17 Hotels Doing Wellness Travel Right

In the age of hyperproductivity, extreme optimization, and multi-function everything, even vacations are different. For many travelers, it seems we may be past the days of simple sightseeing. Now, travel has evolved to serve a purpose — or many purposes. There's the rise of grief retreats, solorettes, quiet vacations for the remote-work crowd, and, of course, the wide world of wellness travel.

Wellness tourism is booming, with the industry projected to hit $1.3 trillion by 2025, per Global Wellness Institute. The industry broadly refers to hotels and retreats with a wellness specialty, whether through a workout program, cutting-edge spa, or plant-based menu — or typically all of the above. But some properties are also carving out niches with offerings like equine therapy, spiritual rituals, falconry, in-room infrared therapy, and a menu of biohacking therapies.

If it all sounds a little woo-woo, you wouldn't be alone in thinking so. But by and large, travelers are willing to invest plenty in that kind of experience.

Henley Vazquez is the co-founder of modern travel agency Fora, and she tends to observe an uptick in wellness travel bookings in January. "I think that is a product of a few things: One is that you come out of the holidays and you want a fresh start in the new year. Instead of just making a New Year's resolution, they're actually going and doing something about it," Vazquez tells PS.

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Henley Vazquez is the co-founder of Fora, an online travel agency and network of travel advisors.

Vazquez also thinks there's a greater awareness around health and wellness following the pandemic, as many people turned to the great outdoors for relief or took up a new hobby. "For lack of anything else to do, they bought a pair of hiking boots and climbed a mountain and found out, actually this makes me feel really good," she says. "That now becomes part of who you are."

And, of course, there are more options than ever to suit every kind of traveler, making wellness travel more appealing and, oftentimes, accessible. "It's so much more part of mainstream travel decision-making that happens now," Vazquez says. So, someone seeking a beach vacation previously, might now, according to Vazquez, be asking themselves, "How do I come back as a better person?"

While the options are indeed vast, PS picked 17 wellness hotels changing the game or perfecting the model right now. They are presented ahead in no particular order. Travel bookings may ensue.