You put on a show for the holidays. Entertained the in-laws. Cooked up a storm. Picked the perfect gifts for the 40+ people on your list. You need a vacation. Or an even heavier lift, like a reset, for 2023. Whether you do it now or later, you need to take care of you. These are the places where it’s all about the zen. No boozy brunches (unless you seek them out). No FOMO because of lots of action going on that would tempt you to partake. Just chill spots to reset, eat well, sleep better, and see some pretty scenery.
Parrot Cay — Turks and Caicos
Overview
Located in one of the smaller cays of Turks and Caicos, Parrot Cay is set on 1,000 acres of private white sand beach. The ultra-exclusive resort is surrounded by eight principal islands, with dozens of hidden coves and pristine beaches. It’s exactly the kind of place you want to disappear to after the 2022 holiday season. Book a beach house or private residence in the main hotel and bask in a private pool with direct access to sand. Or, take it up a notch and go for a villa (maybe even Christie Brinkley’s, one of the many celebs with homes on isle). Private villas are beautiful estates away from all the other guests, so you have the ultimate in privacy. It’s your reset — you deserve it.
The Spa
COMO Shambhala, Parrot Cay’s spa, is inspired by Asian medicine and ancient practices. The space itself is basically a holistic heaven. It’s made up of nine treatment rooms, a meditation hut, steam rooms, and outdoor jacuzzis. And for those looking to move, you can enjoy the yoga and pilates studios and the fully equipped gym. The lengthier health experiences here are called wellness immersions, aimed to not only kickstart your 2023 wellness journey, but to help you continue the process at home. There are immersions targeted to improve your sleep schedule, skin health, nutrition, and just about anything else.
Highlights
Even the non-wellness activities at Parrot Cay will feel like a day at the spa. Parrot Cay wants you to explore the island at your own pace. That means your days can be as adventurous or serene as you like. Complimentary equipment is at your disposal, as is private boat chartering and a crewed boat for novice sailors. Kayak, cruise, or sail to your secluded beach picnic. Just don’t forget the wine. Additionally, guests can wrap up the night at the poolside Lotus restaurant, serving contemporary Asian fusion in the evenings. A reset at Parrot Cay also includes access to tennis courts, running trails, and the resort’s own coconut and banana groves.
SHA Wellness — Spain
Overview
Next up: SHA Wellness. A reset stay here invites you to disconnect from the outside world and connect with the healthiest version of yourself. And it’s not hard to do in always-sunny Spain. SHA is a medical wellness center, and is home to some of the best detox specialists in Europe. Think of it as a program that has something for just about everyone. SHA’s approach is based on eight main areas of holistic therapy. It all comes down to a combination of macrobiotic cuisine, western philosophies, and high-end eastern technology. Lodge in modern suites for your reset, inspired by the principles of feng shui for extra tranquility.
The Spa
The spa is a medical experience at SHA. It begins with a specialized body composition exam. The test is used to help expert residents understand your current lifestyle and health. And you might learn a thing or two about yourself. Each guest’s stay here is curated to individual needs, tastes, and goals, established at the onset. From here, guests can choose from a wide selection of health programs. There’s nothing simple about the treatments, as each is designed to achieve quantifiable results. And that’s a good thing, especially when the goal is to add “years to life, and quality of life to years.”
Highlights
The main thing to do here is move — whether it’s in a private boxing class or on a rigorous walk to a secluded lighthouse. But for your more chill days, SHA’s Healthy Living Academy has a range of activities to fill your time in and out of the treatments. Join a cooking class at the Chef’s Studio, for example, and learn how to bring some of SHA’s healthy-cooking secrets back to your own kitchen. If you ever want to leave, that is. Take time to relax at the pool or hit one of the area’s winding golf courses for a balanced reset.
Lanserhof Lans — Austria
Overview
The team at Lanserhof has been developing its understanding of wellness for three decades, from when it first opened their Tyrol doors in 1984. Since then, the staff have been considered leaders in Europe. The method is to treat with a holistic approach for natural healing in a unique, family atmosphere. Every angle of the property boasts majestic natural backdrops, from the Alps to the fir forests. A week-long stay at Lanserhof is the bare minimum, and three weeks is recommended to optimize the medical spa’s results. Lanserhof is where you go if you have major health issues to work out.
The Spa
The therapy here is based on six pillars, designed to replenish you from the inside out. The Lanserhof concept focuses on rest, purification, awareness, integration, sports, and soul. To regenerate the body and mind, guests start their experience with a detox program. From there, daily treatments range from cryotherapy to detox-cupping and reflexology. If you don’t know what those are, don’t worry. An assigned doctor is there to walk you through each treatment and to personalize your plan. An expert team of in-house physicians is at your service for more specialized treatments, including allergy testing and 24-hour sleep tracking. The treatment facility environment is serene, and includes notable outdoor saltwater pools and a Derma Therapy center.
