Wellness holidays

Develop your body strength, enhance your flexibility, and stabilise your core muscles with our best Pilates retreats to book for 2021. Secluded in mountains, surrounded by lush greenery, overlooking turquoise water, these retreats guarantee tranquillity, calm, and beauty. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, our bespoke Pilates retreats can cater to the individual needs. Regain your energy with yoga, massage, meditation at world-class spa centres. Couple this with a variety of traditional culinary delights, a range of sports including hiking, biking, skiing, golf, and water sports to give you the optimum experience. Discover the best Pilates retreats to book ahead of 2021 that will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and with a renewed sense of vitality.

Stress is not necessarily a bad thing.  After all, it’s because of this distinctive ability to feel stress that our species have survived for billions of years. It triggers our ‘fight or flight’ response whenever we’re under attack or in the brink of danger, keeping us safe from potential threats. However, when left unchecked, stress becomes overwhelming – leading to a host of mental and physical problems that may consequently be detrimental to our health.

The art of acupuncture has been practiced for over two millennia, in which time it has built a substantial reputation as a leading alternative therapy. With the simple,  non-invasive application of delicate needles, all manner of uncomfortable or life-altering conditions can be eased. Many mental illnesses, like anxiety and depression, can be treated through acupuncture’s gentle stimulation of the nerve endings. The symptoms of physical conditions such as migraines can likewise be dramatically lessened, including muscular issues like hypertension, chronic pain and menstrual cramps.

Living in today’s fast-paced world, a holiday to an exotic tropical paradise where you can embrace pure relaxation on a luxury spa retreat might just be at the top of everyone’s travel wish list. From the lush forests of Costa Rica to the tropical hills of Bali, you are sure to experience your dream holiday on a spa retreat in paradise with just the right mix of leisure and adventure. These beautiful, exotic destinations offer the full package; magnificent surroundings to explore, a whole new cultural experience, delicious flavourful menus, fun activities, and luxurious spas for ultimate relaxation, making them the best spa retreats in paradise.

Yes, you can travel again! It is time to explore new horizons and put the Covid- 19 chaos behind you. We are all relishing the recent move by the UK government to allow those who have been doubly vaccinated to enjoy quarantine-free travel upon their return to the UK from amber list countries! We’ve seen a huge rise in enquiries and bookings for wellness holidays, which reflects all of our eagerness to go abroad, explore and relax while pursuing a healthier lifestyle. Whether you’re jetting off solo on a singles holiday or with the whole family, stamp your passports and make every moment a memory.

If you’ve been suffering from symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression, the world can seem like an intimidating and isolating place. But there is no need to shut yourself away, as a wellness recovery holiday could be needed after suffering from stress-induced burnouts by offering a de-stressing escape in secluded and peaceful spa destinations worldwide.

“I’m just too busy, I can’t take time off work”. The notion of being too busy, not wanting to miss out on opportunities, piling more work on to colleagues or the judgement of superiors are just some of the reasons why we are working late, skipping lunch and passing on annual leave that could be spent relaxing on holiday or embarking on longer term wellness sabbaticals. 

Explore the incredible blue waters and magnificent mountains of the Mediterranean with a wellness spa retreat in Cyprus. The year-long sunshine provides the perfect setting for a well-earned escape from anxieties and stress, giving you a chance to put your feet up and settle into a pampered paradise. With locally grown produce, traditional Mediterranean dishes and an array of exciting international cuisines you have plenty of culinary delights to choose from, and combined with the fantastic views and luxury treatments, you’re sure to have an unforgettable spa holiday. 

Spa and Hammam have been part of Turkish culture for the past 1400 years. Some of Istanbul’s marble bath houses have been in use since the early 18^th Century. Our contemporary spa retreats may lack the impressive age of some of Turkey’s oldest bath houses but they certainly continue the ethos of their traditional practices.

