A few days (or more) at a wellness-focused resort can do wonders for the body, mind and spirit, but not every restorative trip is created equally. Here are five things to consider before deciding on a getaway designed to leave you refreshed and revitalized.
What’s Your Goal for the Getaway?
You may “just” want to relax, unwind, destress and temporarily escape from your day-to-day responsibilities. But if you have intentions beyond that, consider selecting a property with your targeted wellness focus. Tucson’s Canyon Ranch’s weight loss programs will help you get on track to shed those pounds, VIVAMAYR in Austria is perfect for detoxing after overindulging or chronic, unhealthy eating and drinking. Kamalaya in Thailand takes a holistic approach to wellness, and the dermatologically focused treatments at Switzerland’s Clinique La Prairie will leave your skin feeling unbelievably rejuvenated.
What Type of Setting Instills a Feeling of Zen?
Your surroundings definitely affect your mood during a wellness getaway. If hearing the surf while you sleep calms and restores you, you’ll do well to book a getaway at a property like BodyHoliday, situated on a private beach in St. Lucia. If you are more of a tree whisperer, you might prefer Sundara Inn & Spa, located on an 80-acre pine forest in Wisconsin. Get out in a kayak or on a standup paddleboard on the placid waters at Lake Austin Spa Resort, or immerse yourself in secluded desert life at Amangiri in Utah. And if you need to be near a city for urban pursuits like shopping and bar hopping, Cal-a-Vie is located close to San Diego.
Which Kind of Fitness Activities Do You Prefer?
Most wellness resorts offer a variety of high-energy options including boot camp classes, kickboxing and hiking, as well as lower-key ones like yoga, tai chi or stretching. However, some have a narrower focus. The Ranch Malibu offers an intense week (or more) with daily four-hour morning group hiking excursions followed by lunch, a nap, afternoon strength training, yoga and a daily massage. And Mii Amo, set on 70 acres in Boynton Canyon, is one of four places in Sedona known for its spiritual vortices, or storied sites of concentrated energy, where you can engage in meditation and mindfulness.
Is Healthful or Indulgent Food and Beverage More Important?
The culinary programs at some destinations focus on strict spa cuisine, like The Retreat Costa Rica, where menus are curated by celebrity chef Diana Stobo and all dishes are free of gluten, dairy and refined sugars. Program options at We Care Detox Spa in Desert Springs, California, include juice cleanses from the detox mixologist and colonics for a thorough digestive flushing. On the flip side, Miraval Arizona allows guests a cheat day, and Six Senses Douro Valley in Portugal offers a tasting of local Port wines. Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in England features local dishes on the menu including Old Spot pork fritters with smoked mayo and Isle of Wight tomato salad.
What’s Your Vision for Spa Treatments?
Often, treatments make use of local ingredients, such as at the Amanera in the Dominican Republic, where sessions start with guests muddling plants and herbs snipped from the on-site garden to be used in scrubs and poultices. The spa at La Réserve Genève is inspired by Turkish hammam, a series of communal steam rooms with damp heat, showers, exfoliation and bath salts. The hydrotherapy circuit at the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort is one of the most extensive in the United States, with private men’s and women’s hot and cold areas with experiential rains, a foot spa and a vitality tub with bubbling jets. Tucked in the Himalayan foothills of North India in the former palace estate of the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal, Ananda houses a spa with a focus on Ayurveda, one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems.
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