Wellness
Three Luxury Resorts to Book Now for Travel Later
Hoshino Resort’s Hoshinoya Guguan (photo courtesy of Hoshino Resorts)According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness tourism was a $639 billion industry in 2017 and it is predicted to reach an estimated $919 billion by 2022. So it is no wonder that luxury resorts aiming to help guests regain some balance in their lives are popping up all over the globe. While Covid-19 has certainly thrown a wrench into our 2020 travel plans, not surprisingly, it’s these wellness getaways that people are craving the most. Our tip? Do your research, book now and travel later. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Art of Bathing
For those really wanting to get away and immerse themselves in another culture’s wellness practices, Hoshino Resort’s Hoshinoya Guguan (from $609 per night), located in the hot spring region of Taichung, Taiwan, is the Japanese-style escape we have all been dreaming of. At this resort, the art of bathing coupled with unparalleled Japanese hospitality is at the heart of the experience. Each room has a semi-open-air bath where guests can enjoy their own private hot spring with soft, low-alkaline, naturally carbonated water that flows directly from the source. The resort’s public spaces are also designed around the flowing waters of the hot spring and guests are invited to enjoy the healing waters in the large public outdoor bath, the water garden and the indoor baths. Dining options are as unique as the hotel’s design — drawing inspiration from Japanese cuisine using Taiwanese cooking methods, each meal is a delicate dance of art and nourishment. Guests won’t want to miss the 1,300-meter promenade located behind the hotel for revitalizing walks in nature or the morning and evening stretching program, which is rooted in the ancient practice of qigong.
Home on the Ranch
Back in November, Canyon Ranch, the OG of wellness retreats, opened its newest offering Canyon Ranch Wellness Retreat Woodside (from $899 per night), and for those looking for an immersive wellness experience a little closer to home, this is the ticket. The 16-acre property, located just south of San Francisco, offers an intention-based program using science-backed programming to create customizable holistic wellness journeys — from active to reflective — allowing guests to enjoy consciously crafted nutritious meals, expert-led workshops, fitness options galore and a team of specialists on hand to address every aspect of the wellness experience.
Tropical Oasis
Situated on a secluded tropical island in the center of the Hawaiian archipelago, the Four Seasons Sensei Lanai (from $1,130 per night) offers an integrated wellness program designed by Dr. David Angus, Sensei’s co-founder and accomplished author. The philosophy is centered around three practices — move, nourish and rest — and is designed to help participants develop and maintain a conversation between the body and mind. A five-day itinerary is recommended to get the most out of the experience and includes a wellness consultation upon arrival and a combination of therapeutic spa treatments and one-on-one consultations with practitioners in fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, stress management and yoga. Daily activities also include hikes or nature walks, an on-site 18-hole putting course, and other island activities like snorkeling, horseback riding, scuba diving excursions and more. And if that isn’t enough, the rolling hills, tropical greenery and convivial staff are guaranteed to impart the wellness reset you have been craving.