Escape the chill and swap your woolly hat for a straw one with these sun-soaked wellness holidays, guaranteed to put a smile on your face. With the short winter days meaning the only chance for some sunshine is a chilly dash outside at lunchtime, many of us spend our time daydreaming of long white beaches and balmy evenings. The British summer may still seem a long way off but with our warming winter escapes tropical weather, exhilarating adventures and luxurious spa treatments are all just a plane journey away. 

Whether we’re hunched over a computer or curled in front of the TV at night watching repeats of gogglebox, we can all be a bit guilty of not giving our bodies the love they deserve; modern life has become more online and reduces the opportunity to be more active. Yoga, whether you never have a moment to sit down or your back has cramped and seized up, is a brilliant way to stretch out your body, and give it somemuch-needed attention. It can not only improve movement and flexibility within your body but also train your mind, nurturing yourmental health. With this in mind, we’ve put together our bestyoga retreats – from budget to luxury to suit all budgets and occasions.  

The habits of travellers have changed, more people are favouring a wellness staycation, there are new demands for immunity boosting retreats, socially distanced wellness trips, private jet wellness journeys and working remotely on holiday; personal health and fitness are now top priority for travel. Embracing the future of wellness travel, our specialist team at Health and Fitness Travel continue to forecast the biggest wellness travel trends. With 2021 set to be the year when travellers push for a return to normality and with more people choosing longer, even season-length health and fitness escapes, the pandemic has changed how we travel.  

Healthy Hibernation Holidays  

The winter months are going to see a boom in people taking long stay healthy hibernation holidays to enjoy a double dose of summer. Winter sun destinations with lower Covid-19 risk and Covid-19 safe certified wellness resorts are going to be the most popular. St Lucia, Mauritius, Vietnam, Maldives, and Thailand provide safer environments for long winter stay wellness escapes. Healthy hibernation holidays provide attractive benefits that will entice people despite the uncertainty of travel restrictions. Season length holidays are a chance to escape; to improve one’s immunity in a healthier climate and have some much-needed fun after spending a year in isolation. Instead of becoming unattractive, the prospect of seasonal migration is being made more enticing by travel restrictions.

Top Wellness Destinations: St Lucia, Thailand, Mauritius

Staycation Wellness Boom

2021 is going to see an unprecedented rise in the number of travellers looking for Due to a continued hampering of consumer confidence in foreign travel, people are searching for holidays to improve their health and fitness without always having to go overseas. With a 22% increase already on bookings for the same point last year – whether it’s a healthy break to de-stress or an active holiday to boost physical well-being in the scenic beauty of the British countryside;  wellness staycations are proving to be the perfect opportunity to kickstart, or maintain a healthy lifestyle and boost our immunity, all from the comfort of our own country.

Top Wellness Destinations:

Immunity Booster Retreats

Our immunity is more important than ever. Until a vaccine is available, our immune systems will need to adapt unaided to Covid-19. We all want a long and healthy life, to be free of disease and to limit health conditions. As a relaxing and reliable solution to the prominent health concerns of today, healing holidays designed to boost the immune system are becoming increasingly popular. Immune boosting retreats are offered in many locations for a secluded, social distancing friendly getaway to focus on personal well-being. Weight loss programmes, fitness classes, specialised treatments and sunnier climates are all married together to aid your body’s natural defences as a break from the lang au}{/lang}winter. Those who prioritise personal wellbeing and still wish to travel are choosing immunity boosting holidays as a way of healing, physically and emotionally, with the help of doctors, nutritionists, and health practitioners.

Top Wellness Destinations: Euphoria Retreat, Kamalaya, Galo Retreat

Self-Care Now an Essential Part of Travel

What was a necessity during lockdown is now becoming a driving factor in holiday planning. The threat of serious illness was a powerful motivator for many to focus on their own health and fitness. Many had to learn the art of self-care during lockdown, whether that’s healthy eating or regular exercise, and now have a desire to turn that wellness project into a lifestyle. Wellness retreats are rare opportunities for devotion to personal care through yoga, guided meditation, spa therapies and other wellness treatments and activities. This type of self-care travel can be tailored for any location and made bespoke for any group. Healthy holidays with intent purpose of fostering personal betterment are going to grow in relevancy through 2021, and long into the next decade. After all, it is unlikely that being unhealthy is going to become popular any time soon.

