Can checking into a heartbreak hotel help mend a broken heart? From the lush jungles of Thailand to the rolling hills of Tuscany, these four heartbreak hotels offer solace for those seeking to heal a broken heart.
The feeling of heartbreak is pretty universal. It’s talked about in dimly lit bars alongside cocktails and friends. It’s pondered during long flights and train rides, lingering as we explore unfamiliar places.
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My first heartbreak was a monumental moment, leaving me paralyzed with the uncertainty of how to move forward. Cue the sad-girl phase filled with angsty music, poetry and spontaneous trips to anywhere but here.
Looking back, that period of my life was transformational. Travel has a way of getting you in your feels unlike anything else. Those long flights, train and bus rides, and meandering city walks leave room for contemplation, grieving and if you let it, a lot of healing, too.
I’ve cried in the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb reliving what could have been, witnessed the slow unraveling of a relationship in a Costa Rican sweat lodge and created a short film in Rome to process a difficult split.
And I’m far from the only one who has taken a heartbreak-inspired escape. Elizabeth Gilbert is probably the most noteworthy, with her book Eat, Pray, Love. After a difficult divorce, Gilbert travels to Italy, India and Indonesia in search of acceptance.
In Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun —you guessed it—she travels to Tuscany and subsequently moves there after her divorce. In the film The Holiday, Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet swap houses after heartbreak. And in Sex in The City 2, Carrie and gang go to Abu Dhabi after Big leaves her at the altar.
Four Heartbreak Hotels
But how exactly does travel inspire healing? It forces you into moments of self-reflection, whether wandering moodily through a museum or nursing a Spritz at a cozy café. The journey itself can feel like progress, moving you away from the constant reminders of a former fling. If you’re willing to embrace the melancholy of it all, you might emerge stronger on the other side.
For some, healing begins with getting away. For others, a self-nurturing stay at a retreat is the elixir to mend a broken heart. Ready to turn your heartbreak into hope? Below, we share four heartbreak hotels offering wellness experiences to help jumpstart your journey of moving on.
1. The Heartbreak Hotel — Norfolk, England
Designed specifically to help those dealing with heartbreak, The Heartbreak Hotel offers multiple retreat options. The immersive retreats provide one-on-one therapy, group sessions and plenty of pampering.
Their retreats bring together people from all walks of life, united by their shared experiences. If you can’t make it to the estate, pop-up retreats in London offer a condensed version of their life-changing workshops.
2. Kamalaya Koh Samui — Thailand
Beautifully tucked within the verdant jungles of Koh Samui’s southern coast, Kamalaya offers a synergistic wellness journey of self-discovery. Guided by expert Life Enhancement Mentors, you’ll delve deep into your emotional landscape to uncover and reframe patterns. The Embracing Change program supports your path to healing past traumas, and enriching your connection with yourself and others.
Complemented by carefully curated holistic massages and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kamalaya’s approach gently rebalances your physical and emotional well-being, leaving you renewed, recharged and ready to embrace a brighter future.
3. Amankora — Bhutan
Located deep in the remote valleys of Bhutan, Amankora offers the perfect setting for self-reflection with their Solo Sojourn. This 10- or 13-night solo retreat is designed for those grappling with heartbreak, providing guests ample time to heal amid stunning landscapes.
Each lodge is a peaceful retreat where you can reflect, recharge and reconnect with yourself through Bhutan’s deeply spiritual culture.
4. Borgo Santo Pietro — Italy
If the Tuscan hills can’t mend a broken heart, what can? The Borgo Santo Pietro estate in Italy is as picturesque as they come, and the Harmony & Renewal Retreat will help you feel truly taken care of.
From farm-to-table meals at their fine dining restaurant to luxurious treatments with Seed To Skin products crafted on-site, this retreat will leave you feeling nourished inside and out.
Can Travel Mend a Broken Heart?
While there’s no magical cure for heartbreak, travel allows us to explore our emotions in a way that day-to-day life can’t. Whether escaping to the serenity of Bhutan or seeking solace in a Tuscan retreat, these heartbreak hotels offer space to heal and grow.
Travel won’t erase the pain but it absolutely can open the door to new perspectives. And maybe, just maybe, help you start mending that broken heart.
About Vacayou
At Vacayou [pronounced VACAY – YOU], we believe that travel has the power to change lives. The power to revive, rejuvenate and redirect your inner wellness warrior. And that’s why we’re here. Vacayou brings the world of wellness travel to you!
No matter how far or how adventurous, our team scours the globe to curate the best in wellness travel. However, the booking process can often be time-consuming and complicated. We’ve made it much easier to search, discover, and book wellness and active vacations. With Vacayou’s Instant Book, your dream wellness getaway is now just a click away.
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