Last updated July 1, 2024
Everyone deserves a little getaway. What better way to make memories than with your support circle? Extensive research suggests that not only are social wellness retreats good for your health and well-being but also your relationships.
In life, it’s not where you go – it’s who you travel with.
Charles M. Schulz
Whether you and your friend group are looking for a beachside yoga retreat, a pampering cityscape or an adventurous wilderness excursion, these 12 social wellness retreats are sure to deliver in terms of social and wellness. Plus they will make for an unforgettable vacation.
Social Wellness Retreat: Cityscape Destinations
Experience pampering, fine dining and plenty of wine on a cityscape weekend.
1. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge — Brooklyn, New York
What we love:
Picture floor-to-ceiling windows, industrial-chic touches and native greenery as you enjoy your social wellness retreat at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in New York. With breathtaking views of the iconic Manhattan skyline and East River, this Brooklyn waterfront retreat is nothing short of amazing.
Venture out during the day and discover the Big Apple; return to the hotel for dinner and savor farm-to-table cuisine at the signature restaurant; end your night with an evening dip in the rooftop plunge pool.
Don’t miss:
Indulge in a whole new world of wellness at the luxurious Bamford Haybarn Wellness Spa with holistic treatments based around a heartfelt connection to nature. Each treatment is customized using specially formulated organic products.
2. Virgin Hotels Nashville — Nashville, Tennessee
What we love:
Pack your cowgirl or cowboy boots because Virgin Hotels Nashville turns up the volume of your stay in the heart of Music City. This boutique hotel is ideal for a girl’s weekend.
Guest rooms (or “Chambers” as the property calls them) feature stand-alone vanities and glam meeting spaces. Start your morning with sunrise yoga—each Chamber comes with mats so you don’t have to pack your own—then enjoy a hearty breakfast before stepping out to explore the legendary city. After a day on the town, soak up the Southern sun at the rooftop pool.
Don’s miss:
Make the most of your social wellness retreat and reserve interconnecting suites so your “pajama party” never ends. These interconnecting guest rooms feature an air of British aristocracy and, of course, Nashville’s very own Southern charm.
3. The Joule — Dallas, Texas
What we love:
This posh boutique hotel in Dallas is a property we constantly rave about here at Vacayou. A social wellness retreat like nowhere else, The Joule lends an experience of both the hustle-bustle of city life and a restorative getaway.
For foodies, the modern open-kitchen Texas brasserie is a dining destination in and of itself. Along with an exceptional cocktail menu, a wine list emphasizing small producers and a beer program showcasing the local craft brewing community—The Joule is a Texas-sized way to spend a long weekend.
Don’t miss:
The Spa at the Joule is a sanctuary of calmness, where everyone in your group can pause and reset. Spanning two floors of sheer indulgence—a crystal steam room, sauna, vitality pool with built-in air massage loungers, pre-and post-treatment relaxation areas, and an ice fountain—this subterranean space is the one spa y’all do not want to miss.
4. Hayfield Manor Hotel — Cork City, Ireland
What we love:
First-class service is what sets this boutique hotel apart. Located on the cusp of Cork City, the Hayfield Manor Hotel is an Irish landmark filled with 18th-century novels, antiques and lush fabrics, and authentic charm.
Adventure into Cork and indulge in what the city is renowned for—local gourmet fare! Wind down your day with a spot of Irish afternoon tea, fresh baked goods, and of course, champagne. The Boutique Spa offers a range of treatments for both men and women.
Don’t miss:
Each guest room at Hayfield Manor Hotel features a special golf putter set, encouraging guests to play a round (or two) during their stay. Tee off on your own time or make it a social event in this golfer’s paradise. For the non-golfers, sightseeing around the city while also practicing your swing is something you can’t pass up in Ireland!
Social Wellness Retreat: Off-the-Grid Wilderness Destinations
Adventure where the Wi-Fi is sparse and the spirits are high. This is a social wellness recharge that everyone has been craving.
5. Sage Lodge — Bozeman, Montana
What we love:
Every indoor and outdoor space at Sage Lodge is distinctly Montana and infused with a touch of Western comfort. Located amidst the rugged beauty of Paradise Valley on the banks of the Yellowstone River, this luxury lodge is the perfect launchpad for adventure.
Take the group outdoors for activities such as fly fishing, rafting, horseback riding and mountain biking. Or meander across the rugged terrain as you all catch up on the range. And experience a softer side of the Wild West with a visit to the spa where you can relax your mind and rejuvenate your soul with services ranging from massages to facials to body treatments.
Don’t miss:
Keep the western adventure alive and discover Yellowstone National Park. Sage Lodge is less than one hour away from America’s first national park and the sightseeing is something you can’t miss. Lace up your hiking boots and pack your favorite water bottle as you explore the wonders of wildlife and wilderness.
6. Devil’s Thumb Ranch — Tabernash, Colorado
What we love:
Nestled between Boulder and Vail in the Colorado Rockies, Devil’s Thumb Ranch is a tucked-away haven of untamed wonder for those seeking a wildly unscripted yet perfectly planned Wild West adventure. With 6,500 acres of wide-open terrain, your stay at this full-service resort and spa will be—dare we say—an authentic ranch experience.
Savor Western-inspired cuisine, snuggle up by the fire each evening in your rustic log cabin kitted with a wood-burning fireplace and rise and shine with morning hikes across the lush valley. Soak in the beauty of Colorado at the hand-hewn log spa where pampering massages, rejuvenating skin treatments and more reset your body and mind.
Don’t miss:
From downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in a magical snow-globe setting during the winter months to biking through wildflowers, catching rainbow trout and zip-lining in the warmer months, Devil’s Thumb is sure to be a bucket-list-worthy wilderness escape in any season.
