheets from home: as we mentioned, this is easiest when you’re driving and can find a spot to tuck them into the (probably) overloaded car. However, despite grumbling from partner/kids/dog…, if you’re sleeping comfortably, everybody wins.
• Pack your own pillowcase. If you don’t have the luxury of packing your own sheets, your pillowcase is a good compromise. Lightweight, easy to fit in your bag, and it can make a surprising difference in how cool your head and neck stay – just don’t forget to bring it home (I’ve done that).
• Bring a travel-friendly sleep sack or sheet. Look for natural fibers like linen, hemp, Tencel, or 300 thread count 100% cotton, that fold up small but breathe like a dream.
• Sleepwear is non-negotiable. Bring what works — ideally, something designed specifically to handle sweat and temperature swings (hint: CoolYourSweats).
• Layer creatively. Ditch the duvet/comforter and in accommodations that provide bathrobes – they can become your thermal layer (blanket). In budget places, the cotton towel (1 or 2) will do the trick.

Because Sleep Shouldn’t Be the Sacrifice

The whole point of a vacation is to feel good. To recharge. And while we spend hours planning our outfits, our meals, our activities — we often forget to plan for the thing that fuels it all: sleep.

If your body runs hot at night, don’t let bad bedding ruin your break. With a little prep, a breathable backup plan, and sleepwear that actually works, you can make sure the only thing getting sweaty is your mojito glass.