Why You Should Consider Going Solo When Planning Your Next Wellness Vacation

If there is one category of vacation that is an ideal fit with the concept of “traveling solo”  it is the “wellness vacation.”

Think about it for moment. Wellness vacations are generally planned with a specific intention or goal. For instance, to kick start a weight loss program, launch a fitness routine, reconnect with self, reboot body mind and soul, learn to manage stress… the list goes on. All of these are extremely personal intentions and sometimes – certainly not always – such intentions call for a retreat that is just as personal. Me time. Going solo. And, perhaps meeting up with the like-minded for added inspiration and encouragement.

Here are five options for those thinking of going solo on a wellness vacation:

VeraVia – Carlsbad, California

Located on a beautifully landscaped setting in Southern California, the all-inclusive luxury health and fitness retreat VeraVia (pictured), part of the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, offers programs designed to create lifestyle changes.

A team of professionals including physicians, nutritionists, exercise physiologists, and behavioral psychologists combine both Western and Eastern ideologies to address issues such as stress management, weight loss, or medical challenges (such as diabetes). CEO and Co-Founder Wyatt Chapman says VeraVia programs are “completely customized to each guest based on their individual health and wellness goals” plus, he says, “programs also include one-on-one-sessions with each of our clinicians.”

Red Mountain Resort & Spa – St. George, Utah

If hiking surrounded by incredible natural vistas makes your soul sing then Red Mountain Resort & Spa in Utah’s Mojave Desert might be the place for your solo retreat. Beyond the fabulous hiking for all levels of fitness, there is the spa, health food options, daily fitness classes, and wellness sessions.

For guests traveling solo, there’s also a Community Table often hosted by a member of the team. Additionally, says general manager Tracey Welsh, “our property resonates so well with the solo traveler because of the camaraderie that you immediately experience on the hiking trail. You spend two to three hours outside with a small group, and then you see them again and again throughout your stay. “

R4.0 at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village – Westlake Village, California

For solo travelers who need to get away but don’t have time for a full blown, week-long program, The Ranch at Live Oak/Malibu offers a long-weekend version of their popular seven-day retreat.

The all-inclusive, four-day Ranch Malibu’s 4.0 takes place at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village and the connected California Health and Longevity Institute. Medical testing, a structured diet of organic vegetarian dishes, a cooking demo, and eight hours each day of exercise including hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, weight-training, and yoga are all packed into this retreat. “A huge benefit of the program for those traveling solo, is that the daily routine is completely structured in a fun group environment, so there is an opportunity to meet wonderfully interesting people,” says founder and CEO, Alex Glasscock.

Ste. Anne’s Spa – Grafton, Ontario

Located about an hour away from Toronto and surrounded by 400 acres of rolling countryside, Ste. Anne’s Spa is one of Canada’s original destination spas. Spa services, daily fitness classes, a fieldstone grotto for hydrotherapy, even an equine program where guests can learn to ride are a few options to include in a self-directed wellness vacation. There are also monthly yoga retreats and other all-inclusive, guided retreats.

Wanda Hoehn, director of sales and marketing, says that while the guest services team goes out of their way to care for all guests, “I think that our solo guests might even get more care and attention from the team.”

New Life Hiking Spa – Killington, Vermont

Open annually from mid-May through the end of September, New Life Hiking Spa in the Green Mountains of Vermont is a weight loss retreat with a signature hiking spa program.

Founded in 1978, New Life is often referred to as “one of the most affordable destination spas.” All-inclusive packages include accommodation, meals healthy snacks, a daily guided hike, fitness and yoga classes, cooking demos, and evening lectures. Co-owner Kathleen Lesage says, “We are like a summer camp for adults… only with a nice room. Most of our guests come alone but always leave having made new friends.”

So, if you are in the planning stages of a wellness vacation ask yourself the question: is going solo the best way to complete my intention/reach my goal? It might very well be!

Interested in planning a solo getaway right now? Join Anne on the first ever Travel to Wellness retreat!