The New Year brings a new vaccine and renewed hope. There is a bright light at the end of the dark Covid tunnel we have all been living in for the last nine months. Global travel is once again becoming a possibility. Now’s the perfect time to give your mental and physical health a much-needed boost. There is nothing wrong with planning a trip to one (or two) of these awesome health and wellness destinations in 2021.
Related: Post-pandemic travel dreamscape: 5 warm weather luxury golf adventures
(Ed Note: This article is sponsored content. Everyone knows about and understands the travel restrictions in place as a result of the worldwide pandemic. Rules are varied, around the world. One day we will all be travelling again, with no restrictions, however. And that will be a truly glorious time. The purpose of these series of articles is to look forward to that inevitable day.)
January: The Detox Retreat: The Glass House Retreat , UK
Start the year off right with a thorough detox surrounded by acres of sweeping fields in a state-of-the-art wellness facility. The Glass House Retreat offers a thorough and invigorating detox retreat to help beat the lockdown blues. It is located less than an hour from London
Expect a full-body composition analysis with bespoke goal evaluations, cryotherapy, deep tissue massages. There is also a choice of three full-board interchangeable dietary plans to achieve your targets. The Glass House boasts a dedicated team of spa therapists, reiki practitioners, personal trainers and a colonic hydrotherapist.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 5 nights at The Glass House from £1,120pp ($1,940 CAD) or £1,400 ($2,400 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes a full-board diet plan and a health and wellness detox program.
February: The Relaxing Romantic Retreat at Casale Panayiotis, Cyprus
February, the month of romance! Why not celebrate your love against a backdrop of pine-covered mountains, a turquoise winding river and beautiful gardens with a distinct sense of privacy? Casale Panayiotis has a bespoke Spa and Wellness program to create a romantic getaway with a personal touch.
There’s a fusion of traditional and modern health and wellness treatments. That includes Chromatherapy, a sulphur spring ritual, and an Indian head massage to ignite the spark in your romance. Book with Health and Fitness Travel. You’ll receive a free room upgrade (subject to availability) and a bottle of wine to share while overlooking the stunning panoramic views.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Casale Panayiotis from £1,170pp ($2,025 CAD), or £1,425 ($2,465 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, a Spa & Wellness program and return private transfers.
March: Put a Spring in Your Step at The Fit Retreat, Spain
Spring – a time of rebirth and creation. It’s also primetime for starting a new fitness regime after being in lockdown. Located on the sun-soaked isle of La Palma amongst palm trees, volcanoes and white sand beaches is the Fit Retreat. They offer a health and wellness program that champions physical and mental health above all else.
Daily routines include expert-led workout sessions leading to diverse activity sessions such as volcano hiking or paddle boarding until finally powering down at the end of the day with mindful yoga and a relaxing full-body massage. This newfound fitness-centric life doesn’t have to end when you leave La Palma. Booking with Health and Fitness Travel provides an exclusive home workout program.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Fit Retreat from £1,155pp ($2,000 CAD) or £1,345 ($2,330 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes full board (5 nights), a fitness program and return private transfers.
April: Swap April Showers for Mind & Body Empowerment at Bliss Body Retreat, Bali
No April fools here. Only spirituality on this holistic escape to Bliss Body Retreat. For many, 2020 dealt a serious blow to mental health. There is never an easy fix. But the Divine Body program has an innate focus on mental wellbeing. The objective is strengthening your fortitude with personal spirituality sessions, guided chakra meditation, profound yoga, and pranayama. There’s also a complimentary Spa treatment with Health and Fitness Travel.
Alongside this, enjoy a gourmet full-board plan that nourishes you by cutting out caffeine and alcohol.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Fit Retreat from £2,000pp ($3,460 CAD) or £2,770 ($4,800 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes full board (6 nights), a wellness program and return private transfers.
May: The Mindful May Getaway at: The Farm, The Philippines
With summer around the corner, this Philippines’ weight-focused retreat is the perfect time to assess your lifestyle and habits with professional guidance to optimize your wellbeing. Know exactly where your health stands in this tropical paradise at the base of Mount Malarayat with Weight Management at The Farm.
Undergo bespoke fitness, dental and nutritional assessments, a cellular health screening and blood chemistry. This medical approach is partnered with wellness treatments, including traditional acupuncture. There’s also Aqua slimming therapy, a Hilot massage and even a kidney-cleansing wrap to rectify the physical problems that 2020 may have caused.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 6 nights at The Farm from £2,475pp ($4,300 CAD) or £3,280 ($5,700 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a wellness program and return private transfers.
June: Enhance Your Beauty at Lefay Dolomiti, Italy
Amid a blissful summer, not far from Romeo and Juliet’s Verona, lies Lefay Dolomiti. It’s a brand-new state-of-the-art retreat with an intrinsic focus on wellness. The property is surrounded by crystal lakes, lush forests and snow-capped mountains. This exquisite escape has a specific program designed to unlock your true beauty.