Highlights
In between high tech treatments, there’s plenty of time for guests to enjoy Lanserhof’s daily programs. Ranging from wellness-focused to just-plain-fun activities, there’s always something to do here. Attend a mindfulness lecture one night and a concert the next. Or challenge yourself with kinesis training followed by a cooking class.
As for food, your culinary experience here extends beyond the cuisine. Each guest at the Lanserhof undergoes chewing training (yes, you read that right) and an individual detox plan to encourage mindful consumption. The portions are controlled but pack a punch with the highest quality seasonal ingredients.
Jade Mountain — St. Lucia
Overview
Set on — or rather, above — a 600-acre beachfront on St. Lucia’s South-Western Caribbean coastline, Jade Mountain Resort has a unique architectural design. A towering kaleidoscope of a building connected by outdoor bridges, the resort’s architecture almost rivals the natural beauty of St. Lucia itself. Guests can choose from 24 open-air “sanctuaries,” each complete with an infinity pool and views of the Caribbean. It’s true: The suites are open to the natural environs of St. Lucia, with no windows. Each aspect of the resort is designed to help you let go of the outside world and take in your surroundings. With open-concept designs and immersive indoor-outdoor spaces, you’ll feel like St. Lucia is the only place in the world.
The resort is also adult-only and techno free. So not only will you not find any kids; there are no cellphones, radios, or televisions either. Because if you’re going to unplug, this is how to do it.
The Spa
Jade Mountain’s boutique spa is named Kai en Ciel, which is Creole for house in heaven. And that’s exactly what it is. Featuring two air-conditioned rooms and hair and nail salons, the spa offers a wide selection of classical body and beauty treatments. They also offer ayurvedic and holistic services. A unique offering is the Alchemy of Two treatment. This is an ultra-romantic massage for couples, complete with special elixirs, massages, and poetry. There’s a reason Jade Mountain is known as St. Lucia’s most romantic resort.
Complimentary yoga classes are available in addition to private lessons. Or for the more adventurous, daily escorted walks and hikes across the estate. Estate bike trails are also available to serious athletes. Additionally, the Kai Belté spa and the Kai Mer spa cottage are available to guests at any time.
Highlights
With two soft-sand beaches on the Caribbean coastline, there’s no shortage of ways to spend your time at Jade Mountain. Tour guides are available at all times to (literally) walk you through the history and culture of the island. Or you can take a less conventional approach to seeing the island via the five-star scuba center, complete with a full diving program. Sunfish sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, sunset sails on the resort yacht — hyper-active guests will not be bored. Back on land, guests can also enjoy James-Beard-Award-winning chef Allen Susser’s cuisine at the Jade Mountain Club. The restaurant wraps around an infinity pool and offers panoramic views of the Caribbean.
Auberge, Hacienda AltaGracia — Costa Rica
Overview
There are numerous ways to reset 2023, and pretty doesn’t have to hurt. If you want a destination that feels less like a hotel, we’ve got you covered. Or rather, Auberge has you covered, with their Hacienda AltaGracia resort in Costa Rica. It’s a 50-casita resort set on 180 acres of untamed tropical forest. The escape is designed so you can curate your own concept of wellbeing at your own pace — no “no option” mentality to be found here. The resort really is all-inclusive. Included in your stay are your meals, daily adventures, wellness programs, and transportation from the airport to the resort. And best of all, you get your own personal compa — an experienced designer there to curate and plan the getaway of your dreams.
The Spa
The Well is Hacienda AltaGracia’s remote wellness center, surrounded by the Talamanca Mountains and set on over 20,000 square feet of amenities. Each program and treatment offered is an homage to Mother Earth, drawing from thousands of years of holistic practices. The expansive space includes eight treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy tub, a thermal suite, a healing garden, and multiple ranchos. The introductory treatment, Casa de Agua, approaches relaxation through a purifying, thermal experience. That means only hand-harvested, plant-based Costa Rican clays and oils are used in the process. From here, guests can enjoy amenities like heated stone beds, a multi-tiered sauna, and a tranquility pool.
Highlights
Along with acres of tropical forests, inside the resort’s property lie a coffee farm, equine stables, and vegetable gardens for your perusing. When it comes to Hacienda’s menu of activities, the list is almost endless. There are all-day adventures, like rafting in the Pacuare River. A short helicopter ride takes you to meet a world-class rafting instructor, there to train you through the class III and IV rapids. The adventure ends with a riverside, locally-inspired lunch before your helicopter brings you back to the hotel by sunset. Or for a less adrenaline-pumping day, try a riverside meditation and herbal bath. And if you just want to lounge on the beach, that’s perfectly acceptable too. It’s actually even encouraged, because sometimes a reset in 2023 means time to chill out.
