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'I used to be a fantastic sleeper," Amanda Ross says. But then the 37-year-old had a baby. "Suddenly I couldn't fall asleep, and when I did, I usually woke up a few hours later."

By the time she had her second child, Ross had what she thought was incurable insomnia. But as editor of HomeSpa magazine, she knew there was help at hand. The latest trend in spas: Not just relaxing massages, but sleep therapy.

In fact, according to Susie Ellis, the president of Spa Finder, requests for sleep programs tripled last year. And spas are responding. Some are offering flotation tanks to promote deep rest, while others have launched dedicated nap chambers. Then there are intensive workshops to help guests stop tossing and turning for good.

That's what Ross had in mind when she signed up for the Sweet Art of Sleep Seduction last year. Led by Robert de Stefano, the spa world's "sleep whisperer," the four-day session at Red Mountain Spa in Utah teaches participants how to get a good night's sleep - even after their vacations end.

"I am now entirely cured," a well-rested Ross says. "When my head hits the pillow, I'm out immediately."

It's true, she adds, she also bought a "really, really good mattress." And she admits that, like most self-improvement programs, her workshop wouldn't have worked if she hadn't been committed.

But whether you are committed to a whole new approach to sleep or just want a luxe nap to recharge from a day spent hiking or sightseeing, spas are increasingly catering to sweet dreams. And experts predict that the trend will continue into the next decade.

Herewith, a few best bets for dream vacations right now.

CANYON RANCH

TUCSON, ARIZ.

Located in a magical land of mountains and desert foothills, it seems like a shame to sleep the day away at Canyon Ranch. But then this is a grand dame of life-enhancement retreats - and this spa pioneered the doctor-led sleep program more than a decade ago. The current incarnation is called Rest & Rejuvenate: The Power of Sleep. Run by Phil Eichling - a sleep expert and the director of the Canyon Ranch Executive Health Program - it covers everything from mindfulness meditation to tips on "sleep hygiene." And should you feel like tiring yourself out with physical activity? The complex includes six gyms, 45 fitness classes, an indoor aquatic centre and even an art gallery.

YELO

NEW YORK CITY

It may be the city that never sleeps, but New Yorkers certainly take their naps seriously. A case in point: the Yelo salon, launched last year, where clients are escorted into futuristic sleep cabins called YeloCabs - hexagonal pods pimped out with a reclining leather chair, purified air and a Nepalese cashmere blankie. When each nap begins, the "zero-gravity" YeloChair reclines to elevate clients' legs above their hearts, meant to slow down their pulse and encourage full relaxation. When time's up - about 20 minutes later (just the amount of time research suggests is optimal) - LED lights simulate a sunrise for a gentle awakening. If you need a little help winding down, there are also packages that combine a 20-to 40 -minute foot or shoulder massage and a restful 20 minutes of snooze time.

CHIVA-SOM SPA

HUA HIN, THAILAND

At this wellness village, rooms overlook more than two hectares of beachfront on the Gulf of Thailand. But if that isn't soothing enough, there are also two programs targeted at guests with insomnia. Karl J. Neeser, Chiva-Som's resident anti-aging specialist, offers one session for guests with minor sleeping disorders and a second for those trying to wean themselves off pharmaceutical sleeping aids. Both courses touch on the causes of insomnia - which can include depression, anxiety and excessive use of stimulants - and explore exercise and melatonin regimens that can help with more healthful sleep. The good doctor also recommends spa treatments such as Shirodhara, a form of Ayurveda therapy where warm oil is poured over the "third eye" on the forehead, and flotation therapy, where spa-goers lie suspended in supersaturated, body-temperature water in a special domed float room.

MAYFLOWER INN & SPA

WASHINGTON, CONN.

This five-star inn has been here for decades, but the 20,000-square-foot spa is new. And it's definitely designed to make guests feel pampered. The property now includes rooms filled with four-poster beds, an oak-shaded pond and spa dinners such as juicy rare tenderloin and baked apples. Still, even luxury doesn't guarantee a good night's sleep. So enter a three-day workshop called Whisper in the Night, Roar in the Day. Targeted at stress-induced insomnia, it's led by sleep guru Robert de Stefano and Amy Galper, the founder of a successful line of organic body-care products. The program includes sessions on drug-free sleep techniques, shiatsu massage and aromatherapy. Each guest also gets a personalized activity schedule based on a pre-trip phone consultation with the spa director.

RED MOUNTAIN SPA

IVINS, UTAH

Towering red cliffs and rock formations are the backdrop for this self-styled "adventure spa." And Red Mountain does have 40 guides to take guests on more than 30 trails. But the spa also understands the power of a good post-hike rest: Sleep retreats include several daily sessions (including one on releasing "negative sleep entrapments") led by Robert de Stefano. If you can keep your eyes open long enough, there are also daily cooking classes and a spa restaurant that serves gourmet, calorie-wise fare such as coriander-crusted chicken. And don't forget the full-service Sagestone spa here. It offers "desert rain" massages and sleep-inducing green clay facials.

Pack your bags

YELO 315 West 57th St., New York; 212-245-8235; http://www.yelonyc.com. A 20-minute YeloNap is $15 (U.S.). A 30-minute NapPlus - which includes a quick shoulder or foot massage is $40.

CANYON RANCH 8600 E. Rockcliff Rd., Tucson; 800-742-9000; http://www.canyonranch.com.

The next Power of Sleep program is Sept. 7-13. All-inclusive packages start at $3,030 (U.S.) a person, based on double occupancy. Also included in select wellness vacations are fitness classes, guided hikes and biking excursions, cooking demos and a health and fitness assessment.

CHIVA-SOM SPA 73/4 Petchkasem Rd., Hua Hin, Thailand; +66 32 536 536; http://www.chivasom.com. Sleep programs are ongoing. Retreats include spa meals, a daily massage, a health and wellness consultation and fitness and leisure programming. Prices for a three-night oceanview single starts at $1,665 (U.S.).

MAYFLOWER INN & SPA 118 Woodbury Rd., Washington, Conn.; 860-868-9466; http://www.mayflowerinn.com. The next deep focus sleep course is Jan. 18-20, 2009. It is part of two spa plans: The Above and Beyond Experience starting at $4,800 (U.S.) that includes a room, meals, unlimited treatments and classes such as Sound Therapy; the Mini-Luxe Experience starting at $2,250 for two nights.

RED MONTAIN SPA 1275 E. Red Mountain Circle, Ivins, Utah; 877-246-4453; http://www.redmountainspa.com. The next sleep programs run Sept. 18-21 and Nov. 13-16. The cost is $435 (U.S.) a person a night (double occupancy) and includes sessions with Robert de Stefano, a 50-minute "nocturnals" massage, a sleep kit and CD - as well as meals, guided hikes and unlimited fitness classes.