Mary Herendeen:
In today's busy agenda driven society it's not unusual to plan travel for work, family or vacation for new experiences or to relive some old ones. But what about traveling for no other reason than to practice some self-care. After nearly two years in lockdown, causing an absence of social interactions, the pursuit of mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being is a top travel trend in 2022. Welcome to Traveling With AAA. I'm Mary Herendeen, your host, and today we are taking a trip for wellness. Here to tell us more about this trend and share her own experience is Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, co-founder of Travel Broads.com and Westways Magazine Ask the Traveler columnist, Jessica Fender. Jessica, welcome to Traveling With AAA and thank you for joining us.
Jessica Fender:
Hi, Mary. I'm happy to be here.
Mary:
Thank you. So, Jessica, what exactly is wellness travel?
Jessica:
Okay. So I feel like everyone is familiar with a spa day or even a spa vacation. You know, you get your massage, you get your facial. Wellness travel goes a little bit beyond that. It's beyond pampering, and it sort of looks at prevention. These are trips that are designed to address either specific health goals or general health goals. You might dedicate a trip to working on getting fit or getting back into shape. You might dedicate a trip to improving sleep. Oftentimes there are professionals on-site like nutritionists, mental health counselors, etc., to sort of help.
Mary:
Yeah, that sounds amazing. But I have to admit, as a working mom, I sometimes feel indulgent when I think about self-care beyond just a manicure. Can you tell us a bit about this trend and how the view on self-care has really changed?
Jessica:
Yeah. I think that a lot of people think of self-care as something that's indulgent, or at least that has been how we've looked at it in the past. But for the last two years, health has been top of mind. I mean, since March 2020, we've all had the opportunity to realize just how important our health is. And it sort of moved from a, would be nice or a guilty pleasure even to something that more people are making a priority.
Mary:
Yeah, you're right. I think a lot of people are becoming more unapologetic about the need to take care of themselves before they can take care of others. And it's exciting to see that the view on self-care has really changed. Can you tell us a little bit about the wellness vacations people are planning?
Jessica:
Oh wow. Yes, there are all kinds. This is a very fun topic because really it can be as luxurious or as simple as you like. There are long weekends and weeks-long trips that folks are taking. They might focus on nutrition, immunity building, or improving sleep. There are all types of detoxes, digital detoxes, nutritional detoxes, and we're talking vacations anywhere from the Swiss Alps to Malibu. It's really wide open.
Mary:
Well, you mentioned needing that for fitness and having a nutritionist on board. That sounds amazing because over the pandemic, I grew in addiction to Netflix and eating cheese popcorn. Most of the time, my attire included sweatpants and leggings. And before long, I felt like I just needed a total body reset. What are some of the best wellness vacations out there for folks who are needing that kickstart at fitness or staying fit?
Jessica:
Yeah. There are really a lot of options, which is great. And I've gotta say, I am a hundred percent with you on the leggings and the popcorn, personally. There are high end hotel chains that are introducing new options just in their rooms. So it could just be something that you're adding to a trip you're already taking. There's a new boutique fitness hotel chain that has in-room virtual classes, breakfast, the latest workout equipment, hiking programming, and stuff like that, which is wonderful. And then there's some more traditional retreat-like options that offer a little bit more robust programming. If you say want to go, make it a week-long vacation.
Mary:
Okay. That sounds amazing. What's the name of that hotel with the in-room virtual class is?
Jessica:
Oh yeah. That's the Pullman hotel chain. So they're kind of billing themselves as the first boutique fitness hotel chain.
Mary:
Wow. Okay, I'm writing that down—the Pullman hotel chain. Awesome, thank you. So you mentioned a digital detox, and I spoke with a colleague the other day about her break from social media. She'd mentioned since the start of the year, she stopped going on Instagram, stopped using Facebook, and was joining a book club. She's read 42 books already, and that's been life changing for her. And I'm wondering, where can we go for that full digital detox? What type of wellness trips are out there?
Jessica:
So there are certainly retreats that are dedicated to digital detoxing or just mindfulness in general, and you can definitely book one of those. Actually, just before the pandemic, literally three days before my hometown of New Orleans shut down, I was at a wellness retreat where we had done a digital detox, and I took a lot of those skills into the pandemic with me, so I feel very lucky about that. But it doesn't necessarily have to be a dedicated detox program. You can also just go places where you're not going to get reception, and there's a lot of great options. There's Joshua Tree and tons in Texas. I can't get reception in Texas, you know, Maine, all of these like beautiful places that are just lovely to spend time in. And you can kind of force yourself into a bit of a digital detox if you want to.
