It's been amazing to see how wellness travel has exploded and diversified in the 10 years I've been working solely in travel journalism. While some trends, like forest bathing and adaptogenic smoothies, have the whiff of a fad, much of what we think of as wellness trips is a way of navigating this chaotic, confusing world. I feel it is very helpful to do so. From sleep and nutrition to practicing mindfulness and even improving your sexual health. I myself am in dire need of help with my sleep and hope to focus on that when I visit the newly opened Mexican outpost of Spain's well-regarded wellness clinic Sha later this year. This retreat is further explained in the “What Wellness Is” package. This package introduces some of the latest services in this category, from how to overcome the challenges of menopause to how to build confidence to become a better leader in your hometown. These stories are part of our push for wellness even further this year. Stay tuned for continued coverage in our site's new dedicated Travelwell vertical.
But I like to say that, if done right, any trip can be a wellness trip. In that spirit, I'd like to put a plug into visiting Paris as an act of self-care. I spent my 48 hours in this city in December and found this city to be very soothing to my soul. Since it was my first visit in over 10 years (I know, I know, what kind of travel editor am I?), I headed to the Fondation Louis Vuitton, which didn't exist the last time I was there, and had a blast. The glory of Mark Rothko's exhibition and the view from the roof of Frank Gehry's wild building swaying in the wind. I stayed in a luxury suite with a pitched roof and views of the Eiffel Tower in the iconic Le Bristol, which was decorated with Christmas bunting. I had a wonderful long lunch at La Chambre Bleu, an Andalusian French restaurant in the courtyard of the new Maison Delano Paris, and enjoyed the colorful Boubale, an Ashkenazi-inspired restaurant inside the Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin. We had a late dinner at the bar. A new maximalist hotel in the Marais. We learned about the history of Paris at the charming Musée Carnavalet, a few blocks away. I went home satisfied. When choosing the wellness experience that's right for you this year, always remember Paris.
This article was published in the March 2024 issue of the magazine. Condé Nast Traveler. subscribe to magazine here.
