The 5 Game-Changing Health Retreats To Book Now

WHAT TO EXPECT: a stay at Chenot Palace is unlike any other health spa or medical retreat out there. Based on a method devised by Dr. Henri Chenot, often referred to as the founding father of the wellness movement, programs blend the best of Western and Chinese medicines to diagnose and treat every element of the body, in minute detail and at a cellular level. And, as the newest addition to the Chenot portfolio, Palace Weggis – which sits majestically on the shores of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland – includes advanced extras, too. Cue a world-class metabolic and sports lab, in-house blood analysis, anti-gravity technologies, plus cryo and altitude chambers. Indeed, the one-week ‘Chenot Recover and Energise’ program is already the A-list’s go-to for tackling stress, recharging energy and restoring vitality.

THE MUST-TRY: from neuro-acoustic relaxation treatments (think sound therapy), full-body composition scans (fat, muscle and bones) and oxidative stress, arterial stiffness and collagen-thickness assessments to massages, hydrotherapy, IV drips and a molecular lab test that analyzes your genes to highlight any premature aging, this retreat delivers an astonishing 360-degree evaluation. The result? You leave with a clear life plan for your health, plus advice on how to continually improve.

WHAT TO EXPECT: revered for its fantastic mineral-laden waters (a unique combination of sulphate, chloride, boron, calcium, lithium, potassium, sodium, silica and bicarbonate that supports cellular health and decreases inflammation), Murrieta Hot Springs Resort was once the ‘hot spot’ for Southern Californians in the early 1900s. Now, after a 30-year closure, this therapeutic resort has recently reopened its doors, with a renewed focus on the highly restorative powers of its hot springs. Take a dip in the resort’s geothermal pools (there are more than 50), cold plunges and water features that are spread across the resort’s restored grounds – but not before consulting the special, science-backed Soaking Guide to reap the most benefits from them. In the historic bathhouse, you’ll find a steam room, terra thermal mud loft and panoramic spa, alongside facial, massage and body treatments on the the spa menu.

THE MUST-TRY: book into one of the resort’s special Sleep Rooms, featuring an AI-powered smart mattress, a pillow menu, blackout curtains and ambient soundscapes to optimize your sleep. Then head to the fitness center for an energizing HIIT training session or a Restful Recharge class – complete with sound-bowl therapy, a guided mind-and-body relaxation technique, and aromatherapy, while you are blissed out under a cozy weighted blanket.

WHAT TO EXPECT: what sets the Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat apart is its use of some of the world’s leading technologies, including MRI and infrared for brain health and sleep, as well as retinal scanning and diagnostic testing – all administered within its historic walls. The retreat’s medical teams are on hand 24/7 to help build a blueprint of your health, while a focus on the immune system, cellular regeneration, decreasing stress and increasing energy ensures its seven-night ‘Regenerate’ program gives you the tools to mitigate signs of aging and boost your strength and sleep.

THE MUST-TRY: book a bolt-on treatment, including detoxifying hydrotherapy, rejuvenating cryotherapy, massage, plus advanced relaxation and sleep-enhancement sessions.

WHAT TO EXPECT: as detoxes go, the Villa Stéphanie spa and wellbeing resort, part of Brenners Park, in Baden-Baden sets a high bar. Rather than offering the usual holistic approach and minimal (often liquid) diet, the focus here is on the science of the body and its biological makeup to deliver tangible results. The program starts with a doctor’s assessment of your heart and lung function, body mass and water levels, plus a nutritional evaluation. Following a preliminary in-depth analysis of your composition, the diet will be plentiful, but dictates no caffeine, alcohol or carbs after breakfast. Meanwhile, the fitness element is known to be grueling, but hikes through idyllic foothills of the Black Forest make it worth the effort. The upshot? You’ll leave feeling lighter, leaner and clear-headed.

THE MUST-TRY: the spa treatments included in the seven-day detox program (an organic chlorella algae wrap, clay body treatment and lymphatic drainage among them) are a detox in themselves – you’re scrubbed, kneaded and wrapped in heated compresses, leaving skin smoother and your contours more sculpted and refined.

WHAT TO EXPECT: delivering a super-chic hybrid of science and luxury, Lanserhof Sylt offers a results-driven, medical approach that maximizes its breathtaking surroundings, inside and out. Indeed, the newest edition to the Lanserhof portfolio is the only property by the sea, and Sylt has already been branded ‘the Hamptons of Germany’. Here, the seven-day ‘Cure Classic’ program is overseen by medical director and cardiologist Dr. Jan Stritzke – a specialist in cardiological rehabilitation for acute and chronic illnesses. You can also expect your stay to be peppered with cutting-edge diagnostics with natural healing methods – from bioimpedance analysis (metabolism) to lymph detox drainage and reflexology. This really is where you come to get set on the right path to optimum health and wellness.

THE MUST-TRY: for those who may be short on time, a new three- to four-night Cardio Check-Up program focuses on heart health, offering a bespoke fitness and nutrition plan – together with medical insights and state-of-the-art testing – for a proactive approach to your potential risks of cardiovascular and metabolic illnesses.

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