Whether you’re looking to recharge and reset or simply want to start the year feeling your best, take this as your sign.
1. Wellness in nature: Amanemu Retreats, Ise-Shima, Japan
Located in Japan’s Ise-Shima National Park and overlooking serene Ago Bay, Amanemu is a sanctuary of wellness grounded in the art of Japanese onsen bathing and mindful living. Private pavilions house mineral-rich hot spring baths and tailored programmes range from detox to slow-ageing, inviting deep restoration in a sublime natural setting. Beyond the resort, Amanemu’s team can arrange authentic cultural encounters, from meeting local Ama pearl divers to exploring coastal trails and traditional culinary workshops.
2. Where history and modern luxury collide: Castle Hot Springs, Morristown, Arizona
Home to naturally restorative thermal waters and three acres of farmland supplying its restaurant, Castle Hot Springs has been a true retreat since 1826, earning it recognition on the National Register of Historic Places. Indigenous communities long travelled to the springs for medicinal purposes before it was transformed into Arizona’s first wellness resort.
3. Largest wellness resort in the Middle East: Zulal Wellness Resort, Qatar
Located in Al Ruwais, a 90-minute drive from Doha, Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som spans over 280,000 square metres and features two distinct areas: Zulal Serenity, an adults-only retreat, and Zulal Discovery, for guests of all ages. Surrounded by the Arabian Gulf, the resort combines privacy and exclusivity with easy city access. Zulal is the largest wellness resort in the Middle East, blending traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine as well as holistic wellness principles to create the ultimate sanctuary.
4. Parkside pamper: Tenaya at Yosemite, Yosemite Mariposa County, California
A spa getaway, surrounded by nature in the Sierra National Forest. The spa resort, Tenaya at Yosemite, is home to one of the Sierra region’s top spas, Ascent. Access to complimentary yoga classes, indoor and outdoor pools and nightly s’mores around the fire each evening are included for overnight guests. The lodge is situated in Fish Camp, just two miles outside Yosemite National Park’s south gate, making it an ideal location for visitors who want to easily explore the park’s wonders, with guided hikes, mountain biking and archery available.
5. Ski-in luxury wellness: The Little Nell, Aspen, Colorado
The Little Nell offers the ultimate blend of adventure, luxury and wellness. The property offers ski-in/ski-out spa treatments at The Spa at The Little Nell, and this winter, visitors will have access to one of the world’s most sought-after skincare experts: esthetician, Georgia Louise. Georgia Louise will bring her pioneering approach to facial architecture, fascia and lymphatic work, long-term skincare health and beauty longevity to the Rocky Mountains.
6. Tattoo-friendly onsen town: Kinosaki Onsen, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Japan’s onsen (natural hot springs) have been central to the country’s wellness culture for centuries, drawing travellers seeking their healing properties. Due to tradition, most onsen still restrict entry to visitors with tattoos. Famous for onsen-hopping, the town features seven public baths, all tattoo‑friendly, each with its own charm, history and style. Individual inns may have their own tattoo policies, so check beforehand.
7. Off-grid escape: The Islands of Tahiti, French Polynesia
Located in the heart of The Islands of Tahiti, Niu Shack offers an unparalleled off-grid escape that blends natural beauty with holistic wellness and healthy eating. Surrounded by tropical landscapes and pristine beaches, this eco-friendly retreat invites guests to indulge in traditional Polynesian beauty and wellness rituals, including soothing massages using local oils, riverside beauty rituals and calming yoga sessions set against the backdrop of serene ocean views.
8. Thermal longevity retreat: Spirit Hotel Thermal Spa, Hungary
Spirit Hotel Thermal Spa in Western Hungary is built around its private thermal spring rich in rare minerals. A short flight from the UK, the adult-focused retreat has 22 pools, personalised detox, anti-inflammatory and stress-recovery programmes, and diagnostics-led treatments developed with medical specialists. The hotel attracts guests seeking long-term health benefits. A stay here taps into Hungary’s centuries-old thermal culture, reimagined for modern longevity travel.
9. Urban luxury meets holistic wellbeing: One&Only Cape Town, South Africa
Located on a private island in the heart of Cape Town, One &Only Cape Town offers a restorative wellness escape framed by water canals and views of Table Mountain. Designed for travellers seeking balance rather than isolation, the One&Only Spa focuses on holistic renewal through bespoke treatments, mindfulness rituals, thermal experiences, and movement-led wellbeing. Alongside the full day wellness retreat, a minimum three-night stay includes breakfast, an intimate dinner for two, and in-suite balcony dining with a butler on night two.
10. Tennis retreat to perfect those serves: Sensei Resort, California
Sensei Porcupine Creek, located close to Palm Springs, is a favourite retreat of athletes and celebrities alike. Hone your tennis skills by opting for the Tennis Optimal Wellbeing Programme. This desert retreat, spanning five days, provides 4+ hours of tailored instruction with a tennis pro, 1:1 wellbeing sessions and two spa treatments. Guests can expect to perfect not only their volleys and shot placement but also lifestyle habits as the resort follows a holistic approach.
11. An underground thermal escape: Cascada, Portland, Oregon
Portland’s first and only underground thermal springs. This is a subterranean sanctuary featuring a meticulously designed “Hydro-Circuit” that includes hot and ambient vitality pools, a cold plunge, and Himalayan salt saunas. It feels less like a hotel spa and more like a hidden European bathhouse. Beyond the pools, the spa specialises in Mud and Mineral Wraps that utilise Pacific Northwest clays to detoxify the skin. Cascada is also a full-service luxury hotel, so you can take the lift directly from your suite to the springs in your robe.
12. Mountain luxury escape: Dunton Hot Springs, Colorado
A firm favourite with countless celebrities, Dunton Hot Springs is one of the most sought-after stays in Colorado. The former mining ghost town has been transformed with hand-built log cabins and lavish furnishings, saloon bar and local-ingredient led restaurant, a relaxing spa and numerous soothing hot springs. A year-round destination, Dunton Hot Springs offers a great space to explore the surrounding mountains, whether that’s hiking and horse riding in the summer or skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
13. Flow and reset on Sydney Harbour: Floating Pilates with Aqua Sculpt, New South Wales
Floating Pilates with Aqua Sculpt at Bellamy Beach in Rose Bay is a wellness experience for travellers seeking something uniquely Sydney. Set on the calm waters of Sydney Harbour, this innovative class combines Pilates with floating movement for a workout that tones the body while calming the mind. Just 15 minutes from the CBD and close to Watsons Bay and Bondi, it fits seamlessly into a day of exploration. Beginner-friendly and held against a spectacular harbour backdrop, it’s a memorable way to experience Sydney’s outdoor lifestyle beyond the beach.
14. Heal in the same house as Teddy Roosevelt: Sewall House Yoga Retreat, Maine
A young Theodore Roosevelt stayed at Sewall House on three occasions as a Harvard student. An invigorating break, climbing nearby Mount Katahdin with lifelong friend William Wingate Sewall, here his childhood asthma healed. Today, Sewall’s great-granddaughter has transformed the historic family home into a yoga retreat. Guests enjoy yoga, meditation, massages, a sauna, cycling and healthy meals at this 100% vegetarian hotel. Close by, kayak, canoe or swim at Lakes Mattawamkeag and Pleasant. Sewall House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
