Travel Trends: Wellness: Spas Not Just For The Rich

By Robin O’Neal Smith Associate Editor

https://RoinOnealSmith.com

Traveling to look better and feel better is a growing trend.

Various spas hosted visits. All opinions are my own.

It isn’t just for those with big bank accounts. People from all walks of life are heading to the spa for their health and well-being. This burgeoning trend is not confined to a specific age group or demographic. From millennials to baby boomers, people across generations are recognizing the importance of self-care. They are willing to invest time and money into relaxing and personal growth experiences.

Wellness travel has emerged as a beacon for those seeking respite from their hectic lives. With its promise of rejuvenation and balance, it calls to a growing movement of health-conscious individuals.

Wellness tourism is expected to continue growing at a rate of 16.6% annually through 2027, according to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI). Spending in the wellness tourism market to maintain or improve one’s well-being equaled $868 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $1 trillion in 2024. That is a lot of money being spent on Wellness Tourism.

One of the front runners in wellness tourism is visiting spas. I enjoy this travel trend. Let’s look at the benefits of spa treatments and some fantastic spas to visit when traveling.

Proven Benefits of Spa Treatments

Spas have long been regarded as oases of wellness and relaxation, and for good reason. They offer a myriad of treatments that holistically support well-being. Beyond the apparent indulgence, spa therapies have been shown to reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and even boost the immune system. Many experience lower blood pressure, pain reduction, detoxification, and improved skin tone.

Colleen O’Neill Mulvihill of HolisticHealTraveler.com, a certified health and wellness coach, stated, “I often recommend wellness travel to my clients based on their individual needs. Because of this, I was thrilled to learn that “rest and relaxation” is the top driver of travel decisions across generations in 2024. Stress is a leading cause of disease across all age groups, and globally, wellness venues are providing an enjoyable way to combat it.”

Experiences like massages, facials, and hydrotherapy sessions pamper the body and calm the mind. Most people who visit spas leave happy with positive energy. They feel better about themselves and the world around them, making spas quintessential elements of the wellness travel experience.

Visiting Spas

Who doesn’t want to enjoy all those benefits? I’ve been fortunate to visit numerous spas during visits to destinations. The two spas I most recently visited were the Pallavi Luxury Spa at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, where I enjoyed a Signature Seaweed Detox Massage, and The Beach Club Spa and Resort in Gulf Shores, where I received their Inhibit Toning Face Lift Facial.

Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach

Last month, when I visited Florida, I had a luxurious spa treatment at the Pallavi Luxury Spa in the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach. The Signature Seaweed Detox Massage was designed to remove the impurities from your system. The full-body massage combines the healing power of the sea with aromatherapy. A transformative warming sea mud is placed along the spine to reduce tension, pull toxins from the body, and re-mineralize the skin. As the mud pulls the toxins out of your body, it bubbles and pops. You can hear and feel the bubbles popping against your skin.

While you are lying on your back with the mud against your skin, the masseuse massages your arms and legs.

Warm towels are applied after they remove the seaweed masque from your back. Then your back is massaged.

The Wyndham Grand offers a variety of wellness and spa packages. Their wellness packages are in conjunction with 1Team Fitness.

The Beach Club Spa and Resort

The Beach Club Spa and Resort in Gulf Shores, Alabama, is a day spa offering a full range of services. I received the Inhibit Toning Face Lift Facial during my visit. I had enjoyed massages at other spas but never had a facial.

While the focus of the treatment was on my face, my entire body benefited from this treatment.

While a mask is on your face, they massage your shoulders and head. It was a very relaxing experience, and I almost dozed off during the treatment.

They use a radiant glycol peel to exfoliate the skin, then an antiwrinkle superconcentrate nueropeptide, then a hyaluronic acid-based mask provides plumper and supple skin.

There is a relaxation room to enjoy snacks, mimosas, and other hydration. A hot tub is located in the relaxation room.

Omni Bedford Springs Resort

Springs Eternal Spa at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania, is a full-service spa offering a variety of treatments to customize your wellness experience. Treatments are inspired by eight natural mineral springs

on the resort’s property. Native Americans first used the springs for their healing properties.

I enjoyed a Himalayan Salt Stone Massage when I visited. The warm hand-carved salt stones from the Himalayan Mountains were massaged over my back, arms, and legs, soothing away stress and tension.

A highlight of the Springs Eternal Spa is the “Bedford Bath” Ritual included with any purchased treatment. The ritual is a seven-step water therapy process alternating between hot and cold water treatments.

They also have an Olympic-sized indoor swimming pool for your enjoyment.

Please note: Reservations are recommended between 6-8 weeks in advance at this spa.

The Springs Resort

I enjoyed a Magnesium Muscle Melt massage while staying at The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs. Talk about relaxation. If soaking in the hot springs isn’t relaxing enough, this treatment relieves stress.

Magnesium is a power element vital to muscle function and energy generation. It is one of the 13 minerals in their geothermal water from the Mother Spring, and it is at the core of this treatment. After your massage, they finish with nourishing bliss butter to support and hydrate the skin.

Seek out spas in your travels to enjoy the benefits of reduced stress, improved sleep quality, and a boost to your immune system. One visit and you will understand why this travel trend is booming.