Trends

There is undoubtedly an art to packing a short stay bag. Get it right and you have everything you need, neatly packed up in a handy, easily transportable case. Get it wrong, however, and you either have outfits that don’t work and missing toiletries, or find yourself over-encumbered with unnecessary items.

Recycle your old travel guides and dive into the digital rabbit hole of Pinterest for the ultimate way to plan your healthy holiday. Create a board for your virtual bucket list and set your imagination free with a wealth of information at your fingertips. The saying, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ has never been more apt when used in relation to the breath-taking and inspiring images that fill Pinterest’s pages.

by: SKINS

We all know compression sportswear is tight, but so is pretty much everything else we exercise in, so what’s all the fuss about? Can a little extra squeeze really fight fatigue, reduce the risk of injury, speed up recovery and boost performance?

The short answer to all of those is yes, and to prove it, here are a few fast facts from sportswear brand SKINS to help you get to grips with their high-performance gear.

Paul Joseph

Paul Joseph is co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel, experts in tailor-made healthy holidays worldwide. He searches for the rare and hidden gems around the world and puts together exclusive and trend-setting holidays for those who would like to improve or maintain their health and fitness whilst on holiday. As well as a love of all things travel, Paul's other love is exercise, cycling and yoga. Paul also contributes to the travel pages of various high-profile newspapers and magazines where he offers his expert advice on wellness holidays.

My internship at Health and Fitness Travel has flown by; it seems like just yesterday I was writing my first blog and now I am coming away with a wealth of priceless PR and Marketing experience. Having always had an interest in health, fitness and wellness travel I was looking for a PR & Marketing internship in London that would teach me how to share the message with others, and this internship fit the bill in every way I could have hoped. I jumped at the opportunity and have loved every moment.

The team at Health and Fitness Travel would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year. We appreciate all the support in launching in Australia and look forward to helping create many new memories and healthy holidays with you in 2015.

As my internship draws to a close and I reflect on all I have learned, gained and accomplished over the past 9 weeks, I realise what an excellent experience this has been. Studying foreign languages at University, I’ve always had an interest in the travel industry and am so pleased to have had the opportunity to pursue this passion with Health and Fitness Travel.

In today's fast-paced, frenzied society, increasing numbers of stressed out individuals are shunning their slick, mirror-tiled high-tech gyms to pursue yoga as a form of exercise. Not only does yoga produce a cardiovascular workout, but it can help to reduce blood pressure, heart disease, depression and stress as well as improving focus and concentration. And did we mention fun? Yes, yoga is a lot of fun. Holidays with yoga classes are proving more and more popular, especially as they help to enhance a holiday's wellness element.

The internet is full of travel tips. Many have been repeated ad nauseum, but occasionally you can come across an insightful tip which simplifies your travels and makes you feel more secure on your next trip. Here we collect the best of the best safety tips for you to use on your next getaway.

I was very excited about visiting SHA Wellness Clinic to rejuvenate and energise for a few days in Spain. It's making quite a name for itself and with regular visits from the likes of Kylie Minogue, Simon Cowell and Naomi Campbell, it seems everybody wants to reap the rewards from coming here.

Forecasting the next big trends in wellness travel for 2017, we share the best travel trends in the spa and wellness industries. From holidays for a healthy mind, to stop-smoking-holidays and full body-MOT escapes, discover the hottest new trends that will influence the wellness and spa worlds. 

Stop Smoking Retreats

Forecasting the next big trends in wellness travel for 2017, Health and Fitness Travel, live up to their reputation as the leading experts in wellness holidays worldwide. From holidays for a healthy mind, to specialist stop smoking retreats and full body-MOT escapes, discover the hottest new trends that will influence the wellness and spa world in 2017. 

Top 3 Destinations: SHA Anti-Tobacco (Spain), Kurotel Anti-Tobacco (Brazil), Marbella Club Anti-Tobacco (Spain)

Optimal Health for the Modern Man

Following an increasing move away from the ultra-masculine man towards the Modern man, more men than ever are now going to spas and wellness retreats. In today’s ever more liberal society, it’s becoming more socially acceptable for men to escape on a wellness holiday where they can take part in masculine activities, like boxing and HIIT, before recovering with a massage or spa treatment. With men, still significantly less likely than women to make time to consult a doctor, wellness retreats catering to men also offer a more approachable means of addressing health issues.

Top 3 Destinations: Chiva Som (Thailand), Komune Resort (Bali), Marbella Club (Spain)

Healthy Mind and Emotion Healing Holidays

With more of us looking for ways to boost self-confidence or learn how to manage stress, it is little wonder that mind and emotion healing holidays are a rising trend in the wellness world. With a growing understanding that a healthy mind leads to a healthy life, retreats offering coaching in mindfulness, meditation and yoga, are helping sufferers of modern-living burnout to reconnect their mind, body and soul.

