Wellness Travel: A New Frontier in Hospitality
Wellness travel is experiencing a remarkable surge in popularity, with hotels of all sizes enticing guests with cutting-edge spas, comprehensive fitness facilities, diverse classes, and immersive retreats. These contemporary properties redefine wellness, extending beyond traditional offerings like facials and yoga to include innovative features such as sleep tracking, local rituals, and medical services, including echocardiograms. Whether you’re eager to immerse yourself in a rejuvenating hot spring in Japan or indulge in a relaxing massage aboard a train journeying through the lush Malaysian jungle, these destinations aim to transport you in a multitude of ways.
Banyan Tree Veya, Valle de Guadalupe
Location: Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico
Situated approximately an hour and a half from the U.S. border, the Banyan Tree Veya sprawls across 16 acres in the stunning Valle de Guadalupe wine region of Baja California, Mexico. This unique property features its own winery, complemented by a spa that blends Asian and local Indigenous treatments, utilizing plants sourced from the property’s own garden.
Guests can participate in transformative rituals guided by a temazcalero (a ceremonial guide), who will lead you through a series of breathing exercises, chants, and drumming intended to revitalize your spirit. This experience culminates in a session inside a temazcal dome, where soothing steam rises from hot stones, creating a serene atmosphere for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The hotel offers a variety of wellness classes, including singing bowl therapy and meditation sessions. You can also learn the art of creating essential oils and herbal pillows during an engaging aromatherapy workshop or take a contemplative stroll through a beautifully designed labyrinth. The property boasts a fitness studio, two hilltop pools, and a specialized hydrotherapy facility known as Desert Springs, where guests can indulge in unique water-themed therapies such as ice baths.
After a day of wellness activities, return to your private sanctuary. Each of the hotel’s 30 modern villas is equipped with luxurious plunge pools, yoga mats, resistance bands, and singing bowls to enhance your well-being journey. To further promote relaxation, you’ll receive soothing aromatherapy sprays each evening, designed to help you unwind and prepare for restful sleep.
Conceived by acclaimed Mexican architect Michel Rojkind, Banyan Tree Veya marks the debut of the Banyan Tree Group’s wellness brand, Veya. While at the resort, you can explore the local vineyards, visit the hotel’s winery tasting room, or enjoy a snack at Roka, the pool bar that offers delectable food truck fare, including mouthwatering tacos and Baja empanadas. For a more elevated experience, stop by Atalaya, the lobby bar, which boasts stunning views of the valley and serves local beers, wines, and tantalizing bites. Additionally, Aldea offers all-day dining with a breakfast buffet featuring flavors inspired by the rich local cuisine.
Rates start at 10,745 pesos, approximately $580 per night.
