If you think wellness travel is only yoga retreats or spa visits, you may be missing out. In recent years, the definition of wellness travel has expanded significantly to encompass all types of getaways that allow travelers to enhance their healthy lifestyle or support a sense of overall well-being. Far from being one-size-fits-all, today’s wellness travel options cater to a wide range of needs.
With the broadened definition and increased choices, popularity is soaring. By 2022, wellness-themed travel will account for nearly 20 percent of all travel. As a result, the travel industry is responding with creative destinations and amenities designed to help you relax and reset. (And who doesn’t need that right now?)
Here’s a look at three of our favorite wellness travel trends.
1. Authentic wellness experiences
With health and well-being as the focal point, “wellness tourism” pairs dream destinations with experiences authentic to the location. Along with aligning with a healthy lifestyle, travelers gain one-of-a-kind experiences and memories of different cultures.
For an immersive experience, build a trip around visiting the saunas of Finland, a mindfulness safari in Africa, or an Ayurvedic medicine-based, whole-body healing retreat in India. In addition to complete immersion options, hotels, resorts, and cruise lines offer a range of wellness-themed amenities almost everywhere you go. From specialized fitness programs and luxury spa treatments to local, farm-to-table cuisine and cooking classes, many resorts now have trainers and nutritionists on staff to meet the needs of their guests.
Cruise lines are no different, as even today’s luxurious river cruise ships, like the vessels Cruise Dreams charters for our Trips of a Lifetime, feature fully equipped fitness rooms, onboard spas, and even swimming pools. And you can combine fitness with touring by taking advantage of the ship’s complimentary fleet of bicycles, allowing you to explore the scenic and historic ports along the way.
2. Sleep retreats
In the hustle and bustle of today’s 24-hour world, the National Institutes for Health (
NIH) estimates up to 70 million people are not getting enough sleep. As a result, interest in sleep retreats as part of luxury travel is growing. Hotels and spas are building travel experiences, with the help of sleep specialists, to help guests achieve restful, high-quality sleep. The goal of a sleep retreat is to return to real-life rejuvenated – and armed with insights to keep your sleep habits on track.
One example is offered by the Corinthia Hotel in London. Its Sumptuous Sleep Retreat is based on the latest sleep research and provides a specialized menu, a sleep-ritual spa treatment, and a choice of a personalized osteopathy consultation or acupuncture session. In addition, guests can unwind in one of the spa’s luxury sleep pods.
3. Back to nature trips For many people, daily life in the 21st century doesn’t include much time spent outdoors. In fact, Americans spend 93 percent of their time indoors, on average. Nature immersion travel gets people outside and is based on research that shows spending time in natural settings can help reduce stress and depression. Around the world, destinations offer wondrous opportunities to commune with nature, clear your mind, and relax.
For more active travelers, an adventure cruise is an ideal way to experience nature. These intimate trips take you deep into remote parts of the world – think Antarctica or the Galapagos Islands – while enabling you to get out and experience your surroundings in a uniquely personal way.
When it comes to wellness travel, the good news is there’s an option to fit every individual and every goal. Cruise Dreams is here to help make your travel dreams come true! Call us at (877) 999-4533 or email us at travelplans@cruisedreams.com.
Waves to you and smooth sailings ahead!
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