Last updated September 23, 2023
Travel is back and its future looks very bright: The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) forecasts that the market will soar to $1.3 trillion by 2025.
While we will most probably always remain cautious, we are all well overdue for some well-being indulgence and a getaway either in the U.S. or beyond.
With so many options and so much eagerness, where does one begin in choosing the perfect wellness vacation getaway?
Taking into consideration trends over the past few years, here are some tips to help you plan the perfect wellness getaway and will intentionally give a bit more well-rounded scope of what defines “wellness travel.”
1. Mind or Body Training
Well-being, at its core, is the connection between mind and body. For either of these, both work hand-in-hand.
With wellness retreats, certain destinations may focus on mindfulness, conscious awakening, meditation, beach walks and meditation; others, spiritual and holistic activities. This includes yoga.
Then, other wellness vacation getaways focus more on fitness, including high-intensity exercise, gym workouts, personal trainers and special dietary needs.
2. Scheduled Activities or Choose As You Go
Are you the kind of person who likes to do every activity on the list? Or, do very little and only partake in what you wish?
Many retreats or wellness vacation getaways will have a full calendar and schedule of well-being activities that are either included, or you can add on.
Some are very strict, and others you can pick and choose and go with your own flow.
Retreats at certain Ashrams can have very specific rise and bedtimes, while with the majority of retreats, you wake up at your own will, join in on the morning beach walks or meditations, and select your meal style (vegetarian or flexitarian for example).
The majority of the time, unless specified, you can tell the coordinator in advance which style you prefer, and the resort will accommodate.
3. Business, Leisure or Bleisure
This one’s an easy one to peg upfront: is the purpose of the destination for work, rest and restore, or a bit of both, if you can combine?
One of my personal favorite ways to travel, “bleisure,” combines a bit of both for us working nomads who can.
As we’ve seen over the past year, many of us working from home, we recognize that we can work remotely.
Being able to combine our morning meetings overlooking a terrace facing the ocean and spend the afternoon poolside practicing yoga on a deck in front of turquoise waters, can combine the mix of the two. And, if you can, why not?!
A travel entrepreneur tip: If you’re traveling for business or pleasure, ensure the resort that you’re staying at has strong Wi-Fi for any network connections you may need.
4. Weekend Excursion or Work Remotely
Are you looking to get away for the weekend or the month? Many resorts are now open to either, with a discount on extended stay or programs.
A four-day wellness vacation getaway can be perfect for a long weekend, with many easily accessible within the states.
If you’re a digital nomad or can swing it with your work, you can take your laptop, pack your bags, and work remotely for a stay for three weeks, if not longer, making the most of an international destination.
Once again, if you’re working remotely, ensure that the spot that you’re staying at has high-quality Wi-Fi and a good space to set up your workstation.
5. Wellness as a Destination—or the Journey
Do you plan to go somewhere exclusively to learn about wellness? Or, is wellness something that you want to incorporate into your lifestyle?
Maybe you want to take a couple of classes to learn more about your yoga practice or your mindfulness habits.
This kind of goes hand-in-hand with the structured versus non-structured wellness vacation getaway schedule.
At some places, you can join a class or two, while at other resorts, you’ll have a variety of in-depth holistic healing exercises to focus all of your time and effort on.
So ask yourself, is wellness the side dish or the main course? And decide from there.
6. Staycation or Venture Afar
How far are you willing to travel at this moment? If you prefer to stay close to home, perhaps somewhere local for a staycation may be a better idea.
Or, if you’re looking to get out, cross borders, or maybe head to a remote island, a passport and international excursion may be a more fitting choice.
This will also depend on how much time you have to commit to traveling and if you can work remotely as well. Most major cities like Los Angeles, Miami or New York have wellness resort destinations within a two-hour driving distance that you can access.
Tip: while island adventures are now open, you’ll want to check what travel restrictions are enforced before your departure.
Ready to Book Your Wellness Vacation Getaway?
As you can see from the list above, the concept of “wellness travel” is a large umbrella with quite a few categories to consider and choose from!
Momentum has been building around wellness travel, and there is no better time than now to test the waters on a wellness vacation getaway for the well-being of body and mind.
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. But the booking process can often be time-consuming and complicated. We’ve made it much easier for you 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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