Swissotel Berlin has new sleep-enhancing, jetlag-busting ideas

The Swissotel in Berlin is aiming a new set of sleep-enhancing services at jetlagged and stressed business travellers, with special lights, food, aromatherapy, power naps, "thin air" breathing and pillows.

For €60 (A$75), a tailored programme from sleep consultant and stress expert Dr Michael Feld can be added to your room rate.

In the morning, you'll start the day with either a 30-minute session in front of a body-clock-resetting 10,000 lux bright light lamp or a Valkee portable "light to go" headset that focuses light through your ears into your head.

No, we're not making that up:

A herby "power drink" from the hotel's executive chef comes up next with "a combination of herbs designed to have an energising effect".

You'll also receive an aromatherapy session with lemongrass essences and citrus oils to activate the parts of the brain sensitive to smell.

Altogether, the hotel promises "enhanced performance, mood and fitness – enabling the guest to feel more awake and enjoy a greater sense of vitality".

At lunchtime, the hotel makes its PowerNap Lounge with Eurofoam Inemuri Loungers available. A 20-30 minute snooze on the napping couches (with "relaxing colour and sound ambience") and you'll be ready to go.

It's back to the PowerNap Lounge in the evening, with a 30-minute session of breathing thin mountain air.

Why thin air? The hotel claims "inhaling thin air causes nitrogen monoxide – which widens blood vessels and aids relaxation – to be released into the bloodstream, resulting in lower blood pressure and a pleasant sense of relaxation, which in turn promotes deeper sleep."

When it's time for bed, you'll find a special sound pillow with binaural beats to "increase the level of relaxing sleep brainwaves, making it easier to achieve a restful sleep".

What do you reckon -- worth the €60? Or would you rather spend that on lots of decent coffee and a good whisky at the end of the day? Sound off in our comment section below.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.