My love for wellness travel knows no bounds! Wellness travel gives you the opportunity to go on a vacation that rejuvenates your senses and nurtures you to bring back your mind and body to their optimal state of functioning. If you missed my blog on what exactly wellness travel is, you should check it out to get a better idea of why wellness travel is so fulfilling. In this article, I throw light on 3 wellness activities you should try out when we can travel again. 

Stand-Up Paddleboarding 

Paddleboarding is a fantastic way for you to experience the world in a completely new light. One of the newer sports that people are talking about, paddleboarding is not just your regular sport. Irrespective of your fitness level, body shape and weight, you can paddleboard if you want to. 

Some of the reasons that paddleboarding is so popular amongst people, especially in the wellness travel industry, are: 

• Anyone can do it 
• It’s really, really relaxing
• It’s environmentally-friendly 
• You get to immerse yourself in nature and cruise around on still waters, at your pace
• It’s great to help you tone your muscles and increase your strength

Here are the top 10 destinations for paddleboarding, within the Americas: 

• Turks and Caicos Islands 
• Lake Tahoe, California
• Santa Cruz, California
• Sunset Beach, Hawaii
• Bahamas
• Costa Rica
• Key West, Florida
• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• Puerto Rico

Some of the best destinations for paddleboarding, worldwide, are: 

• Bali, Indonesia
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Bay of Islands, New Zealand
• Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland
• Lisbon Coast, Portugal
• Namotu Island, Fiji

Trying out some Adventure Sports

Indulging in adventure sports has become a widely-practised wellness travel trend, of late – and it is a trend that is here to stay! 

Wellness travel was traditionally synonymous with activities of relaxation, but at Thia’s Travel Services, we view wellness travel as more than just that. We view it as a holistic blend of adrenaline-inducing activities, relaxation, and healthy lifestyle choices.

By engaging in adventure sports, you get to engage your senses and channel your energy into an activity characterized by a racing heartbeat and adrenaline coursing through your veins. This sets the stage for a post-activity relaxation like no other. By participating in adventure sports, you keep your body active without causing it stress. 

Wellness travel is generally a great choice for those looking to build back their mental and physical strength, which is why getting into the habit of keeping your body fit through adventure sports can be an exciting and fulfilling experience. 

The most popular adventure sports that travellers and wellness-enthusiasts like to engage in are: 

• Kayaking
• White-Water Rafting
• Scuba Diving
• Surfing
• Windsurfing
• Hiking 
• Zip-Lining

Here are my picks for some of the best destinations for adventure sports: 

• Jamaica: From under-sea trekking to horse-back riding, Jamaica has a phenomenal range of unique adventure sports that are sure to liven up your wellness vacation!
• South Africa: A diversity of geographical features, gives you the ability to engage in tons of adventure sports, from rafting to mountain climbing. 
• Yosemite National Park: This national park within the USA allows more serious adventure sports enthusiasts to go rock-climbing; post which, relaxation feels utterly blissful. 
• Oceania: Although this is a broader region, Oceania is home to adventure sports like sky diving, bungee jumping, scuba diving, snorkelling, and more!  A wellness vacation to Oceania, with a focus on adventure sports, is a must for more active travellers. 

Practising Yoga

This ancient Indian art of mental, physical and spiritual wellness has been widely explored in the western world for decades. Now, with wellness travel booming, yoga-enthusiasts and those who have always wanted to try it out for themselves have the opportunity to travel AND reap the benefits of practising yoga, simultaneously. 

Learn how to imbibe yoga into your life for improved physical and mental health, and a completely rejuvenated outlook on the world, by booking yourself a wellness vacation at a yoga retreat. 

Personally, I believe that to make the most of a yoga retreat, you should learn from yoga masters at the very source, in India. Here are the most popular yoga retreats in India:

• Wildflower Hall, Shimla
• Ananda in the Himalayas, Rishikesh
• Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram, Rishikesh
• Ashiyana, Goa
• Banyan Tree Yoga, Goa
• Little Cove Yoga Retreat, Goa
• Purple Valley Yoga, Goa
• The Beachhouse, Goa
• Yogamagic Eco Retreat, Goa
• Shreyas, Bengaluru
• Soukya, Bangalore
• Carnoustie Ayurveda & Wellness Resort, Kerala

If you can’t make a trip to India, there are other places in the world that host yoga retreats, too! Some of these places are: 

• Thailand
• Costa Rica
• Morocco
• Greece
• Romania
• Indonesia
• Jamaica

Final Words

Experiencing wellness travel can open up your world to a healthier and happier you! It’s time to stop putting your own wellness aside and focusing on strengthening your mental and physical health. Get in touch to book vacations for 2020 (restrictions apply, in some cases) and for 2021, a year that we are all dearly looking forward to!