7. Nimmo Bay Resort — British Columbia, Canada
What we love:
Getting to Nimmo Bay is half the fun—you can only arrive via seaplane or helicopter—making this destination one of Vacayou’s most remote and off-the-grid resorts. Located in the heart of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest and on the wild shores of the Pacific Ocean, Nimmo Bay Resort offers guests a serene social wellness retreat.
Rediscover the wild within and meet yourself in nature. Smell the scent of cedar in the air. Taste the sea salt on your tongue. Observe local wildlife in their natural habitat. Sink into a soothing massage before paddling out to the floating sauna. And sleep soundly in the luxury of stillness in a private cabin.
Don’t miss:
If you can imagine it, Nimmo Bay can deliver. Nimmo Bay offers customized planning for groups and adrenaline seekers. Take your social wellness retreat to new heights and explore the wild side by including fly fishing out on uncharted waters, mountain biking along deserted beaches and stand-up paddleboarding on an alpine lake.
8. Four Seasons Resort — Jackson Hole, Wyoming
What we love:
Not just a winter destination, Jackson Hole has plenty of year-round adventures for your group. With the Grand Tetons as its backyard, Four Season Resort is situated next to some of America’s most rigid peaks, world-renowned ski runs and biking trails—and one of the best après in Wyoming.
Soothe every muscle with a customized aromatherapy massage or soak in the heated pool. Reminisce around the fireplace after a day of skiing, snowboarding, fly fishing, mountain biking, rafting or climbing high above the mountain floor. Rustic adventure awaits at this five-star mountain lodge.
Don’t miss:
Does your group crave heart-pumping alpine adventure? Head into the great wide open with the resort’s naturalist programs. Experience the view from above on a tandem paragliding flight. Climb along the Via Ferrata across suspended bridges and along granite walls. Explore uncharted Yellowstone and witness its spectacular geysers, hot springs and mud volcanoes.
Social Wellness Retreat: Beachside Destinations
Sunrise morning yoga, exquisite cuisine and vitamin sea are all you need when you’re on island time.
9. Andaz Maui at Wailea — Wailea, Hawaii
What we love:
Who wouldn’t want to wake up to the sound of chirping tropical birds and rolling waves brushing ashore? Set on 15 acres of beachfront property, Andaz Maui encourages guests to get up, get moving and take the plunge in the Pacific. With a variety of fitness classes including beach boot camp, sunrise beach yoga, mindful meditation and Peloton bike sessions, your wellness journey is endless.
Spend the day at one of five pools including cascading infinity pools, a lagoon pool and an adult tranquility pool. Book an afternoon appointment at the exclusive spa and indulge in a unique apothecary experience with personalized treatments using local elements from Maui.
Don’t miss:
Keep your social wellness retreat—well, social. Reserve a two-to-four-bedroom residential villa complete with lanai, private plunge pool or hot tub, and sweeping views of the ocean. Make everlasting memories as you snorkel, kayak or indulge in an`ohana-style meal of fifteen locally inspired dishes. And you can document it all with a GoPro HERO 4 camera—complimentary use for guests!
10. Meliá Punta Cana Beach — Dominican Republic
What we love:
Located on Bávaro Beach, the all-inclusive Meliá Punta Cana Beach will change the way you think about a social wellness retreat. The upscale beachfront resort is surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and integrates nature into every corner of the property.
The wellness oasis here offers a unique “Well-Being 360 Experience” in five spaces: social, silent, sensorial, culinary and personal, in an exclusive adults-only environment. Gaze onto the Caribbean from your oceanside suite or take in the view of the tropical gardens. Your wish is Meliá’s command.
Don’t miss:
Guests rave about the activities that Meliá Punta Cana Beach offers, so book you and your friends into a few of these guided group classes! Start your day with sunrise yoga, focus and manifest in a meditation class, perfect your cooking skills in a culinary course, get active with bike tours or take botanical garden workshops and end your night with fire ritual ceremonies.
11. Casa Velas — Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
What we love:
This exclusive all-inclusive adults-only boutique hotel is definitely one for the social wellness books. Each Wellness Suite features a private terrace and plunge pool that overlooks tropical gardens or the golf course.
Spend the afternoons lounging beachside in Balinese beds or explore the many resort activities such as yoga, cooking classes, tequila tasting or championship golf. The resort’s award-winning cuisine will surpass any expectation of culinary delight!
Don’t miss:
A trip to Casa Velas would not be complete without a visit to the world-class ABJA Spa. Inspired by local Mexican tradition and holistic wellness rituals, this full-service spa is exactly what your group needs to rejuvenate and reset. Breathe in scents of lavender, lemongrass and eucalyptus while you discover a spa experience that will pamper your body and heighten your senses.
12. Paradisus — Cancun, Mexico
What we love:
Although this all-inclusive mega-resort is located in the bustling Zona Hotelera, the vibe here is as serene and laid back as you can get. Whether you are strolling along the Caribbean beaches, swimming in the lagoon-inspired pools or dining in any of the ten restaurants, all you and your group have to think about is having a great time. History buffs take note: Paradisus is built with five interconnecting pyramid-inspired towers that pay tribute to the Mayan culture.
Don’t miss:
Blue sea and white sand beaches—the quintessential Mexican Caribbean getaway. But there’s more to Quintana Roo. Explore the real Cancun where you can swim in cenotes, hike a rainforest and take a tour of ancient ruins.
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 one click away.
Start the trip of your lifetime today, with Vacayou. We are here to help create a healthier global community through wellness and active travel.
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