Top Wellness Destinations: Training Paradise, Conrad Algarve, Longevity Health & Wellness Resort.

Working Remotely on Holiday to Stay Healthy

With the rise of remote work and the ongoing restrictions of Covid-19, many are leaving their home offices for the chance of working from a picturesque wellness holiday destination. Technology has facilitated many workers to perform their job effectively from anywhere there is phone signal and a strong Wi-Fi connection. Instead of working remotely from home, we are starting to discover that leaving the UK winter behind and working from holiday has remarkable benefits. Productivity is not hampered we become more efficient; many destinations like St Lucia and Madeira are far safer havens for the pandemic than places like the UK or USA. Clients can also facilitate their work schedule around their health and fitness programme on holiday so they can attend morning and evening activities and spa treatments scheduled around their working day with greater flexibility over the weekends.

Top Wellness Destinations: BodyHoliday, Kamalaya, The Retreat Costa Rica

Social Distance Wellness Trips to Far Flung Locations

A greater number of holiday makers are choosing socially distance wellness trips to destinations further afield than previous years. The greater the health risk of travel and the greater the effort, means people are more inclined to book one big holiday. Instead of choosing European city breaks, holiday goers are favouring longer healthy getaways that are further away but less risky and more secluded. Social distance holidays are popular with families, couples and solo travellers, as they provide quiet time away to strengthen relationships and focus on personal well-being. Social distance is well accommodated by many luxury hotels, providing they are in low risk Covid-19 spots; Mauritius, the Maldives, St Lucia, island nations with low populations and plenty of space. Private villa resorts at these locations provide healthy retreats that are ideal for two weeks or more of self-isolating in a beautiful, remote location.

Top Wellness Destinations: Shanti Maurice, Ananda in the Himalayas, REVIVO

Mindful and Sustainable Travel

2021 will see a huge rise in the relevance that sustainability takes in the travel plans of consumers as they become more mindful than ever. The visible easing of CO2 emissions during lockdown, once again, reignited discussions on the pollution caused by worldwide tourism. Consumers saw the dramatic effect emissions were having on the planet and resolved to be more mindful about the environmental impact of their actions. Staycations or eco-friendly resorts with a greater commitment to eco-friendly practices are going to be more popular. Wellness resorts in Bali and Thailand are embracing a holistic approach to holidaying that reduces the environmental effects of a guest’s stay. Likewise, consumers are now more inclined to fly less frequently, preferring one long-haul holiday a year rather than multiple short hauls.  

Top Wellness Destinations: Komune Bali, Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti, SwaSwara.  

Multi-Generational Active Trips  

Multi-generational active trips will be more common in 2021 as people look to continue the time they have shared with their immediate family in lockdown. These holidays will be motivated by those eager to reconnect with the extended family members who they have been separated from. One of the silver linings of lockdown was the chance to spend more time with the immediate family, sharing healthy activities like cycling, walking, and running. Many will be looking to continue this healthy streak with more extended family on a multi-generational active trip. After months apart, summer 2021 is going to be the season for family reconnection as all generations rub shoulders on a healthy and active family holiday together.

Top Wellness Destinations: Pine Cliffs, Forte Village, REVIVO Family Retreat

Stress and Anxiety Reduction for Tailor-made Holidays

Tailor-made holidays for relaxation and recovery are becoming a necessity to ease the mental effects of months spent in lockdown. 2020 has been detrimental for our collective mental state 2021 will be an opportunity to release the pent-up anxiety of isolation with wellness holidays and stress management retreats. Tailored to the requirements of the individual, they offer an immersive experience of private fitness training, health screenings and luxury healing spa treatments with an educational programme. Holidays have always been an effective way of coping with pressure but in 2021, they are going to be the means of coping with post lockdown induced stress.