I invite you to come forward with your knowledge, experiences, and questions. Contact me here or DM me on Instagram. Let’s talk! 🙂 

Has anyone ever told you that they could do with ‘a change of scenery’? Or that ‘a change of scenery’ really helped them unwind and relax after a stressful year at work? 

If you have, in fact, heard people using this phrase, what you know about them is that they were stressed out or feeling troubled; and that a vacation helped them cope with their problems! 

Traveling to rejuvenate one’s wellness physically and/or mentally has been around a while…In fact, today, wellness tourism is an entire industry of its own. A rapidly-growing one, at that!

As an independent travel consultant, who has always focused on creating all-inclusive vacation packages that promote the well-being of travelers, I am delighted to see how fast this industry is growing! Its popularity shows us something incredible – people are traveling, in order to take care of themselves! 

Here’s a question I get asked quite often: “If ‘wellness travel’ has always been a thing, why are people talking about it now?” It’s because while the concept of traveling for enhancing your well-being is not new, the last decade has seen concentrated efforts into widening the scope of wellness tourism.  

So, what is wellness travel, exactly?

Let me introduce you to the blissful world of wellness travel and tourism. 

According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness travel is travel that is aimed at maintaining or enhancing one’s personal well-being. 

What does that mean?

What that means is that when you’re on vacation, you indulge in activities that contribute towards a physically and mentally healthier you. The objective of wellness travel is really just for you to come back from your vacation feeling refreshed and happier, instead of feeling fatigued and tired from having done ‘too much’. 

What it does not mean

Although wellness travel aims to make you feel more relaxed than tired, it doesn’t mean you’re not going to go around and explore the destination you just paid hundreds of dollars traveling to! 

All it implies is that you’re going to be more mindful of the activities that you do partake in. 

And no, you don’t need to eat bland, diet-like food to achieve your goals of wellness. 

Confused? 

I can understand why. I mean, I did just throw a lot of random bits and pieces of information your way and a lot of it probably even seemed to contradict each other! You probably have questions for me. Like, “You’re telling me I need to focus on my physical well-being but not compromise on my food choices?” or “You just said I shouldn’t partake in activities and then you said I should…” or even, “Okay but what is wellness travel then?”

Understanding Wellness Travel

Let’s clarify a few things that should help you feel less confused: 

• Yes, you can and should indulge in activities. Like hiking. Or trekking. Or visiting different places of interest. But you need to stop racing! What your mind and body need, is for you to slow down and actually enjoy the places you’re going to or the things you’re doing. 

• Yes, you can eat that delicious dessert that the city you’re in is famous for. But you know what? Too much sugar, even on vacation, can have really bad implications for your energy levels. (I promise, I’m not a buzzkill! I just care about your well-being.)

Wellness travel, simply put, is just being mindful of the things you do. Here’s what it means to be mindful, by Mindful, a non-profit initiative to help people explore happier lives. 

Understanding Mindfulness 

Mindfulness, as they put it, is just the ability to be present fully and completely, in the moment; and to be aware of what you are currently doing, where you currently are, and how you currently feel. 

Mindfulness, as a concept, helps you be more in control of how you react to different stimuli in your surroundings, thus helping you avoid getting overwhelmed by situations. 

Mindfulness and Wellness Travel

At Thia’s Travel Services, my main aim is to combine the power of mindfulness and integrate it into wellness travel. By being mindful of what you do, where you go, and what you put into your body, you have the ability to truly take a break from all the hassles and stressors you face on a daily basis. 

I strongly believe in the fact that to take advantage of a change of scenery, it is important to be mindful of how you feel and the things you do!

So if you’ve been feeling stressed out and low, and want to go off on vacation to take the break you deserve, you should…and to get the best of this break that you deserve, a mindful wellness vacation is what you need!

What does wellness travel include?

Honestly, it can include whatever you want it to include. But here are some popular activities you can experience on a wellness vacation:

• Yoga retreats
• Meditation
• Hiking
• Camping
• Spa treatments and massages
• Paddle boarding

…and many, many more!

What are some of the best places for wellness travel?

