After more than a year of living in restrictions and lockdowns, many of us have struggled with feelings of anxiety and stress throughout the pandemic. There’s no doubt that we’re all in desperate need of a holiday to unwind and recharge, away from the four walls of our homes.
We spoke to Joanna Chiu, the founder of The Wellness Holiday Boutique, a tour operator specialising in authentic and life-enhancing wellness holidays, to find out which healthy European destinations should be on our post-pandemic bucket list for 2022.
Italy: Preidlhof
This destination spa is the ideal spot for some holistic rejuvenation amongst the rolling hills of South Tyrol. The preventative health and medical retreat offers a range of wellness programmes designed to nourish and revitalise the mind, body and spirit with healing treatments. In between treatments, you can join the range of classes exclusively for retreat guests including forest bathing, sound healing, laughter yoga and transformational dance or simply just relax and enjoy the facilities in the 6-floor sauna tower.
Spain: Azulfit
Rediscover your zen at this yoga and Pilates retreat with like-minded travellers. Mornings and evenings will be filled with yoga, pilates and meditation while your afternoons will allow you to be free to explore the beautiful island of Fuerteventura or simply just relax by the pool or book in a massage. Evenings are spent enjoying the nourishing vegetarian and vegan meals designed by the in-house nutritionist and relaxing in the hot tub.
Greece: Aldemar Royal Mare
Indulge in luxury and discover the healing powers of seawater at this multi-award-winning Thalasso spa with a range of treatments designed to help you regain your inner strength and revitalise your body back to optimum health. Combining luxurious 5* facilities with Cretan hospitality, it won’t be difficult to rediscover your mind-body balance on this Mediterranean escape.
Austria: Park Igls
Located on the doorstep of the Austrian Alps, this award-winning health retreat and medical spa specialises in Modern Mayr Medicine which is based on the findings of Dr FX Mayr that the gut is the key to good health and happiness. Each stay starts with a health check and medical examination from which you will be prescribed your diet, treatments and medicines. In addition, you will have access to group classes including walks, educational lectures and fitness classes to ensure that you will return home feeling cleansed, revitalised and inspired to continue your wellness journey back home.
Switzerland: Chenot Palace Weggis
This luxury medical spa is serious about ensuring your health and wellbeing is looked after at this results-driven retreat. Your days will be filled with advanced medical screening tests, rejuvenating treatments and fitness classes personalised to your individual needs. It’s not all treatments, with access to a private beach area and an 800 calorie meal plan which has been designed by the nutritionists to be healthy, delicious and detoxifying. With state-of-the-art facilities including an in-house blood analysis laboratory, whole-body cryo-chamber, anti-gravity technologies and altitude chamber, there’s no doubt you will leave feeling cleansed, re-energised and reset in body and mind.