If you were looking forward to a spa getaway or a wellness retreat you had booked, the coronavirus pandemic has likely interrupted your exciting and rejuvenating plans—and that’s undoubtedly disappointing. But despite your sadly canceled plans, thanks to a host of new online programming from some of the most luxe properties around the globe, you can still experience retreat-quality meditation, fitness, healthy culinary tips, and spa treatments, right from your little corner of the world.
So do yourself a favor and bookmark the following nine resorts with virtual travel ideas for you to try. Because, well, right now that a.m. yoga practice on a tropical beach may not be happening, but so many other transportive mood-boosting practices can.
Check out 9 virtual travel ideas for wellness getaways you can take remotely.
1. Rosewood Mayakoba in the Riviera Maya, Mexico
It’s a unique experience to stay in one of this resort’s 129 suites that are outfitted with private terraces and plunge pools, situated along the winding lagoons of Mayakoba and on the Caribbean Sea. But though you can’t physically visit, you can get a taste of the serenity it offers via an engaging new video series on Facebook. Take a 20-minute HIIT workout with fitness instructor Giovanni Guerrero, learn to make chef Juan Pablo Loza’s favorite pico de gallo–topped shrimp tacos, and mix immunity-boosting essential oils with resident clinical aromatherapist Daniel Seymour.
2. Kamalaya Koh Samui in Koh Samui Island, Thailand
This intimate Thai resort is centered around a cave that Buddhist monks once used as a meditative and spiritual retreat. The property, the name of which means “lotus realm,” a symbol of how the human spirit unfolds and grows, has been an innovator in the spa industry for more than 15 years. Now, we can partake in its renowned holistic classes and activities at home. Owner Karina Stewart and on-site master coaches have uploaded videos to the site sharing tips for management and fatigue, cleansing the mind, getting better sleep, re-centering, and focusing on inner well-being.
3. Amanyara in Turks and Caicos
The name of this 56-accommodation luxe resort on the western shore of the island of Providenciales means “peaceful place” in Sanskrit. Through a series of videos designed for taking a wellness journey at home, wellness immersion manager David Melladew virtually transports guests to the secluded Caribbean resort with content like breathing techniques and a 15-minute guided yoga flow class by in-house specialists Jiten Bhatt and Pam Khamsaard.
4. Trisara Resort in Phuket, Thailand
“Wellness at Home” on Instagram TV and Facebook is a fitness-video series from this resort, whose name is Sanskrit for “the garden in the third heaven,” as its 60 pool villas are situated in three tiers overlooking the Andaman Sea. While you might not be able to visit the water structure in person, this virtual travel idea lets you learn the basics of the Thai boxing sport of Muay Thai, as well as yoga, meditation and guided breathing.
5. Chablé Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico
Tucked between a tropical jungle and Maroma Beach in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, this five-star beach resort has created a virtual wellness and culinary series on Instagram Stories to share the serenity, reconnection, and peace associated with a sojourn there. Executive chef Luis Quiroz gives cooking demos with vibrant and flavorful ingredients, wellness director Alva Flores hosts meditation sessions and yoga classes, and you can even learn how to craft your own protection-bestowing amulet.
6. The Resort at Paws Up in Montana
Like a private national park, this resort features 37,000 acres of undeveloped land, 100 miles of trails, and 10 miles of the Blackfoot River. But with its new online series “Live from Big Sky Country,” you can take part in activities for the mind, body, and soul live from the pristine Montana wilderness via its Instagram highlights and Facebook page. Take yoga on the ranch with the resort’s yoga director, forage for healthy ingredients with a wilderness expert, and join spa and wellness director Laura Russell-Nygard to whip up an exfoliating body or lip scrub made with ingredients you already have in your pantry.
7. CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in Anguilla
Not surprisingly, the culinary-inspired hotel on the British Caribbean island of Anguilla has launched a new cooking and wellness series on its homepage to bring its cuisine from the beach to your kitchen. Executive chef Juan Bochenski offers cooking classes with healthy ingredients and a behind-the-scenes peek at the resort’s iconic dishes while spa director Catherine Phillips shares self-care tips, like how to blend easy, immunity-boosting smoothies and make your own spa treatments.
8. Inns of Aurora in the Finger Lakes of New York
Laura Coburn, a certified Ayurveda health counselor, serves as the director of serenity at this boutique inn on the Finger Lakes. She’s offering weekly 30-minute meditations as a welcome respite from anxiety, stress, worry, and the current news cycle. Join her each Thursday at 5:30 p.m., EST, on Facebook for a discussion and Q&A, followed by a short practice. Upcoming sessions will focus on building a home-wellness practice, releasing fear and practicing gratitude, practicing mindfulness, pranayama breathing for calm minds, and yoga in everyday life.
9. Club Med
The new Club Med at Home program from the all-inclusive global resort brand is a weekly series of live and previously recorded workout sessions, led by members of the Club Med fitness staff. New content is added weekly—like morning yoga on the beach at Club Med Cefalù in Sicily and a sweat-inducing HIIT class from Club Med Kani in the Maldives.
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