I strongly believe that travel can soothe the soul. Whether you jump on a plane to a faraway land, or go in search of a break closer to home, you can grab some much needed peace in a destination that suits your mood.
There’s always a purpose to my trips. I want to feel something, and come back feeling as though my life has been enhanced in some way. Whether it’s an overwhelming moment where I connect with nature, a treatment or experience that has lifted my mood or a cultural experience that helps me grow as person.
Like on my recent trip to Amsterdam for example. I really feel like the city’s energy penetrated my soul and reminded me that it’s important to relax and let go of life’s worries – particularly when you get the chance to travel. So, when TravelSupermarket approached me to partner on an exciting wellness based travel project, I was thrilled to be able to make a contribution.
The Mindful Getaway Guide – a must-read resource
I want to help share the best destinations for ultimate relaxation. Places where you can really absorb the tranquil surroundings and properly escape. Not every travel destination offers this. And if you suffer from anxiety or mental health problems, choosing where you travel is especially important.
Some places I’ve travelled to have actually given me the opposite of what I’ve been looking for. Certain places will drain you of your energy rather than fuel you to be stronger and find your inner zen goddess.
They’ll be too overwhelming and hectic, or simply won’t have any means of enhancing your wellbeing. The best destinations for relaxing will have a good selection of activities which help you to stop and take a moment to reflect.
The importance of being present when you travel
When I travel I like to try to really notice what’s going on around me. Even though I’m battling against all the stressful and worrying thoughts that usually flow through my brain, I try and make a conscious effort to enjoy the beauty of the world. And to do this, you have to learn how to be mindful. Here’s a basic definition of mindfulness.
A mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.
Many of these special destinations that have made TravelSupermarket’s rankings are known for their therapeutic options such as yoga retreats, mindfulness classes or particularly scene spots where you can totally lose yourself.
You might know the places I mean. These places send a sort of gentle calming electricity through your body, they create moments of realisation and they make you feel as though you’re privileged to be standing in such beautiful surroundings.
What you’ll find in the guide
Having been all over Europe and plenty of UK ‘staycations’, I’ve got a pretty good idea of where the best zen spots are. From Arundel and Cirencester in the UK to Ibiza and Chamonix – this guide has some serious de-stressing spots where you can relax and begin to feel more like you again.
I’ve researched and visited some of the top scenic spots in these areas that made the rankings, and handpicked super healthy and well located eateries where you can dine in idyllic surroundings. Sounds amazeballs right? Well, there’s more..
In addition to this, for those mindfulness enthusiasts and yoga lovers, I’ve also pinpointed where you can attend classes and retreats that will restore your soul. I’ve done a lot of reading around mindfulness myself, and I’m a newly converted yoga addict.
If I’m feeling like I need a major boost or my mental health starts to spiral, I find one of the best things to do is book a cheeky treatment somewhere. It’s hard to justify treating yourself, but really, is there anything more important than your mental (and physical) health?
My fave treatments include reflexology, Indian head massage and basically any kind of massage. You’ll find recommendations for spas and treatments in the Mindful Getaway Guide too. A lot of thought and knowledge has gone into this nifty little guide – so trust me when I say these destinations are must-visit spots to get some much-needed down time.
Get some much needed mindful travel inspo
So, if you’re planning a break in the next few months, or even the next year – make sure you check out the guide. Travelsupermarket carried out some research across Europe and the UK into top mindful destinations.
The destinations were ranked according to three key metrics:
1.Mindful activities (yoga, meditation and mindful and wellness resources)
- Mindful setting (population density)
- Mindful relaxation (the total number of spa facilities and services)
The scores were collated to give an overall mindful score (30 being the highest) and the destinations were ranked accordingly.
With modern day life moving at 100 miles an hour, our Mindful Getaway Guide includes the top 20 UK and European destinations that we believe provide a setting to de-stress, appreciate tranquil surroundings and give you the space to take a much-needed breather.
I hope you enjoy reading the guide – if you find it inspiring (which I know you will), feel free to share it with friends that might benefit from it. Check it out here.
Lots of love and calming vibes,
The Content Wolf. xxx