Mary:
All right. So that sounds good. I like the idea of just going to a place where you simply have no choice, but to shut down because you can't pull that phone out. In fact, I think that my building here is specifically designed for that because sometimes once I'm in the ins of this building, I'm in an office, I'm like, wait, my cell phone's not working, which is probably for a good reason.
Jessica:
Gotcha.
Mary:
So I know there are some wellness retreats that are out there to help those who might need the therapeutic effects of animals. We all hear about that, right. Our therapy animals, is there a travel that's meant just to fully immerse those wellness seekers?
Jessica:
Yeah, and that is such a great question. Because there are all kinds of programs out there. I have to say that I got a cat during the pandemic, and it's not always a stress reducer. I literally had to rescue a lizard from him from his clutches this morning. But by and large, interacting with animals can reduce our heart rates and reduce stress. And you can book a three-day workshop on communicating with your pet. The West has a ton of just wonderful equine programs where you're working with and riding horses and sort of interacting with animals that way. I stayed at the Sunrise Springs Spa Resort in New Mexico a while ago, and they had some really creative programs. We got to hold and pet and feed silky chickens.
Mary:
Oh, wow.
Jessica:
I know it was so amazing. That was part of their programming. We also got to play and socialize with a herd of golden retriever puppies that were about to be service animals. So the options are kind of amazing and adorable.
Mary:
Okay. That's probably one of my dreams. I think I'd just thought I'd died and gone to heaven if I had a basket full of puppies or kittens or silky chickens to play with. I was camping last summer and there was an alpaca farm. I mean, that was incredible. And once, on a trip to Mexico, after a ziplining tour, I had an opportunity to hold and feed a small little monkey, and I thought it was the most amazing experience. So I can imagine having a trip that was totally dedicated to feeling that, to just being around animals like that. That's amazing. I love it. All right. So I know you're mentioning the wellness vacations that you've been on and definitely having that detox right before the pandemic. Can you share a few more of some of your favorite experiences?
Jessica:
Oh yeah, definitely. So the first trip that I took just for pleasure for vacation post vaccine, was to Belize. We were down in Placencia; it's this beautiful kind of secluded beach area. I stayed at the Naya Resort there, and they're not necessarily billing themselves as a wellness resort, but they had active stretching courses and a yoga studio. They had this beautiful tropical setting. And I will say that even just being in that place helped me focus on the issues that I was working on—a back injury that kind of flared up during the pandemic, and I came away from this gorgeous tropical beach vacation. One of the highlights was the fact that I had done this sort of physical activity and worked on the issue that had been bothering me. And it's just kind of wild the way that works out. And I love that you can make any vacation into a wellness vacation. You can just choose healthier options. You don’t necessarily have to have to book a pre-programmed trip if that makes sense.
Mary:
Right, and I think that's really important. You said at the start of answering this question about just being in that place. And for some reason that stuck with me, and I realize a lot of the things that are wellness for me. So I get a massage once a month, and I spend half of the time that I'm on the table, thinking about all these things that I have to do for work, at home, or what's next. And so what tips do you have for somebody to just be in that place? Because I think you really can turn anything into a wellness pursuit.
Jessica:
Yeah. That's a great point. I think that if we shift our thinking about our vacation a little bit and say this isn't just about hanging out at the beach, this isn't just about seeing all the sites. This is a break in my routine where I can set some new intentions. I can set some new habits. I can maybe take some of these habits home with me. I still do some of the stretches that I learned on that massage table or the therapy table at Naya. So I think it's kind of like a reframing issue if that answers your question.
Mary:
Right, yeah. It sounds like you're saying to be intentional about it. Go in there with the mindset that I'm going to enjoy it. I'm going to pick some things, and I'm going to take something away with me from this trip and maybe leave something there. I know travelers right now are considerate—more than they ever have been about the impact they leave during their travels. There's a lot of people that really want authenticity and less of a cookie cutter approach to their travel. How can those less experienced travels travelers ensure that they get it?
