17 Hotels Doing Wellness Travel Right

In an age of hyperproductivity, extreme optimization, and multi-function everything, people are starting to vacation differently. Many travelers are moving past crammed itineraries and busy sightseeing, in favor of more intentional tourism. To create more restorative moments of rest and overall wellness, we've seen a rise in grief retreats, quiet quests, and even "calmcations". Wellness tourism is booming, and it's not slowing down anytime soon, with the industry projected to grow from $1 trillion to $3.25 trillion between 2025 and 2034, per Fundamental Business Insights. The industry broadly refers to hotels and retreats with a wellness specialty, whether that means a workout program, a cutting-edge spa, a plant-based menu — or all of the above. But some properties are also carving out more specific niches with offerings like equine therapy, spiritual rituals, falconry, in-room infrared therapy, and a menu of biohacking therapies. Henley Vazquez, the co-founder of modern travel agency Fora, says she tends to see an uptick in wellness travel bookings in January. She has a few theories as to why that might be: "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, you're actually going and doing something about it," Vazquez says. But she also thinks there's a greater awareness around health and wellness following the COVID-19 lockdown, as many people turned to the great outdoors for relief. "For lack of anything else to do, [people] bought a pair of hiking boots and climbed a mountain and found out, 'Actually, this makes me feel really good,'" she says. These days, there are options for every kind of traveler, making wellness travel more appealing and more accessible than ever before. But wellness has also become a baseline consideration for even the most traditional trips. Someone seeking out a summer beach vacation might also be asking themselves, "How do I come back as a better person?" Vazquez explains. With so many wellness offerings to choose from, these are the tried-and-true properties Popsugar editors believe are doing wellness tourism right. From a luxury lifestyle hotel in Portugal, to a relaxing oceanfront property in Laguna Beach, we rounded up some of the standout stays for health, fitness, and overall wellness. Read on for our recs, but be warned: travel bookings may ensue. Experts Featured in This Article Henley Vazquez is the co-founder of Fora, an online travel agency and network of travel advisors.