As more people opt for treating themselves to a massage or a spa break, the wellness retreat is becoming a more common choice for a weekend away, as opposed to a rare luxury. Wellness retreats are well and truly on the rise and are the latest trend for the travel industry, but why are they becoming so popular? They’re not as expensive as you think With fluffy dressing gowns and treatments from all around the world, it’s easy to assume that a
As more people opt for treating themselves to a massage or a spa break, the wellness retreat is becoming a more common choice for a weekend away, as opposed to a rare luxury. Wellness retreats are well and truly on the rise and are the latest trend for the travel industry, but why are they becoming so popular?
They’re not as expensive as you think
With fluffy dressing gowns and treatments from all around the world, it’s easy to assume that a spa break will invariably break the bank, but this is not always the case. According to recent research by HotSpring World, the most affordable regions for a wellness retreat in Europe are Karlovy Vary in Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Granada in Spain.
The research analysed and ranked the average price of a three-star hotel room, evening meal and a massage across the top searched for spa locations. Karlovy Vary, the most affordable region in the research, came in at a modest £76.32 for a wellness retreat, making it easy to see why more people are choosing to treat themselves to a weekend of pampering.
A massage does wonders for your stress levels
There are many negative effects stress can have on the body, both mentally and physically, with insomnia, lack of focus, and even illnesses to name just a few. It’s little wonder why people are on the lookout for a solution to help reduce their stress levels.
Seemingly, a good pamper session could be the answer. Studies into the effects of massage therapy has shown that this therapeutic practice can decrease cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, as well as inducing changes in the brain’s EEG activity, including a healthy regulation of emotions. So, treating yourself to a weekend away full of massages and pampering, could do wonders for your general wellbeing.
Digital detoxing is on the rise
In a world where mobile phones are always present, it’s little wonder that some of us need a detox from our technology from time to time. Since the rise of social media and our increase in instant communication, the “digital detox” has become a popular way to disconnect and refocus, without the constant need to reply to our emails and messages.
Escaping to a wellness retreat means you’re not only escaping life’s everyday little stresses, but also your phone and any other digital devices. Studies have shown that excessive hours of screen time daily can be related to symptoms of insomnia and depression. You can’t check your emails and social media as you’re relaxing in a jacuzzi or receiving a full body massage, so wellness retreats provide the opportunity for switching off.
Men pamper themselves too
While many traditionally think that the target market for wellness treatments like massage and facials has traditionally been women, more and more men are opting to pamper themselves. The percentage of men going to spas is now 47% as opposed to 31% a decade ago, meaning the trend of wellness retreats continues to grow.
With so many positive benefits, plus an increasingly affordable price tag, the rise in popularity of wellness retreats doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon.
Irma is an avid traveller with a passion for writing and she has written about her experiences for a variety of publications. Over the years, she has worked across a variety of industries such as travel, tech and even business and is often found offering her advice about these niches amongst a range of audiences.