 *Figures from the ONS.

 Top Wellness Destinations: Absolute Sanctuary, SHA Wellness Clinic, Ananda 

Wellness Music and Sound Experiences

Wellness music and healthy sound experiences are going to redefine wellness travel in 2021. New evidence from medical journals suggests that music is invaluable in easing the side-effects of a variety of physical and mental conditions like PTSD, anxiety, and high-blood pressure. In the same vein, living in loud environments which most people do has been linked to rises in heart disease, obesity, low birth weight and cognitive impairment in children. Wellness retreats have recognised the health benefits of sound experiences and are incorporating them into their health plans. Shreyas Silent Retreat in India offers a traditional Indian Ashram experience where sound meditation is integral to the wellness journey of guests. As more research uncovers further evidence to the benefits of sound experiences, mindfulness retreats offering music therapies are becoming more popular.

Top Wellness Destinations: Shreyas, Escape Ritual, Santani

Private Jet Boom for Bespoke Wellness Travel

The decline of the commercial airline industry has created a vacuum that is being filled by a boom in private jet travel. From front door to hotel lobby, clients can skip the queues and uncertainty of airline travel today where possible exposure to Covid-19 is 30 times lower when flying by private aircraft. Former clients of luxury commercial airlines are defecting to private jet providers for a service where luxury and reliability can be guaranteed, when flying to a luxury wellness retreat or medical spa in Europe to booking a spectacular around the world wellness trip. 2020 was the worst financial year in aviation history, so when it comes to wellness travel in 2021, the private jet industry will continue to boom as more people switch to a service that prioritises wellness and personal safety.

Top Wellness Destinations: Italy, Maldives, St Lucia

Big Bucket List Wellness Trip

For many travellers, eager to rid themselves of the unhealthy habits picked up during lockdown, 2021 is going to be the year for a once in a lifetime bucket list wellness trip. Whist most people are just losing the timidity picked up this year, many seasoned travellers are keen for adventurous wellness getaways and weeks of lavish splendour. Destinations in south east Asia have been firm favourites in previous years, for the wonderful climate and incredible scenic beauty. Bali and Thailand sport a great selection of luxury wellness retreats with on-site spas and fitness facilities, often on pristine private beaches. With many people feeling their health suffered from the confines of lockdown, health conscious and ambitious travellers are seeing 2021 as an opportunity to return to that pre-lockdown level with a once in a lifetime wellness trip.

Top Wellness Destinations: Six Senses Kaplankaya, Fusion Maia, COMO Shambhala Estate   

Personal Health and Physical Fitness

As health consciousness has become more ubiquitous, we have seen a rise in the number of people pursuing travel to improve their mental and physical health. The collective health concerns of 2020 have had an impact on all other aspects of well-being, acting as a catalyst for people wanting to improve their physical fitness. Regular exercise is a key factor in avoiding the severe symptoms of Covid-19 caused by immune system over-reactions. Informed consumers are keen to prevent getting sick by taking wellness holidays with a focus on personal health and physical fitness. More people are pursuing socially distance friendly ways of achieving their health and fitness goals. Covid-19 safe resorts design their fitness programmes to be isolated, safe, and effective. Healthy holidays and fitness retreats are satisfying the demands for stronger physical health in the wake of the pandemic.

Top Wellness Destinations: The BNKR Ultimate Fitness, Lily of the Valley, The Fit Retreat

Talk to one of our Travel Specialists on or contact us here to discuss tailor-making your perfectwellness holiday. 

The coincidence that the popular song ‘The Final Countdown’ is by the band ‘Europe’ is sheer irony at its absolute best. We all know the clock is now five minutes to midnight; Brexit is nigh, but what does it mean for travel from 1st January 2021? This past year’s media has been dominated by the world-changing Coronavirus pandemic (for good reason) and in doing so, removed the spotlight from Brexit and all of a sudden, the departure from the EU is now suddenly upon us. With the release of the COVID-19 vaccine, we are predicting a major surge in travel for 2021 with people making up for the year before with a well-deserved wellness holiday. However, before embarking on your next healthy getaway there are changes for UK citizens, keep reading for crucial travel information. 