Some of the most famous destinations for wellness vacations are:

• Costa Rica
• Thailand
• Iceland

But you know what I love? The fact that you can go on a wellness vacation practically anywhere in the world! All you need is a travel plan that caters to your quest for mental peace and physical fitness. So if you’re looking for a short weekend getaway near you, which promotes your wellness; or a long and refreshing summer vacation (or winter – I’m not picky about the time of the year, so long as I get to travel a LOT!)

Bottom-line

The bottom-line here is that wellness travel is a beautiful and exciting way of taking care of yourself and nurturing yourself to revitalize your senses! I am pumped to book a rejuvenating wellness vacation for you. For inquiries, get in touch with me here! If you have any questions that you would like me to answer, too, send me a message here and I will be in touch with you soon!

When can we travel again? I don’t know, but meanwhile, I do have something for you! In my last blog post, I spoke about how you can travel in summer 2020, even without actually traveling. As promised in that post, here is my reading list for May of 2020. You will find that this reading list is full of travel adventures and other uplifting reads that will be sure to keep you hooked!

Due North by Lola Akinmade Åkerström

Lola Akinmade Åkerström is a Nigerian-born, award-winning photographer and travel writer. Due North is a delightfully personal book that chronicles Lola’s dream of reaching the North Pole – a dream she has garnered ever since she saw the North Pole on a map in her Geography book. When she moved across the Atlantic Ocean to study in the USA, little did she know that one day she would be traveling across continents. With her Nigerian passport raising more questions than not by different immigration officers in different countries, here is her story of how she traveled against all odds. Her book is a blissful voyage of images and words, sharing with us intricately woven experiences that she had never before imagined she would have!

Currently based in Sweden, Lola Akinmade Åkerström has won several awards for her photography and her writings; and has also been recognized by the likes of CNN and National Geographic. You can learn more about her on her website here: https://www.lolaakinmade.com.

Grab a copy of Due North here!

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Here’s a book that you have probably heard of and even read, but can’t get enough of! If you haven’t already read this, you might have wondered what the rage was all about. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is one of the most-read books in the last couple of decades. Originally written in Portuguese in 1988, the translated version of this book has gripped the hearts of millions!

The story details the life of a young, Andalusian shepherd boy, who is gripped by a dream that he sets off to chase. From Spain to Egypt – and with multiple encounters with other people – the story of the young boy inspires traveling, and far beyond! Find the enchantment in reading about a young boy’s quest to fulfil his dream, by grabbing your copy of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, now!

All God’s Children Need Travelling Shoes by Maya Angelou

The fifth book in Maya Angelou’s autobiographical endeavor, All God’s Children Need Travelling Shoes is a beautifully honest depiction of her journey into Africa. Maya Angelou, an inspiring lady who has won the hearts of millions of people across the world, records what it is like to be African and African-American. The book showcases her life in Ghana in a moving and an eloquent – almost poetic – fashion! Get yourself a copy now.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert is a New York Times Bestseller that won the hearts of millions. A memoir written by the author in 2006 following her divorce, the book weaves an enriching tale about her experiences when she traveled the world. This book was popularized when it was turned into a movie starring the stellar Julia Roberts! If you haven’t already read the book, get a copy here.

The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé 

For a lighter read, try this amazing series of comics by the Belgian cartoonist Hergé. If you haven’t already read The Adventures of Tintin, you are definitely missing out! The stories that each comic book brings to you are well-woven around different parts of the world, bringing you closer to the sights you can witness in far-away lands. With excellent characterization, memorable dialog-writing, and joyful imagery, this 24-book series will keep you occupied, along with your loved ones! Get yourself the whole collection now. This is definitely a series worth investing in and collecting!

So, when can we travel again?

Pretty much anytime you want to with these books! Nobody really knows when we can reeeally start traveling again, unfortunately. But let’s not get disheartened by that! Let’s explore the world vicariously, through these cheerful and moving books.

Of course, there are a whole lot of other books that I would love to share with you, so I hope to keep sharing more reading lists with you, this year; while we look forward to when we can travel again!

I do hope that you enjoy reading these books just as much as I did and I will be happy to hear your views on them, in the comments below.

To stay updated on what I am doing and on news related to travel, subscribe to my newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of this page and filling your details into the form. You can also follow me on Instagram and like my page on Facebook to learn more about all my travel adventures!

It is no surprise that things have gotten really difficult, in wake of a global pandemic. There is a whole wave of uncertainty that has brought the world to a shuddering standstill. The travel industry, amongst others, has been impacted in a way that makes me very sad.

