Most of us dream of a wellness retreat but what exactly is a retreat and how do you find one that is a good match for you?

I had been a “resort spa Dabbler” and it wasn’t until a friend of mine put me on to a “true” wellness retreat did I come to both understand and sooooo appreciate the difference.

Now you might disagree but this is my definition…

A wellness RESORT is focused on pampering, relaxation, and beauty treatments and there is definitely nothing wrong with that…

Been there done that and will happily rinse and repeat a wellness resort experience in a heartbeat.

But a wellness retreat is truly next level…

A wellness RETREAT is all about unplugging and the focus is holistic in taking care of your psychological, physical and spiritual wellbeing.

The growth in the wellness retreat industry is mind blowing. The industry is expected to grow to 4.4 trillion (yep, that is trillion with a “T”) and 822 billion of that is for the wellness travel tourism industry.

So you will not be spoiled for choice in fact there in lies the predicament how exactly do you choose a retreat for YOU?

You’re probably sick of me harping on but my No. 1 tip is a common theme of mine.

Start with the end in mind…

No. 1 Why are you going and what outcome do you want to achieve?

Oooh, bet you that has you thinking and thats a good thing.

My first wellness retreat was all about rest, reflection and rejuvenation.

Thats a nice way of saying I was feeling burned out, bummed out and running on empty…

Burn out is the most common reason you will hear from your fellow guests.

But its not the ONLY reason…

My latest retreat was all about discovery. I wanted the space and place to let my mind wander, to create and to germinate ideas on my next evolution…

So I was on a TRANSFORMATIONAL journey.

I would offer that at the core of what a wellness retreat offers is the opportunity to transform...

on a physical, psychological, spiritual level either one, some or all of those levels.

That being said I want to offer a word of caution. 

While it is important to know why you are going and what you want to achieve…

The biggest gift you can give yourself is the flexibility and be open to a completely different outcome.

Also, be realistic about your expectations. 

If you goal is to lose 40lbs by going on a 7 day retreat, it just ain’t going to happen!

No. 2 What kind of Wellness Programs does the Retreat offer?

If you are looking for a transformative experience you are going to benefit most from a more structured program.

Let’s face it we all have great intentions but we often need structure and some level of accountability to actually make our intentions a reality.

On my first retreat I had every intention of… I’m going to eat healthy.

If I hadn’t had a program structure that included a detox menu for my first 3 days I would have given up on my first day and reaching for the margarita menu🍹!

Now the good news is a wellness retreat will typically offer a variety of programs and you will undoubtedly find one that marries up with you goals for coming.

And a sign of a great retreat is one that will offer the ability to switch out some treatments once you are there and get the lay of the land.

For the “Beginner Retreater” there is always a program that can gently introduce you to the world and wonders of holistic wellness.

Most retreats will also have you meet with a Wellness Expert on your arrival.

They will discuss your goals and ensure alignment with the program you have selected and which therapeutic treatments to select from within the program.

Another sign of a great retreat is their practitioners and what they offer in addition to your individual program. 

My go to retreat offers a whole calendar of events including lectures from visiting practitioners which just adds to the whole experience.

No. 3 Do they cater to women and solo women guests?

This is really important to me. I’m a giant introvert so it would be too easy for me to truly retreat to the point of hibernating in my room the whole stay.

I want to be comfortable and feel that I can sit in the dining room and soak in my solitude or have the opportunity to connect with other women should I choose to.

I find this one of the biggest differences between a wellness resort and a retreat.

Don’t be shy and reach out to the retreat you are looking at and ask what their typical guest profile looks like.

Also take a moment to look at any reviews and what type of guest, demographic are they and did they travel solo or not.

No. 4 Solitude and Disconnecting

Can we take a quick pause here and look at the definition of “Retreat”?

The whole point of a retreat is to…

• Take a step back

• To withdraw

• To go back to a place of safety or seclusion

• To be in a place of quiet and peace
  

I love a retreat that helps me disconnect and provide some level of accountability.

