Wellness Trends: The Luxury Hotel Pillow Menu

Why you should use the pillow menu

A pillow menu is now a common feature in luxury hotels, but do you really need it? Yes! Luxury hotels have recognised spinal health as an important element of health and wellness. These opulent accommodations have seen the rise in exercise trends that optimise spinal mobility like yoga, Pilates and Barre, and they want to help you retain your progress.

Maintain the Results of your Wellness Routine

Luxury hotels know it's difficult to maintain your wellness routine while you're away, so they're doing their best to help. A pillow menu is now a vital ingredient in hotel wellness offerings. If you have neck pain and work hard on your deep neck flexor strength and cervical spinal mobility at Pilates, all your hard work can go to waste by sleeping for a week on a bulky, oversized pillow. Thanks to a pillow menu, you can choose the right pillow for you to maintain all your hard work and keep your neck pain at bay.

Recognise the Importance of Sleep

Wellness has been recognised as a status symbol of luxury, and sleep is a vital part of wellness. Thanks to sleep advocates like Arianna Huffington, the importance of sleep is now ingrained in the luxury lifestyle. By offering a pillow menu, luxury hotels are showing you it's OK to sleep well, and they encourage you to enhance your sleep as much as possible by choosing the right pillow for you.

Decrease Your Allergen Exposure

Some of us may love the mobility of a duck-down pillow, while others will be up all night sneezing from the feathers. The low allergenic options are endless at luxury hotel chains; like Sofitel that offer the Polyball Pillow: a firm pillow made odourless and non-allergenic for those sensitive to allergens. This is just one example of a pillow menu item designed to decrease allergen exposure to keep you 'living well.'

Indulge in the Personal Touch

Guests are expecting more personalised luxury hotel products than ever before, and a pillow menu helps add that personal touch. With some hotels offering six or more pillow items and others offering a choice between three, by selecting your pillow preference you have more control over your luxury stay, enhancing your hotel experience. 

Photo: Sofitel So Bangkok

Tips for Choosing Your Pillow

The hardest thing about being offered a pillow menu can be making your choice. Below are some tips for choosing the best pillow for you:

1. Most people only need 1 pillow, not 2 stacked
2. Your neck should always be in a neutral position on your pillow - If it feels like your chin is being pushed toward your chest, the pillow is too big and bulky.
3. If you lie on your side to sleep, you can have a slightly bulkier pillow, but only enough to fill the space between your ear and the tip of your shoulder.
4. If you lie on your stomach to sleep, try to change this habit! It puts excessive torsional stress on your neck. If you can't break the habit, choose a very flat pillow to decrease the forces on your neck.
5. Whatever filling you choose for you pillow, try to make it consistent throughout, rather than letting it bulk on one side.
6. Always see a good health professional for treatment if you encounter neck pain. The earlier you get treatment, the better it is.

Now you know how to select your pillow - Which pillow would you choose?

Aprivé Wellness goes to Crown Spa

Melbourne's Ultimate Indulgence: Crown Towers Aqua Retreat

Do you ever crave a mental health day, but need more than an hour-long massage? Melbourne's Crown Casino is infamous, but the Crown Towers' Aqua Retreat deserves its own fame too. Instead of rushing through a treatment at a day spa, treat yourself by booking a day at the Aqua Retreat.

I spent a day here with my sister, and we were both so impressed with the luxury and affordability of the spa facility service, we couldn't believe we hadn't done it sooner!

Spa Review: Why Crown Spa is the Epitome of Wellness

A Gym with a View

After paying to use the spa's facilities, you can head to the gym for a workout. The cardio equipment has the best view in the house, looking out over the Grecian-style lap pool, complete with towering columns. These architectural elements conjure memories of the stunning Venetian hotel in Vegas.

Aqua Retreat - Hammam & Vitality Pool

Let go, and let the whirling waters of the Vitality Pool warm you from the inside out, relaxing every muscle in your body. The rushing water gently massages you, stimulating blood flow to your muscles, preparing you for the relaxing still waters of the hammam.

Image: Crown Melbourne

Steam Room and Swiss Shower

Lie down and relax in the luscious steam room. Built to cater to even the busiest days, there's plenty of room for multiple guests, and silence is recommended by the staff. Lie down on the mosaic tiled benches, and breathe deeply as your pores are cleansed naturally. Wash off the excess moisture in the Swiss Shower as you swap your bikini for your Crown robe, and prepare to unwind in much-appreciated silence.

Crown Spa Lounge

Not the drawcard for many, but one of my favourite elements of the spa was the modern yet private lounge. Beautiful chaises are separated by a curtain, allowing you to sit and read your favourite book or the magazines provided while you sip the complimentary herbal tea. After the warmth and comfort of the Aqua Retreat, this is the perfect time for you to take a moment for yourself, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Try not to fall asleep!

Image: Crown Melbourne

At any time throughout your day of relaxation, you can book a facial or massage treatment, but it's nice to know you don't have to if you just wish to relax in your own time.

Using A Spa's Facilities - The New Day Spa Experience

Like many other wellness fans, I love day spas, particularly those in hotels, and this is one of my favourites. Paying to use the facilities of a spa is a new service many luxury spas are offering, a service that affords you a full day to pamper yourself, clear your mind, and treat yourself to a time out. It's also a fun activity to do with friends or family, and as the men's and womens' facilities are separate, it can give you and your partner both an indulgent yet individual day of relaxation.

Image: Crown Melbourne

Check in soon for another spa feature on my favourite spas from around the world!