How to Weave Wellness Travel into Any Trip

Wellness travel is big business and becoming more popular as post-pandemic travel booms. 47% of American travelers intend to rest, relax and find peace of mind on their summer trip, according to our recent survey of travelers.

But the interesting thing about wellness travel is: Any trip can be a wellness trip. In fact, every trip should be a wellness trip, as you take time away from day-to-day stresses and rediscover some inner peace.

Here are some simple ways to weave wellness into any trip and raise your chances of coming back truly refreshed and rejuvenated.

Remember to get travel insurance for added peace of mind!

Maybe you’re not a meditation person or a yoga person. That’s totally cool. But anyone can apply some of the principles of meditation or yoga and get their day off to a calm and soothing start.

Before getting out of bed, breathe in deeply, hold it for a bit, and let it out. Repeat that a couple of times while thinking about the best parts of the day to come.

Then take that good feeling outside. Go for a nature walk or a beach stroll. See the city opening up for the day. Appreciate the new sights, sounds, and smells.

By setting a tranquil tone for the day ahead, you'll cultivate a sense of mindfulness and inner peace.

Note that “eat well” does not mean “eat a lot.” Try local cuisines, dishes, and flavors, but keep things on the light side, at least for a meal or two every day.

Look for restaurants that offer fresh, locally sourced ingredients and choose dishes that are delicious, nutritious, and reflective of the local culture.

Assuming your destination is not a state fair where the most nutritious entrée is deep-fried butter on a stick, you should be able to satisfy your foodie side and your healthy side simultaneously.

Also read: 6 Fantastic Food Tours and Travel Destinations Around the World

Taking the previous point a step further, part of making your vacation a positive mental-health journey comes in projecting yourself into a different state of being – and one of the best and easiest ways of doing that when you’re on vacation is to take a plunge into the local culture.

Often the most spiritual and rewarding escapes come from investigating native and indigenous cultures. Visit sacred and historic places. Take a native-guided tour. Try to understand how inhabitants lived throughout the history of the place.

Going to a museum is great. But going a step further can lift your soul.

Also read: 7 Vacation Rental Escape Destinations Off the Beaten Path

Reconnecting with nature means finding the wildest area you feel comfortable with, taking a trail, and plunging into the trees, flowers, lakes, rivers, hills, and valleys.

Take your time. Breathe the air. Listen to the birds. Stop on a bench or stump and look up and around. Take it all in.

To ensure your foray into the wild doesn’t become a source of stress instead of calm, read reviews and talk to park staff about the difficulty levels of trails and waterways.

Find your next trip: 7 Amazing Nature Vacations Around the World

Okay, so maybe your images of reconnecting with nature are tied to that scene in The Parent Trap remake where the evil fiancé winds up with a salamander sticking out of her mouth. Maybe a spa journey is more your style.

Totally fine! Whatever gets you feeling rested and relaxed is A-OK. If you feel that a sauna, deep-tissue massage, or just a day of pampering is what you need, you’re in luck: There are hundreds if not thousands of beautiful resorts in gorgeous locations at your service.

Before choosing a spa destination ask yourself what you’re looking to work on and choose a destination that checks all your boxes.

Also read: The Best Swim-Up Rooms and Resorts around the World

It’s quite possible that your spa vacation may come with a couple of big asks, one of them being that you leave the phone aside for a portion of your stay.

You can do this! You are master of your phone – not the other way around. The world will not stop revolving because you didn’t stay connected for a couple of days.

By leaving your phone packed away you can leverage the power of out-of-sight-out-of-mind. By limiting yourself to no more than 30 minutes of screen time a day you prioritize what’s really important to know about the world back home – and hint: It’s not your work email.

The “workcation” is often more work than vacation. By setting limits, you put your vacation first – as it should be.

Video: Why You Should Disconnect From Work on Vacation

Breathe deeply, strike a yoga pose and forget your woes. A physical regime that's relaxing, helps you to sleep better and concentrate more? It sounds too good to be true, but yoga has proven time and again to be one of the most effective forms of exercise out there and is perfect for a relaxing vacation.

It's not always easy to keep up your fitness routine when traveling, but exercise doesn't have to involve running on a treadmill or lifting weights. You can learn to tone your muscles and calm your mind with a gentler exercise that only requires your body and mind—no need to take up extra space in your luggage. It might be the best vacation workout without a gym.

See the perfect beginner's yoga routine for a trip -- instructions for six basic poses, visuals to help you get it right and even suggestions for ideal places to travel related to each yoga pose.

It’s not just your phone that finds its battery hitting empty after a while. Your vacation doesn’t need to be packed full of end-to-end activities. Even (or especially) if it’s a family trip with a very young family, you need to carve out some time where your own wants and needs are met.

Choose a resort with childcare and plan a date day, a spa day, or any other sort of me-time day. Traveling solo or with another, significant or not? Allow yourself at least one day for decompression.

This is especially important with international travel across multiple time zones. Your first day in your new location should be lazy, with a schedule no more ambitious than napping, strolling, and grazing.

Life is stressful; vacations should not echo or augment that stress. That’s why the peace of mind offered by Generali Travel Insurance is so important for all your vacation travels.

And talk about stress-free: Getting a travel insurance quote is as easy as clicking here.

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