We all spend an extraordinary amount of time digitally connected these days. I know that my phone is always in sight (or in hand!) meaning direct and constant access to messages, emails, video calls, and social media.
But more and more, it feels like proper conversation can feel harder to come by.
The kind where you aren’t looking at your phone. Where you have time to talk about something other than work, logistics or your never ending to-do list. Where you meet someone new and, within an hour, find yourself having a surprisingly great conversation.
Travel has always been pretty good at creating those moments. And, wellness travel probably even more so.
Whether you’re joining a small group retreat or travelling solo to a resort with a sociable wellness programme, there are plenty of opportunities to meet people naturally. And increasingly, we’re seeing travellers seek out exactly that: time for themselves, alongside the chance meet others that share a similar mindset.
There is plenty of research around the importance of social connection to our health and wellbeing. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that around one in six people worldwide experience loneliness – a reminder that feeling connected to other people is far more important to our wellbeing than we might sometimes realise.
But connection isn’t something that can be neatly added to a daily schedule. It tends to happen when you create time and space for it.
That is one reason a holiday can be so effective. Remove the usual routine, take away the commute, the school run, the endless list of jobs waiting at home, and suddenly there is much more room for conversation.
A wellness retreat takes that a little further. You are often surrounded by people who have made a conscious decision to take time out, whether they’re there to improve their fitness, focus on nutrition, try something new or simply press pause and disconnect for a few days.
That gives you something in common from the outset.
For some people, the thought of joining a retreat where they don’t know anyone can be slightly daunting. In practice, it can be one of the easiest ways to meet new people.
The shared experience gives you a certain unity from the outset. You might start chatting to someone over breakfast before a morning class, find yourself walking alongside another guest on a hike or discover that the person next to you at dinner has travelled halfway around the world for exactly the same reason you have. Last year at Euphoria, I ended up waking next to someone from my hometown and we happily chatted for two hours as we hiked. It was really quite special.
There is something rather nice about meeting people outside your usual circle. You don’t arrive with a history, a job title or a set of expectations. You are simply another guest on the retreat.
Some connections last well beyond the holiday. Others are a great conversation over lunch and nothing more.
Both are totally worthwhile and can have a huge impact on how you feel during your stay.
There is also a growing appeal in travelling alone, particularly for wellness breaks.
For many people, the idea is incredibly attractive: no negotiating where or what to eat, what time to get up or which treatment to book. You can structure the day entirely around yourself, for once putting you at the top of your priorities list.
But that doesn’t mean you necessarily want seven days of solitude, and this is where the right wellness resort or retreat can make all the difference.
Many offer group fitness classes, yoga, Pilates, hiking, tennis, padel, workshops and communal dining alongside the privacy of your own room or villa. You can join in when you feel sociable and disappear for a few hours when you don’t. Or you might wish to step away from the traditional hotel atmosphere and join a group retreat at private location. Both are fantastic options.
You might have breakfast alone, join a morning Pilates class and get talking to another guest, spend the afternoon reading by the pool and then decide to join a group dinner that evening.
Importantly, you have your own space, but you’re not cut off from everyone else.
There is a natural common ground on a wellness holiday.
You don’t have to wonder whether someone wants to go for a walk, try the morning yoga class or book a healthy lunch. Chances are, they’re there because those things appeal to them too. That makes meeting people a little easier.
It can also lead to conversations you might not have elsewhere. Wellness travel attracts people from all sorts of backgrounds and age groups, but there is often a shared curiosity about health, fitness, nutrition, sleep, longevity or simply finding a better balance in life.
And because you’re away from everyday life, you’ll usually find that people often have more time to talk.
There is another reason retreats and active wellness holidays can be particularly sociable: doing an activity together is often easier than simply trying to make conversation.
A tennis match. A coastal hike. A cooking class. A reformer Pilates session. A morning swim followed by breakfast.
The activity gives you a natural starting point.
Yes, you might arrive might arrive knowing nobody, but without a doubt you’ll enjoy several interesting conversations during your stay, and we also know many guests that have made life-long friends!
There is a reason we shouldn’t overlook the other side of this. Time alone can be just as valuable.
Stepping away from the usual demands of work and family life gives you the opportunity to think about how you’re actually feeling, what you need more of and, perhaps, what you could do with less of. A bit of a life evaluation if you will.
For some people, that means a week of structured activity and expert guidance. For others, it means sleeping properly, walking, eating well and taking each day as it comes, with no real set plan.
Often, having some space to yourself is what makes you more receptive to other people too.
You return home having had both: time in your own company and time spent with others.
If connection is something you’d like more of from your next wellness break, it is worth looking beyond the treatment menu.
Consider how the resort or retreat actually works.
Are there small-group activities? Is there communal dining? Can you join guided walks or fitness sessions? Is there a good mix of solo and group experiences? And, importantly, can you opt out when you want some alone time?
For a dedicated group retreat, the group itself will naturally be a bigger part of the experience.
For a solo wellness holiday, look for a resort where activities are genuinely sociable rather than simply offering a timetable of classes you can attend alone.
The best option will depend entirely on what you’re looking for, and we’re on hand to guide you towards the best fit.
We know that no two travellers want quite the same thing from a wellness holiday.
For some, a small group retreat with a ready-made community is exactly right. For others, travelling solo with the freedom to join activities and meet people along the way offers a better balance.
We can help you find the right fit – from dedicated retreats to luxury wellness resorts where solo travellers can enjoy plenty of opportunities to socialise, without sacrificing their privacy.
Because a wellness holiday can be about looking after yourself and having good people around you. You don’t necessarily have to choose between the two.
Please provide us with some basic contact details and your message. We will be glad to help. If you would prefer to call us, we’re on 020 8968 0501 or, for international callers: 00 44 20 8968 0501
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