With a rigorous skincare routine, let your face glow with HydraFacial MD treatments, oxygen therapy intraceuticals and a chestnut flowers scrub with alpine salt and traditional alpine butter. With this, Health and Fitness Travel provides exclusive free access to Salt Lake “La Luna nel Lago”. Also, there’s VIP arrival with fruit juices and a fresh fruit platter waiting for you.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 3 nights at Lefay Dolomiti from £1,920pp ($3,320 CAD) or £2,205 ($3,800 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, a beauty program and return private transfers.
July: Set Sail for Summer with a Maldives Sailing Tour
Ahoy, it’s time to set sail on this exhilarating adventure to one of the most sought-after corners of the globe! The Maldives are as close to paradise as you can get. And you can explore them in a group of up to eight embarking on a heavily modernized Maldivian fishing boat complete with its very own crew.
A captain, local guide, local chef, and two deckhands will take care of your party’s every need. All you do is focus on the adventure ahead. Snorkelling gear is provided for you to dive into the teal waters and explore the vibrant coral reefs. Or perhaps sitting up on deck basking under the sun is more your style? The trip’s route will visit isolated tropical islands. There you can carve out your very own slice of perfection on the pristine white sands.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers a 6-day tour with Sailing Tours – Maldives from £1,410pp ($2,440 CAD). Price includes full board, a crew and return private transfers.
August: An Active August at La Palma & Teneguia Princess, La Palma
To set the tone and scale of La Palma & Teneguia Princess, know that they have not one, not three, not five, but seven swimming pools! This tropical paradise is home to volcanoes, lagoons and pristine beaches and offers a fantastic program that blends wellness and fitness together.
Enjoy an immense range of complimentary fitness classes instructed by expert PTs that offer a mixture of core, cardio, weightlifting, and even blissful yoga. Balance your fitness with laps on La Palma’s thermal spa circuit, as well as aromatherapy and aloe vera infused massages.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at La Palma & Teneguia Princess from £935pp ($1,620 CAD) or £1,100 ($1,900 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes half board, an active program and return private transfers.
September: A Late Summer Secret at Lily of the Valley, France
Perched on the French Riviera overlooking the Mediterranean Sea rests Lily of the Valley. With gorgeous architecture, this health and wellness retreat offers a perfect late-summer escape. The Gulf Stream still offers stunning weather even in late September. The wellness program provides a complete reboot. It blends medical, therapeutical, beauty and sport sessions for a fully comprehensive getaway.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Lily of the Valley from £4,970pp ($8,600 CAD) or £6,075 ($10,500 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes a wellness program and return private transfers.
October: The European Fitness Break at Vilnius Grand Resort, Lithuania
Among the Lithuanian landscape on a 900-acre estate and a short drive from the capital city, you will find the Vilnius Grand Resort. Get your sweat on with the Fusion Fitness™ program to blow off some steam in style while taking a moment to pause and renew. This program is particularly relevant if you are recovering from an injury. The Vilnius’s Pendex® Gym uses technology and analytical software to find the exact exercises to recover individually specific injuries.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Vilnius Grand Resort from £974pp ($1,680 CAD) or £757 ($1,310 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes breakfast, a fitness program and return private transfers.
November: The Immunity Boosting Retreat at RAKxa Hotel, Thailand
RAKxa somehow manages to feel quietly isolated among the greenery while located across the Chao Phraya River from the bustling city of Bangkok. This health and wellness retreat has an intrinsic dedication to medical health and boosting the immune system. Its gut health program is a comprehensive experience to restore and improve your gut’s flora, imperative to good health
A thorough anti-inflammatory meal plan, with tailored consultations with doctors, and detailed medical evaluations are twinned with traditional Shirodhara, acupuncture and pranayama for a complete overhaul to strengthen your immune system and encourage a healthy gut.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at RAKxa Hotel from £13,505pp ($23,370 CAD) or £12,193 ($21,100 CAD) for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a health program and return private transfers.
December: The Luxury Wellness Break at Gleneagles, UK
Set among rustic sweeping highlands, this opulent manor house sits on an 850-acre estate filled with health and wellness activities and experiences for you to enjoy. This program is perfect for the festive period. It gives you free reign of what you want out of your health and wellness trip. That could be adventure, fitness, rejuvenation or a combination.
You could spend Christmas at Andre Farlie, the only Michelin two-star restaurant in all of Scotland. Or perhaps try the PGA golf courses. Booking with Health and Fitness Travel offers a room-to-room or suite-to-suite upgrade, subject to availability.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 2 nights at Gleneagles from £1,320pp ($2,290 CAD). Price includes breakfast and an experience program.
Marlene Eisner is a freelance writer and editor. She is currently the editor of RENO+DÉCOR magazine (National) and New Home + Condo Guide magazine (Vancouver). She also writes, edits and publishes content for websites and edits master’s and PhD theses and memories.