Many of us drink alcohol to relax and socialise. Alcohol can be part of a healthy lifestyle as long as you drink in moderation and combine it with regular exercise and a healthy diet. However, drinking alcohol excessively or when it can be considered harmful is proven to have many adverse effects on your mental and physical health. Drinking a large amount over a long period of time can cause you to develop a higher tolerance to alcohol, where you may no longer experience the short-term side effects that you might have otherwise. Ultimately, alcohol can present many adverse effects on the body. Here we will discuss these health implications and how this can impact you now, and in the further future. 

Forecasting the next big trends in the $4.2 trillion wellness tourism industry for 2020, we live up to our reputation as the wellness holiday specialists. From increasing your longevity to rediscovering your wild side in nature, discover the hottest new trends and wellness holidays that will influence the wellness travel world in 2020. 

Over the course of the last year, we have seen the engagements in our calendars rescheduled and eventually shelved indefinitely. From small everyday events like a cup of coffee with a friend or a trip to the gym to international events such as the Olympics, our routines came to a halt in an indiscriminatory way – nobody has been free from the effects of the pandemic. Given the frequently changing lockdowns and tiers, it’s easy to see how our perception of time has completely changed. It has meant many of us do not know where the virus year/s have gone. It is hugely down to the fact we separate time with distinguishing occasions – ‘the summer my son had his graduation’ or ‘it was the year we went to Dubai’… Without occasions, one day merely leans into the next, and the next, forming no memories.

On a slightly more optimist note, whether COVID-19 entered our lives or not, there are so many mental health and wellness benefits of having a holiday to look forward to which include:

Elli Soumaki

Elli has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of spa, fitness and wellness. She is Spa Director at the Six Senses Spa, at Porto Elounda Golf & Spa Resort. An integral role as the wellness facilities are a central part of this retreat’s ethos and allure. Holding this position since 2004, Elli also currently works as the getaway’s Area Director since 2011. She graduated from the University of Physical Education and Science in Athens and achieved a Masters in Sports Management from the University of Louisville, Kentucky. Elli has been a member of the Greek national swimming team and always actively promoted the goodwill and spirit of the Olympic games. A true believer that our health and the overall state of wellbeing can be enhanced via exercise, movement, nutrition, and holistic treatments, to fulfil your mind, body, and spirit.

Balancing work, family, friends, hobbies, staying healthy, fitness goals; there’s never enough hours in the day to look after everyone and all aspects of life that need attention! Our own goals and healthy ventures tend to be pushed aside to prioritise other people’s needs. But you deserve to put yourself first for once! And going on a holiday that doesn’t break the bank helps… No matter what wellness retreat you seek, whether it is to kickstart your fitness journey, cleanse your body to be a temple, or perhapsyou need a destress, there’s something for you! Read on to see our top 10 picks for affordable solo wellness retreats.  

The cost-of-living crisis is putting a strain on everyone’s budgeting, with even butter costing an arm and a leg, holidays may be the last thing on your mind. However, is a wellness trip away to focus on your health and get a well-deserved break not what you need the most?! Everyone deserves a replenishing healthy holiday, hence why we have curated a list of the mostaffordable wellness retreats in Europe! Being in Europe they’re not too far to travel to, so no matter if you are looking for a long weekend with minimal time off work or a proper break, each of these are budget-friendly whilst also being easy to get to. 

After a turbulent year, it’s safe to say we could all do with some much-needed relaxation - there is no better way to do that than unwinding and taking a moment to pause, reflect and renew. Whether you are looking to rejuvenate your body and mind, quietly relax into tranquillity or strike a balance between spa and sports, we have compiled a go-to list for luxury spa breaks for men in Europe.