Travel for Health
With the explosion of focus on health and wellness in recent years, people are seeking more opportunities to travel for health.
In the past, if you wanted a revitalizing trip, the entire agenda was typically built around a spa or retreat, but after a worldwide pandemic, travelers are seeking healthier alternatives wherever they go. This has opened a wide range of wellness-centric destinations and experiences that are not only relaxing and good for you, but often unique and culturally specific.
There is evidence of therapeutic spa vacations dating back thousands of years. You may have heard the term, “taking the waters,” which refers to the curative powers of mineral water, known as balneotherapy, and the cleansing and healing power of water and heat has been the founding principle of spa-going for centuries. In Europe and Asia, wellness spas are quite common, providing a variety of spa-like facilities for free or for a minimal daily fee, some open to the entire family. Specific treatments are considered preventative and therefore inexpensive and extensive. In the US spa treatments are considered “elective” or “cosmetic,” and are typically found at luxury resorts or in metropolitan areas, and treatments or services can be expensive. The average cost of a spa treatment in the US as of 2021 was about $3-5 a minute, which means a 60-minute treatment will range between $180-300.
With a bigger focus on overall health and wellness, travelers are realizing that having a component of revitalization and rejuvenation incorporated into all vacations, makes sense, and since many of these experiences are less expensive outside of the US, traveling for health is becoming more and more popular.
Some of the Best Locations to Travel for Health
Mediterranean Europe
This includes Greece, Malta, and Cyprus, as well as areas of France, Portugal, Italy, and Spain. If you search ‘Wellness Retreats in Mediterranean Europe,’ you will find a list of magnificent locations awash in blue. I’m serious, look it up. Blue skies, blue waters, blue buildings, blue mist rising off blue lagoons. The entire sun-drenched indigo land is mesmerizing. This area is home to 5-star Medi spas, ancient treatments, Watsu and therapy pools, mineral-rich geothermal waters, and every kind of mud or clay you can imagine. I recommend a few links for further exploration:
Japan
Japan is home to the oldest living person in the world which may have something to do with their healthy diet, featuring fish, vegetables, fermented foods, macronutrients, and soothing teas, but Japan is also home to glorious mountains, bamboo forests, and meditative waters. Known for Akasuri (a whole-body skin exfoliation treatment), snail facials, and bathhouses, Japan is a destination worth considering.
Check out Health Travel to learn more.
Finland
Boasting the highest air quality in the world, Finland is quickly becoming one of the best places to go for health and wellness. Finland has a longer life expectancy than the EU average and is ranked as one of the leading countries in terms of quality of life. Finland is also known for happiness, freedom, honesty, welfare, good health, and generosity.
Check out Wellness Experiences to learn more.
Denmark
Number one in healthcare in the world, Denmark is where land and sea meet. Many of the spa experiences in Denmark incorporate the ocean, and the leading Nordic spa hotel, Kurhotel Skodsborg (located outside of Copenhagen) features an integral element in their signature SaunaGus, a rejuvenating treatment that involves aromatherapy in the sauna followed by a dip in the sea.
Check out Visit Denmark to learn more.
Sedona, Arizona
The red rocks in Sedona are said to be the center of vortexes that radiate earth’s powers which makes it a perfect place to visit for those seeking spiritual healing, meditation, and self-awakening. This spa destination is full of psychics, life coaches, Reiki masters, massage therapists, and spiritual counselors, not to mention incredible mountains and scenery. The weather is typically warm year-round, and outdoor activities abound.
Check out Sedona Self Love to learn more.
Philippines
Most hotels and resorts in the Philippines feature in-house spas where guests can get massages and treatments. Home to scenic and tranquil locations, resorts and retreats in the Philippines offer a wide range of services aimed at personal wellness such as yoga retreats, detox programs, meditation, and ecotherapy. “The Farm,” located in San Benito, is an internationally acclaimed health resort famous for its detox cleanses and healing retreats.
Check out Behold Philippines to learn more.
Bali
From yoga retreats to holistic therapies to detox treatments, Bali offers amazing opportunities to improve your health. Stretch out at a serene and peaceful place right at the edge of a wide sandy beach. Or stare out at green rice fields while being massaged and nurtured. Bali has it all, including culture, history, amazing temples, and spectacular beaches.
Check out Indonesian Travel to learn more.
