Lifestyle

Reviewing These 5 Top Wellness Vacations

Gabrielle Finora

Will the future of vacation and leisure time become attending wellness retreats? Wellness retreats and spas all over the world are having their busiest seasons yet. Let’s dive into 4 of the top brands in the wellness vacation space and an additional DIY option that’s just as relaxing as a formal resort.

Six Senses

Reconnect and reinvigorate your senses at the Six Senses resorts. Since 1995, the Six Senses has made a promise to bring environmentalism and social responsibility to their luxury hotels and spas. With locations across the world, these hotels bring wellness to new heights.

Six Senses resorts have a range of offerings, from romantic private beach side villas, to mountain top family retreats, and interconnected rooms for large groups of friends. They will have everything you’re looking for. They even have day spa services in beautiful Elounda and Mykonos, Greece; Marbella, Spain; and Gstaad, Switzerland. Try the herbal scrub made from Cretan sea salt and olive oil followed by a personalized massage.

These spas are not just for your physical wellness, but mental and spiritual wellness as well. The spa in Elounda offers a one-day brain health program that advertises to help you “care for and improve the state of your brain” through ancient practices like yoga and meditation plus modern brain games and binaural beats. With this service, you can combat brain fog, poor sleep, improve short-term memory, stress and mental fatigue.

There are so many beautiful locations with a range of program options. Check out each of the locations’ websites for a list of their full offerings.

Mirival

If you are looking to stay within the United States for your next vacation, one of Mirival’s three wellness resorts might be for you. Located in Austin, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and the Berkshires, Massachusetts, Mirival brings wellness closer to home.

Each of their locations weaves wellness into their unique natural landscapes. At their newest resort and spa location in the Berkshires, you can enjoy outdoor and equine adventures, snow and water sports, and golf on a historic 380 acres course.

In Austin, you are tucked away into the countryside where you can start your day off hiking through the rolling hills of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve and end with a traditional jade meridian treatment, with three nutritious meals in between your activities.

At Tucson, expect 360 views of the southwestern desert where the sun shines over 350 days a year (as a native New Yorker, this sounds almost too good to be true). Dive deep into physical and mental mindfulness by trying Vasudhara, a transformative experience to ease muscles in a warm water float, or pranayama mudra meditation, a form of yoga practice to strengthen and steady the mind. Guests and staff swear there’s magic in this land, but that will be for you to decide.

Big things are happening for Miraval this fall. They will be opening a new location on the southern end of Shura Island in The Red Sea. Use this link to sign up for updates and opening offers for their new location.

Omega Institute

The Omega Institute specializes in individual, couple, and family retreats. Located only 90 miles north of New York City in Rhinebeck, NY, the Omega Institute is a fantastic option for busy New Yorkers in need of a restful weekend getaway.

The Omega Institute uses six Learning Paths to deliver their multidisciplinary curriculum: “Body, Mind, Spirit”; “Health and Healing”; “Creative Expression”; “Relationships and Family”; “Leadership and Work”; and “Sustainable Living.” Their courses are focused on healing and the desire for relationships and transformation, with classes like The Art of Movement and Connection, and Healing Through Body-Peace Practices.

If getting away is challenging, the Omega Institute also has live online courses given by their experienced teachers. Check out this link for more information about the upcoming classes and retreats. With more than 300 workshops to choose from in 2025, you are bound to find something for you.

Won Dharma Center

The Won Dharma Center is a place for all. No matter your experience level, faith, or belief system, this is an open and culturally diverse community with a focus on mindfulness through meditation and spirituality. Their mission is to build and provide a safe and environmentally-friendly space to nurture and promote holistic living.

Located in Claverack, NY, the Won Dharma Center is within driving distance from Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. The organization has 426 acres of beautiful natural landscape in the Catskill Mountains overlooking the Hudson Valley.

Classes at the Won Dharma Center are led by Won Buddhist ministers. They offer retreats, meditation services, yoga and qigong classes, and speciality workshops for all skill levels. You can also enjoy peaceful walks through the extensive property, or venture off to explore the nearby state parks, such as Taconic State Park and Lake Taghkanic State Park, or ski resorts like Catamount and Jiminy Peak. Check out this link to learn more about upcoming retreats.

DIY Wellness Retreat – Camping

While many organized retreats offer planned activities, maybe that’s exactly what you need a break from. You don’t need to go to a retreat to get the benefits of a wellness vacation. Just being in the great outdoors can provide the same healing qualities. No internet, just quiet time to relax in nature.

There are plenty of ways to DIY your own wellness retreat from packing a lunch and going on a day hike to camping in one of the United States beautiful national parks. If camping isn’t really your thing, you can always rent a cabin or mini home on Airbnb in a nearby forested area or beach.

Spending time in nature has incredible benefits for our nervous system and brain. Just feeling connected to nature can reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and emotional well-being1.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about changing up your typical vacation or you are feeling a bit more stressed than usual, consider a wellness resort for your next getaway. Nature’s healing properties do not need to come with a high price tag. There are plenty of ways to get in touch with your wild side while not breaking the bank, like hiking, camping, or renting an Airbnb.

Is stress becoming too much to handle? Consider making an appointment with one of our staff members today about how you can lower your stress levels so you can feel more at peace.

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