On my first true retreat I wanted to digitally detox and not be tempted get online or connect with the world I was stepping away from…

Except if there was an emergency at home with my husband.

I loved that the retreat only provide 1 x hour free internet per week…

Sure you could pay for more but right there was a tool that helped me to disconnect and stay disconnected.

They also offered to secure in a safe not in my room my phone and laptop.

Now, I’m not saying the digital detox was smooth sailing… but I achieved it because I was in an environment that supported it including…

No digital devices in the restaurants at the pool or beach!

I will tell you there is nothing more jarring than hearing or seeing someone Facetiming or doom scrolling. 

It really does totally defeat the purpose of retreating and taking the time to work on yourself.

No. 5 Destination

Look the world is your oyster and the biggest challenge is choosing. 

You can go to a week long retreat possibly very near where you live and you can achieve the same benefits that you would if you traveled thousands of miles.

And in fact if you have never been on a retreat I would encourage you to consider a short weekend retreat near where you live.

But for me and so many others to retreat means we often need the added structure of physical distance from whatever chaotic, crazy and overloaded world we live in.

I also want to be in a physical environment that will help me unwind and switch off from reality for a time. 

So think about your personal preferences, for me the ocean is a key element to me being able to retreat from the world.

Perhaps for you its literally sitting on the side of a mountain contemplating life and your place in it.

Other things to factor in are the season, how the duration of your stay.

You will be surprised and pleasantly amazed at how much can be achieved in a short period of time because you have truly stepped away physically to a different environment.

No. 6 Accommodation

Wellness Retreats come in all shapes and sizes. 

You could be part of a small group retreat staying in a Yurt in a remote location.

Or you could be staying at a 5 star luxury retreat with everything from rooms to villas to stay in.

And yes, budget will enter in to your decision making here. 

But always anchor back to what kind of experience you want.

Then visualize the environment that will be most conducive for you to achieve your desired outcome.

And don’t rule out a 5 star luxury retreat until you look at all the accommodation options.

On my first retreat I splurged and had my own patio with a day bed and a private plunge pool overlooking the ocean.

But here’s a...

🔥🔥🔥HOT TIP🔥🔥🔥

If you are going for say 5-7 days and you are going to be in a structured program you can find yourself spending very little time in your room except to sleep, bathe and change.

If thats the case you can take a standard type room on an amazing property and still get the value and experience you are looking for because of all the amenities and nooks and crannies you can find solitude in.

Another important factor to consider for accommodation is how large or small is the property. 

Do you want to be in a very small, intimate property.

Or would you prefer something a little larger but still have that sense of not staying at a hotel or resort where the staff know you by face or name.

These are great questions to ask before you make any reservations.

And lastly retreats are designed for you to spend the bulk of your time if not all of your time on the property. 

So your selection of a property that has the comfort of accommodation and amenities that are going to have you not only enjoy your stay but have you not wanting to leave is going to be up there on your your “must haves” to make your selection.

No. 7 Meals

Why is it the minute we travel we become fixated with food.

As I mentioned above, retreats are designed to spend most if not all of your time at the retreat.

So you want to be sure you are going to enjoy and have variety when it comes to menu selections…

And there is also a budget element here as well.

It is especially important to if you are going to choose any kind of detox program.

So again…

Don’t be afraid to reach out to the retreat and ask about their menus, their eating times, where you can eat i.e., is there room service or not.

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I’ve mentioned more than once in this blog about reaching out to the Retreat to ask any questions you have.

It seems kind of obvious but I’m going to bring in a bit of mindset here.

It’s fair to say ladies too often we don’t want to make a fuss and quietly just accept what sometimes is NOT what we were expecting when we get to our destinations.

If you are going on a retreat it is because you might be in desperate need of it and even if not you DESERVE this and that means you deserve the best of what you budget can deliver.

So ASK, ASK, ASK loads of questions.