The prospect of staying indoors for an indefinite period of time is tiresome in general. And then there are the wandering nomads. Like me. Even the thought of not being able to travel makes me feel restless; and now I’ve been thrust into a situation where I literally can’t. Or at least, until I can again.

An inability to travel is every traveler’s worst nightmare and it seems to be happening right now. You should be careful of stepping out of your home, let alone traveling.

But I’ve been thinking, and maybe, you can travel. Even if you can’t really travel.

Here is how to travel even when you really can’t.

Allow your tastebuds to travel to a different place

Have you ever visited one of the top 10 destinations you read about in a magazine, excited to try out the local delicacies?! Me too!

In fact, did you know that food travel is a whole industry, in itself? Food tourism has grown in popularity and now, in wake of a global pandemic, you can bask in it too – from within your home! 

I know it’s nothing on actually being able to travel, but if you have ever wanted to travel but couldn’t, a very solid coping mechanism is actually cooking delicacies from the cuisine of your dream destinations. 

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a new culture when you’re traveling, is to eat local! Local cuisine is always a great way to learn more about the place you are visiting and in recent years, the popularity of local cooking lessons has risen. 

Unfortunately, getting access to one of these inspiring local cooking lessons is impossible, at this point. Learning how to cook different cuisines, however, is still very doable! 

Take a look at some of the most mouth-watering food blogs, as listed here by Happier. Allow your tastebuds to transport you to new places – all whilst definitely upping your skill in the world of food!

I will soon put out a blog on some of the most exciting food bloggers from the regions they belong to. Stay tuned to learn how to cook food the way they do!

Travel into a whole new world with books!

If you have ever read a book that was so difficult to put down that when you finally got to the end of it, you just wanted to start over again; you are exactly like me! Reading is a way for us to be transported to an entirely new world. Best part? You don’t have to move even from the couch. And quite frankly, sometimes it feels great to just be able to sink into your couch. Or your bed under your sheets. Or to sunbathe in your balcony while reading a fantastic book!

If you feel sad at the prospect of having to stay indoors at this point, here’s an idea. Have you considered getting back to that reading list you made a while ago but couldn’t keep up with? I’m going to be putting up my reading list very soon but meanwhile, check out these travel books that will transport you to some of the most exotic destinations in the world! 

Let yourself travel into the world of foreign films

Spy new cities, listen to different languages, and get inspired by some of the best foreign language films that you can watch online! There’s a lot that foreign films can teach you about the culture of a place and it is awe-inspiring to learn more about how they view the world. 

Here’s a list of the 20 best foreign movies on Netflix, by A Good Movie To Watch. This website can also introduce you to a whole host of other films to keep you occupied during this season of staying indoors!

Watch a movie with your family, your partner, or just by yourself! Leave a comment below with your favorite foreign film. I would love to watch some new movies.

Learning a new language

Listening to your friends or family members speak a new language is impressive, isn’t it? I am super fortunate to have learned to speak 7 different languages! I know that a lot of people want to be able to speak a foreign language but have never really gotten around to learning one. 

Now that we have a lot of time on our hands, you can finally pursue this dream! A number of mobile phone apps and online courses offer you some great tutorials and courses on how to learn a new language. 

Take a look at this helpful article guiding you to a number of resources that can help you learn a new language online for free. The next time you travel to a place that speaks the language you learn, be prepared to be able to show off your awesome new language skills!

Talking to your friends and family members and traveling vicariously

At this time, we are so fortunate to be able to stay connected with our friends and families over the internet. With WhatsApp calls and Zoom calls, and the number of other options that help you stay connected through this pandemic, you finally have the ability to catch up with your friends and families at a time that works for everyone! 

Get in touch with them. Exchange travel stories and take a voyage into each others’ travel worlds!

In fact, I would love to share some of your travel stories, too, for others to read about. It is a great time to spread some love and happiness. So let’s do it all together! To send me a happy travel memory of yours, you can contact me by filling out this form or DMing me on Instagram.

How about a travel plan for next year?

But wait. The heart wants what it wants. If you reeeally just want to travel, let’s plan your next trip! I am taking inquiries for 2021 already so you can contact me here with your dream holiday.

Personally, I can’t wait to be off on vacation again! Until then, I will continue to post beautiful travel photos on my social media channels. Follow me on Instagram @thiastravelservices for regular updates!

Over the last few days, I have come across a number of beautifully-written articles that document some of the things you can do to cope with what’s happening around us. Here are a few of my favorite articles and resources that can help you cope with the insecurity and uncertainty. …