Top 3 Destinations: Shreyas Silent Retreat (India), Marbella Club De-Stress Emotional Rebalance (Spain), Kamalaya Embracing Change (Thailand)

Post-Cancer Recovery Retreats

No longer shying away from the complexities of treating a cancer sufferer, a rise in wellness spa retreats creating specialist post-cancer recovery programmes offers a sanctuary for cancer survivors to recharge and rejuvenate. Helping you to feel like the best version of yourself again, a range of holistic spa therapies and alternative natural medicine treatments, from acupuncture to Ayurveda, will nurture and resort your well-being. Combined with expert consultations from psychologists, nutritionists and physiotherapists, regain your appetite and your strength as you rejuvenate your mind, body and soul in a luxurious wellness sanctuary.

Top 3 Destinations: Chiva Som Cell Vitality (Thailand), Kurotel Post-Cancer (Brazil), The BodyHoliday BodyScience (St Lucia)

Full-Body MOT Holidays

Every year, drivers spend thousands taking out MOTs on their cars, so why not spend the same amount of money and loving attention on your own body? After all, it’s the only one you’ll ever have. Enter full-body MOT holidays where fitness training, wellness activities, spa treatments and diet plans are personalised to your body. Taking personalised wellness one step further, some even offer DNA analysis, to really tailor the treatment plan to your health needs.

Top 3 Destinations: The Body Camp (Ibiza), The BodyHoliday BodyScience (St Lucia), 38 Degrees North Healthy Hedonism (Ibiza)

Eat-Well Detox Holidays

Gone are the days when a detox holiday entails a punishing regime of fasting and tiny portions; time for the eat-well detox. Foodie lovers in search of a cleansing detox will be pleased to know that on an eat-well detox you’ll be able to refuel with well-proportioned nutritious meals throughout the day, that won’t leave you going hungry. Focusing instead on eating a generous amount of healthy food, try a more satisfying experience for those looking to detox without forgoing food.  

Top 3 Destinations: Ti Sana Liver Detox (Italy), Kamalaya Comprehensive Detox Rejuvenation (Thailand), Como Shambhala Estate Detox (Bali)

Zen Adrenaline Junkies

The idea of zen and adrenaline might seem like an odd combination, but more and more of us are now embracing ‘adrenaline-après’ holidays where we can satisfy a thirst for high-octane adventure with kite-surfing and paragliding, before relaxing with spa treatments, meditation and yoga.  A great way to train your body and mind to let go of stress and enjoy living in the moment, embrace the mind-body cocktail of zen adrenaline and return home ready for anything.

Top 3 Destinations: Zighy Bay Sense of Adventure (Oman), The BodyHoliday Fusion Fitness (St Lucia), Maya Ubud Adventure (Bali)

Physical Therapy Holidays

Everyone puts their bodies through a lot of stress. Whether from being hunched over a desk or working out to the extreme, muscles are frequently being strained, pulled or teared. Answering the call for worn out bodies, the rise of physical therapy holidays provides opportunities for recovery from your injuries and to re-train your body to peak perfection.  Heal your body with a wide variety of treatments, from expert consultations with physiotherapists to aquatic therapy and posture alignment. 

Top 3 Destinations: Chiva Som Physical Renewal (Thailand), Lefay Sports & Posture (Italy), Amatara Fitness(Thailand)

Family-Wellness Holidays

Following the rising realisation that the next generation of spa goers are the younger generation, more spa and wellness retreats are now offering family-wellness holidays. No longer a no-go zone with the children in tow, with an array of mini spa treatments designed especially for children, now the whole family can be pampered from head to toe. Also focusing on drawing the kids away from their iPads and video games, action packed kids clubs encourage children to experience new sports and activities, as they swap their smartphones for bicycles, tennis and water sports.

Top 3 Destinations: The BodyHoliday WellFit Families (St Lucia), Fusion Maia (Vietnam), Terre Blanche (France)

New Waves in Wellness

With 71% of Earth being covered in water, it only makes sense that we’ve taken to board sports like ducks to water. Riding a new wave in wellness, more of us are now turning to board sports as a fun way of toning up and shaping up. From stand-up paddle boarding to indoor board fitness classes and surfing, board sports offer a great workout for training your core and legs.

Top 3 Destinations: Epic Sana Sup Fitness (Portugal), Komune Yoga & Surf (Bali), Paradis Plage Surfing (Morocco)

Preventative Health to Lower Your Biological Age

Already highly popular with the Baby Boomer generation, the appeal of preventative health holidays offering the chance to help slow down the clock are also rising in popularity with Generations X and Y.  Proving that age really is nothing but a number - whether pressing pause on ageing by learning to let go of stress or sweating your way to a more youthful you, reducing your biological age is the new mantra of the ‘ageing gracefully’ gurus.