You should see the email chain I had just on meals for my last retreat which was a property I had been too before.

But since my last visit I have become an Intermittent Faster and wanted to ensure I could maintain my fasting and feasting periods appropriately.

Remember this is what we mean by “service” let the staff at the retreat you are thinking about going to show you what your experience will look like before you even get there!

No. 8 How Will You Spend Your Time?

Yes, I can see your eyes rolling. Didn’t she just say we would be busy going to treatments above?

And, isn’t the whole point of going to a retreat to spend the rest of the time doing nothing?

Yes and yes but you would be surprised at how many women including myself struggle to really rest and relax and just BE!

Often our default do nothing is actually doom scrolling on social media or binge watching tv…

Or mind candy as I often call it.

So this is about setting and managing your expectations before you board that plane to your retreat.

Going from running around like a mad women at a gazillion miles an hour to just BEING can be a total shock.

On my last retreat I literally overhead two women whining yes, whining, there I said it…

What are we expected to do in the evening?

At the retreat there was one small tv and two computers in a reading lounge.

Apart from one evening a week where some locals were invited to come and create a pop up market it was just dinner and then you were on your own.

Now some retreats will also offer some excursions to explore the local community you are staying in.

So definitely pack a book or two.

Also, pack a journal even if you don’t journal.My personal favourite is a moleskin notebook.

I'm a bit addicted to all things moleskin when it comes to stationery 😳 They are great when traveling, light weight, they don't get banged up and I love the colours what can I say 😊

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When you are in a place where you mind can finally relax its surprising how creative and how many thoughts start flooding into a mind that is no long overcrowded with a never ending “To Do” list.

Perhaps even set an intention to practice and learn how to be alone with your thoughts.

And one of the biggest things you will notice is your surroundings. 

Without all the day to day craziness you will find yourself noticing the little things…

The colour of a flower blooming, or the smell of the morning dew or the sounds of the birds of waves gently lapping into the shore.

When you are in those moments know that your body, mind and soul are truly healing recuperating and rejuvenating.

I recommended a retreat to a colleague I had worked with briefly a few years back.

She has just returned and sent me this note:

“The retreat is truly such a special place and I’m coming back completely grounded, renewed and energized!” 💕💕💕

No. 9 Budget

Ok, now we are getting down to the nitty gritty. 

You really do have a rock solid vision and plan of what kind of retreat you want. 

But now all the money gremlins start screaming in your head…

• How can you afford this?

• Couldn’t the money be spent on other things?

• I’m going to feel so guilty spending this much money on myself

And the list goes on.

You will hear me say loud and often when it comes to women over 50 traveling the first roadblock that they bring up is money.

But in reality the real obstacle to overcome is believing you deserve this and are worthy of having it.

But there are some practical budget factors you can play with to prioritize where you want to spend your budget:

Things like:

• Destination - will you need to fly, how far etc.

• The length of your stay

• The level of room/villa you want to stay in at the retreat

• The cost of the particular program you want

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The number one regret I hear from women when I am at a retreat is that they chose a program the same length as their stay. And that doesn’t leave enough time to just relax.

So if you select a 5 day program you might want to add on 2-3 days where you can spread the treatments across or leave those extra days just to enjoy total rest and relaxation doing your own thing.

Wrapping up…

Now that you have a game plan for selecting and making your wellness retreat a reality you’re going to want to know what exactly is it like at a retreat

Stay tuned for my next blog when I take you inside the total experience of a wellness retreat that is so special I typically don’t want to tell others about because I want to keep it all to myself.

But for you ladies I’ll let you in on the best kept secret.

You will be zenning out just reading about it.

If you found this blog valuable head on over to my YouTube channel and take a look, here's the link👇:

Female Travelers Over 50 By Raewyn Crist: @FemaleTravelers50Plus

And if you like what you see please consider subscribing to the channel or giving a video a like :-)

So cheers to wheels up to winging your way to your long dreamed of destination.