Demystifying Travel Trends: What is Wellness Travel?

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!