This time of year you’re going to see a litany of blog posts covering New Year’s Resolutions and how you can eat healthier, exercise more, and work harder. But, personally, I don’t do resolutions because I think they restrict us more than they help us.
When we make a resolution, we don’t fully commit to it because it’s not built into our daily routine. We don’t make it a habit. It’s something we do on top of everything else and, often, most abandon their resolution by the second week of February.
I say make a full fledged commitment to changing your habits. Make a lifestyle change if you really want to be your best self which, to my mind, means committing to wellness.
A big part of prioritizing our wellness physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally means disconnecting from the stress of our everyday life. Travel is one of the best ways we can accomplish that. As such, we wanted to open January 1, 2020 with a blog post dedicated to helping you find the best places on Earth to accomplish this.
You’ll find that this list of luxury wellness hotels and resorts will take you deep into nature, to locations you’ve maybe never heard of, and almost fully off the grid. Once you’re there, you can find space to pause, breathe, and revitalize your soul.
1. Noah Surf House
One of our favorite wellness hotels, Noah Surf House is all about sea, sport, body, and mind. It’s a destination for adventure seekers with a long list of activities you can participate in when you’re not unwinding in the ocean-facing bungalows.
There’s surfing available for all levels of practice whether you’re going solo, with your family, on an all-day tour, or with a private coach. You can do yoga on their terrace, at the pool, or on the beach to center your mind. Shred the wood pool or wood wave on your skateboard. Trek and hike along Portugal’s windy cliffs. Or invigorate your muscles with some time in the functional training room.
2. The Resort at Paws Up
Whether you’re staying in a safari-style tent or expansive luxury home, The Resort at Paws Up guarantees that you’re “a million miles from the rest of the world.” It’s situated on a sprawling, 37,000-acre working cattle ranch in Montana and provides an unfiltered connection to nature and countless ways to fulfill your personal commitment to wellness.
Live in the moment, truly, as you plan each day as it comes. Maybe you’ll want to horseback through a wilderness sanctuary, fly fish for trout, or spend an entire day meditating in the spa—which is like a resort in and of itself. There’s so much more, like 10 different styles of yoga classes to choose from, but it’s all built for you.
3. Kinkara
About 20 minutes from San Isidro del General, in the heart of Costa Rica’s Southern Zone, you’ll find Kinkara, and you’ll find balance. This is a gem among other wellness hotels—a true retreat—that offers inspiring adventures, experiences within nature, and restorative practices.
Participate in outdoor yoga classes, meditate by waterfalls, join a curative sweat lodge ceremony, or go on a permaculture tour. No matter what you do, you’ll find their mantra to draw on the wisdom and knowledge of nature, paired with plush and playful accommodations, alive and well so that you can reconnect with the joy of your own self-discovery.
4. Clayoquot Wilderness Resort
Venture to Canada’s Pacific Coast in Tofino to find Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, a seasonal, safari-style outpost that’s hailed as one of the most unique luxury resorts in the country. Recharge in an intimate, authentic, and eco-friendly environment that places your wellbeing and mental wellness first.
The spa brings physical and spiritual revitalization, sunrise yoga starts your day off strong, and miles of waterfront running paths will clear your mind. There are plenty of other activities available as well, but the overall access you’ll have to the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve is the true value prop for this luxury resort. You can truly lose yourself and become one with nature here.
5. Tierra Chiloé Adventure and Spa Hotel
If you’re up for something really off the beaten path, head down to Chile to visit Tierra Chiloé Adventure and Spa Hotel. You can fully immerse yourself in a South American archipelago, Chiloé, filled with lush fields, roaring coastlines, and scenic cliffs.
There are a wide variety of land and sea excursions if you’re more of an adventurous sort, like collecting seafood at low tide (pictured below), traveling to hidden beaches, visits to an island of stilt homes. If relaxation is more your thing, you can wrap yourself in warmth and relaxation while enjoying spectacular views.
6. Talon Lodge and Spa
Alaska is the final frontier in America, one of the few places that has untouched and undeveloped natural beauty around almost every corner. Talon Lodge and Spa was created specifically to give you a way to take in all the beauty and live every moment, whether you’re taking advantage of the saltwater fishing or getting one of the best massages around.
As you explore the private island oasis, the lodge encourages you to let nature be your ultimate practice in wellness. “Breathe it in. Gaze and listen. This is your quiet time to revitalize your spirit in an environment that is fresh, new, crisp, and clean.”
7. The Singular Patagonia
The Patagonia region is the Southernmost tip of South America and encompasses both Chile and Argentina, with the Andes Mountains serving as the dividing line between the two. It might be one of the most beautiful, picturesque places on Earth.
Naturally, it’s the perfect place for wellness hotels—enter, The Singular Hotel Patagonia. It stands as a rustic focal point between our daily lives and the truly majestic scenery at “the end of the world route.” There are countless excursions that will guide you through the region, from river kayaking to cultural experiences. Or, you can simply relax at the spa, take in the mountains, and let the worries of the world wash away from you.
8. Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa
Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa is your all-access pass to the burnt red and rocky landscapes that Western Colorado is known for. The casita lodgings where you stay are fashioned to match the natural surroundings both in aesthetic and openness, and are built with outdoor showers, fire pits, and private decks.
Spend your days with the horses on the ranch, unearth dinosaur bones (yes, actual dinosaur bones), or pamper yourself with their spa packages. No matter what you do though, you can end each day dining under the unobstructed night sky that’s filled with stars and no light pollution.
9. Severin’s—The Alpine Retreat
High in the Austrian mountains, Severin’s—The Alpine Retreat was built to re-interpret classic Austrian traditions for the modern world, from the actual construction of the hotel to the food dishes. It’s also in an extremely quiet, exclusive location on the slopes of the Lech mountain panorama.
Hit the slopes, enjoy the Finnish saunas, get a beauty treatment, or say, “Forget it all” to watch movies in your room’s private cinema (from the jacuzzi that’s also in your room). It’s a representation of luxury, but it’s all designed to help you take a break, which the resort thinks is more important today than it’s ever been. We couldn’t agree more.
Don’t wait until next week, next month, or next year and commit to your wellness today. Taking a trip to one of the wellness hotels here might be just what you need to kick off a lifelong habit that brings you balance and ultimately makes you more successful in your career, relationships, and life.
Let us know where you plan to go in the comments below. And if you’re interested in learning how Luxpitality can help book your stay at these places, for individuals or groups, reach out to us today. Happy New Year!