Sri Lanka
Beautiful and spiritual temples, meditation, yoga, and spiritual awakening, as well as natural Ayurveda medicinal treatments, are what Sri Lanka is all about.
Check out Healing Holiday to learn more.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia is known for spectacular beaches, tropical rainforests, mountains, natural waterfalls, and breathtaking views. Just being here will improve your well-being.
Check out the Endless Caribbean to learn more.
Unique Experiences for your Healthy Travel
The luxury spa at Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, in Croatia, draws from centuries-old local seafaring history, and the spa menu at Albaro Wellness & Spa lures guests with forgotten secrets of Istrian wellness and a wide range of thermal temperature spas. Unique and exotic.
The Four Seasons Mauritius is in Mauritius, an island off the coast of Madagascar, Africa. Located in a secluded oasis at the edge of an idyllic lagoon, Four Seasons Mauritius is one of the only hotels in the world to offer guests the highly indulgent eight-handed massage. Four masseuses use synchronized movements to balance out the body’s energies to leave you feeling totally refreshed. Secluded and indulgent.
Located in northern Italy, Hotel Heubad has been providing services for over 100 years and offers unique spa treatments that date back to the 19th century. Their hay bath wraps you in warm, damp hay and the mold in the hay activates a strong fermentation process that raises temperatures quickly. Classic and alpine.
Seaweed spas in Ireland have been used by locals for their incredible properties for centuries. It’s an old Irish tradition to sit in a tub filled with seaweed scooped out of the North Atlantic coast. Boasting anti-inflammatory properties and a wealth of mineral elements, it is a great holistic treatment proven to lower stress levels, act as an effective treatment for many skin conditions, help muscle aches and joint stiffness, and release unwanted toxins from the body.
Check out Ireland Before You Die to learn more.
Middle Eastern and North African hammam treatments are slightly different from traditional thermal spas. Although both relaxing and good for the skin, hammam treatments use hot steam to encourage a deep and invigorating cleanse instead of thermal waters. Many hammam treatments also use olive-based soap (known for its skin-nourishing and exfoliating properties), and some treatments may include rhassoul clay, an antibacterial mineral that effectively and safely removes toxins and impurities from the body, reduces sebum and tightens pores.
Check out Spa Experience to learn more.
Salt caves, igloos, hot springs, beer spas, cannabis, micro-dosing, sweat lodges, acupuncture, clay masks, mud baths, spiritual travel retreats, yoga retreats, massages on the water, in the water, or with water… the list goes on. If you want to learn more about health and wellness spas around the world, I recommend exploring some of these links to great places to travel for health.
The Best Health Products to Buy When Traveling
If you are traveling outside of the US, it’s worth stocking up on some healthy supplies you may not be able to find in the states or are significantly less expensive. Here is a list of items you can add to your wellness room or routine after returning home:
Spices
If you’re traveling somewhere in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Asia, or North Africa, stock up on unique herbs and spices to add to your home apothecary, such as turmeric, coffee, cinnamon, etc. Be sure to learn about how to ship and/or customs restrictions before you buy. Learn more…
Personal Care Retailers
Since healthcare is different all over the world, not to mention what each government allows retailers to sell, one of my favorite things to do is to wander into what we’d call a ‘drugstore’ in different countries. Depending on where you are, the items available can be fascinating! Find out where the locals shop for face cream, body washes, pain relievers, and general healthcare, and stock up! Chances are you will find unique items that you’ll never find in the US.
Bath Salts and Oils
If you’re visiting a spa in another country, visit their store before leaving. Stock up on mineral-rich salts and massage oils. Some of my favorite bath salts I’ve found overseas. Typically cheaper than in the US, you’ll also find herbal oils and scents that are intoxicating and exotic.
Creams, Oils, Clays, and Masks
We are highly regulated in the US, and therefore what we can get in our creams, oils, and masks, is limited to what has passed our strict criteria. While traveling, try as many body and/or face treatments as you can. Find ones that suit your sense of smell and particular issues, and stock up. Be careful to try before you buy, though, to ensure ingredients are agreeable with your skin.
Other Health Treatments
If you have not tried, Ayurvedic, Acupuncture, Yoga, Singing bowls, Shamans, or Psychedelic therapy… a trip for wellness and recovery may be a perfect time. Research carefully and read all the reviews. Then kick off your reservations and give it a go!
