Check In, Check Up

Instead of a visit to the doctor’s office, why not take a vacation? Thanks to a new breed of wellness resorts, your next medical appointment could be in the comfort of a riverfront spa or penthouse suite

By Esme Benjamin

If you dread the idea of a doctor’s appointment, you’re not alone. But putting off the inevitable visit—especially as we age—can have serious ramifications for your health. Fortunately, a far more appealing alternative to the doctor’s office has emerged in recent years, as a new breed of wellness hotels and resorts has introduced programs combining the pampering of a spa with expert-led medical diagnostics and action plans designed to identify and address specific health concerns. With world-class doctors, cutting-edge technology and first-rate wellness amenities in alluring destinations, the six properties featured here will have you looking forward to your next medical checkup—and feeling the health benefits of your visit long after check-out time.

Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort

Founded by renowned oncologist David Agus, Sensei Lanai offers targeted programs tailored to each guest’s individual health goals. To start, there’s a consultation with a pre-arrival specialist and delivery of a WHOOP 4.0 wearable, which tracks your behaviors and habits prior to your stay. Once you check in, the in-person health assessments begin, with the option of a blood test to help shape your personalized nutrition plan. From there a custom program unfolds, blending fitness and mindset coaching with pampering experiences like a traditional Hawaiian lomi lomi massage and plenty of time outdoors exploring the wilderness of Lanai, one of Hawaii’s least-developed and -touristed islands. fourseasons.com

Rakxa

Technology meets tradition at Rakxa, a Thai resort situated just across the river from Bangkok, on the jungleblanketed island of Bang Krachao. Your stay begins with in-depth diagnostics and a consultation with a dedicated advisor who will keep you on track to meet your goals with help from a team of doctors, nutritionists, trainers and respected healers. (Holistic therapies, including Himalayan singing bowls, acupuncture, yoga and Ayurveda, are an integral part of the Rakxa experience.) The resort’s specialized retreat options run the gamut from a total gut reset or detox regimen to a three-night long-COVID recovery program designed to reduce inflammation and restore the respiratory system. rakxawellness.com

Palazzo Fiuggi

Each guest’s “wellness journey” at Palazzo Fiuggi, located an hour outside of Rome, begins with a purifying hammam ritual—a relaxing treat before the hard work of getting healthier begins. After checking you in, the resort’s team initiates a deep dive into your mindbody-soul health, testing everything from your genes and microbiome to your body composition so they can customize a program and track your progress before departure. Palazzo Fiuggi is part plush spa, part serious training facility, part scientific lab, part esoteric retreat —culminating in a balanced health-themed break that gets results. palazzofiuggi.com

Aman New York

When Aman debuted in New York City in 2022, the company—known for its ultra-luxe resorts in exotic locations—claimed its new Manhattan hotel would feature “the fullest expression of Aman’s health and wellness concept yet.” The Aman Spa New York, which encompasses 25,000 square feet and three floors, certainly delivers on that promise. Guests can access a yoga/ reformer Pilates studio, a spacious gym, spa “houses” with either a private hammam or wood-clad banya sauna, a cryotherapy chamber and infrared treatments. Among the experts on hand to run diagnostic testing and create bespoke wellness solutions are doctors of Chinese medicine, personal trainers and Dr. Robert Graham, an on-staff Harvard-trained physician. aman.com

Six Senses Ibiza

At Six Senses Ibiza, your wellness experience can be as simple as an invigorating massage incorporating botanicals from the resort’s organic garden, or as in-depth as a personalized program using smart tech and non-invasive biomarker analysis. Many guests opt for one of Six Senses’ wellness programs, which combine classes, treatments, meals and gift bags to target longevity, sleep, fitness, mental health and more. Time your stay to coincide with a visit from one of the world’s leading wellbeing practitioners and get access to insights and expertise that will shape your own wellness quest. sixsenses.com

Chenot Palace Weggis

The crisp air and pristine mountain scenery of the Swiss Alps form the perfect setting for Chenot Palace Weggis, a state-of-the-art wellness resort with its own trademarked program for health and longevity. The Chenot Method promises a scientific, results-driven approach to achieving optimal wellbeing, complete with medical screening and diagnostic tests. Its founder, Henri Chenot, is a preventative health expert who believes that with the right support, the body can heal itself and stay functionally younger for longer. Expect innovative physical-training methods alongside therapeutic treatments like aromatherapy hydromassage. chenotpalaceweggis.com