Top 3 Destinations: SHA Rejuvenation (Spain), The BodyHoliday Healthy Ageing (St Lucia), Longevity Anti-Ageing (Portugal)

Social Group Fitness Holidays

If you’re a social butterfly and like to make friends wherever you go, then you’re probably a part of the ever-rising number of people escaping on social group fitness holidays.  Whether a group of friends or the solo traveller who doesn’t want to train alone, with the added support of individuals going through the same process, you’ll soon reach your fitness goals. Offering the opportunity for you to train in groups where you can learn from each other, you may even make some lifelong friends.

Top 3 Destinations: The BodyHoliday September Solos (St Lucia), Wildfitness Zanzibar (Tanzania), The Body Camp (Ibiza)

Workplace Wellness

If you’re a social butterfly and like to make friends wherever you go, then you’re probably a part of the ever-rising number of people escaping on social group fitness holidays.  Whether a group of friends or the solo traveller who doesn’t want to train alone, with the added support of individuals going through the same process, you’ll soon reach your fitness goals. Offering the opportunity for you to train in groups where you can learn from each other, you may even make some lifelong friends.

Top 3 Destinations: Ultimate Luxury Around The World Wellness Trip (Worldwide), Lefay (Italy), Kamalaya (Thailand)

Eco-Friendly Wellness Retreats

With a rise in green conscious travellers in search of a wellness holiday that is as kind to the planet as it is to you, there has been a growing emergence of eco-friendly wellness retreats offering a trip, without the guilt trip. Return home an expert on the local fauna and flora with educational eco-forest walks, indulge with all-natural spa remedies and refuel with healthy organic cuisine from onsite gardens.

Top 3 Destinations: Karkloof Safari Spa (South Africa), La Clairière (France) Aro Ha (New Zealand)

For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com or call 0203 397 8891 

Words: Bessie Hassan

Overseas trips can be exhausting for our bodies at the best of times. And especially if you’re in and out of meetings on the wrong time zone, it can be pretty easy to let your health lack in order to play catch up. So how can you make the most out of your business trip to stay healthy?

Health and Fitness Travel attended the annual Tatler Spa Awards in London last night at the luxurious Corinthia Hotel. These prestigious awards are renowned for recognising the best wellness and spa holidays from around the world and we were delighted to see four of our best wellness retreats receive awards.

With Wimbledon fever underway, those inspired to dig out their dusty tennis rackets can now rediscover the racket-wielding sport, as we share our top tennis tips direct from the pros, helping you to unleash your inner-champ. Practice your new-found skills and gain the advantage on a specialist tennis holiday, whether training in Thailand at a dedicated sports retreat frequented by sporting stars, or acing your game whilst soaking up the Mediterranean sun. After working up a sweat, ward off tennis elbow through rejuvenating spa treatments, leaving your body ready to hit the courts again tomorrow. Game, set, match.

"Happiness is the experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile" - Sonja Lyubomirsky

2022 is set to be a momentous year for wellness travel. The demand for wellness holidays that cater for both our physical and emotional wellbeing is only set to rise further as we collectively try to offset the adverse effects of pandemic related restrictions, increased stress, and ever more sedentary lifestyles. With this in mind, we’ve put together the 12 hottest wellness destinations to travel to in 2022 including everything from family wellness holidays to immunity-boosting retreats in some of the world’s most exciting emerging tourist destinations.  

Without further ado, let’s explore the best wellness retreat experiences to be had for each month of 2022! 

Forecasting the next big trends in wellness travel for 2017, we share the best travel trends in the spa and wellness industries. From holidays for a healthy mind, to specialist stop smoking retreats and full body-MOT escapes, discover the hottest new trends that will influence the wellness and spa worlds. 

Forget about boring runs on the treadmill and get ready to explore a new sense of fitness that will change your understanding of exercise forever. From fitness retreats to new trends, the fitness industry is constantly expanding to bring something new and cater to all consumers.  We as health and fitness experts are always on the lookout for the latest in fitness, from smart clothing to game-like bike races in the gyms of London and Berlin. 

Healthandfitnesstravel.com features in the Independent's 50 Best Travel Websites, with author Rhiannon Batten 'seeing the world the smart way', recommending healthandfitnesstravel.com in the article that leads readers where to 'bag a bargain and load up on local knowledge'.

With the New Year comes new opportunities to go on holiday, especially for those seeking a healthy break at the beginning of 2018. However, the emergence of so many new retreats can make picking the right holiday a real challenge, even for experienced wellness travellers. While reading through tons of internet ratings seems to be the obvious solution, the contradicting reviews will leave you rather undecided than determined.