Jessica:
I think that that's a great point, and that is something that touches all types of travel right now, not just wellness travel. Community-based tourism is kind of the industry term for it. And sort of looking down those avenues where, the way people eat, the way people look after their health, that's part of their culture. So if you can find ways to take part in the local health practices, that's just a really interesting way to add value to a trip. And just to kind of open your mind a little bit to some new perspectives. I did a trip to a very remote area of Thailand several years ago. And I still remember some of the interesting stretching techniques. We had this giant hoop skirt that you sat in and your head poked out of it. And this was like this thing that they had done just forever to take care of their bodies. And I learned a little something there too.
Mary:
That's amazing. I can imagine immersing yourself in what their traditions are. I went to India a few years back, and I stayed with my girlfriend and her family, who are very religious and very open and welcoming. And I joined them to visit the Golden Temple, and it was amazing, just the quietness of the place. It really was just an amazing experience. I think I had never felt so welcomed in a place before, and it was amazing and it’s what they do there. So it's fun.
Jessica:
And you’re still remembering how much of an impact that had on you all this time later. So yeah, I mean I enjoy learning about cultures which is why I travel. I think that you can incorporate that into wellness travel just as you could any other type of travel.
Mary:
That's awesome. Now, when I think about traveling with my kids, I mentioned that I have two little ones when we first met. I have James, who's almost four, and Alan who's seven, and when we are going on vacation, sometimes I'm so focused on making sure they're having fun and they're taken care of that I'm not really thinking about wellness. And I would imagine it's similar for other parents like me or traveling families. Are there resorts focusing on wellness so that you can get the best of both family-friendly resorts?
Jessica:
I think that there are certainly resorts that offer childcare and I think even just taking that break as parents is beneficial to your health period. But yeah, I'm not going to lie the options are a little bit fewer than a traveling adult. But there are spas in Germany, for instance, that have like three different spas for kids and adult spas. They kind of divide the participants so that everyone can get some time and relaxation. I think obviously active and nature-based trips are going to have an element of that as well. It just takes a little bit more work to find those opportunities.
Mary:
I love that—spa for kids. So I go to a local spa in Irvine, California, and it's a Korean spa that’s very traditional. And I remember I was in there once, and a woman had her two young daughters that were probably not more than eight years old. And they were so peaceful. They were so quiet, going with the flow and just partaking, but you couldn't tell. And I think that's probably one of the things that I need to do with my boys is put them in a quiet place because I will say it's nothing but noise with my two boys. They love to make noise and dirt. They love dirt. So camping's always a favorite.
Jessica:
<Laugh>.
Mary:
So if I'm limited to just maybe a few days away, what tips might you have for planning the perfect self-indulgence, self-care getaway?
Jessica:
That's a great question because so many of these trips can be weeklong, or honestly, there's a trend for these trips take being even like a two week program. But you don't have to have that amount of time in your calendar to do this. I would pick a spot close to home. There are amazing options in California. There's Ranch Malibu, and they will develop a lifestyle regimen for you and do digital follow-ups afterward. There's some gorgeous options out in Arizona and New Mexico. Maybe if you're limited on time, pick one issue that you want to focus on to make the biggest impact. You know, are you trying to detox? Are you trying to sort of recenter yourself and work on your mental health? Are you trying to improve your nutrition after all that cheese popcorn?
Jessica:
You know, maybe find one of those things to work on. And if this is something that's new to you, or it feels like maybe it's a little intimidating, you don't have to go all out. You can just book a hotel that has hiking programming. You can just book a hotel or a trip where you can take some cooking classes and maybe develop new skills. So I think this is all manageable no matter how much time you really happen in your calendar.
Mary:
Right. That makes sense. It sounds like just planning and ensuring that you're focusing on one thing and really being intentional and clear with your travel advisor to let them know that that's the type of experience you want to have in that very limited time. Well, thank you, Jessica.
Jessica:
Yeah. Thank you, Mary. This was a lot of fun.
Mary:
We really appreciate all of your tips, Jessica Fender. Thank you for being with us here on Traveling With AAA, and thank you to our listeners for being with us. If you're planning a trip, be sure to connect with a AAA travel advisor, check out aaa.com/travel, or visit your local branch. And if you enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe. I'm Mary Herendeen. Thank you for Traveling With AAA.
