Typically people look forward to their annual vacation as a time to relax and veg out. One doesn’t necessarily depend on the other, however. It’s possible to relax and have an enjoyable time on an active vacation that is specifically designed to improve your fitness and possibly help you lose weight.
Exercise is a stress reliever and helps to relax and recharge, according to the Mayo Clinic, so using your vacation time on a fit trip is ideal. What better way to do that than to holiday somewhere that purposely provides fun, action-filled activities, delicious meals that have been expertly prepared to also be healthy, and professional instruction and supervision to ensure you know what you’re doing? If you spend 40+ hours a week shackled to your desk, a fit trip may be just the thing you need. Instead of coming back from holiday more tired than ever and a few pounds heavier, how great would it be to return looking and feeling great with more energy and less “baggage?”
Outdoor Adventure
Morning hikes and as many fitness classes as you can handle are one way to spend a fit-cation.
For those who think that fit trips, like many spa vacations, are expensive, the Red Mountain Essential Retreat proves otherwise. According to MoneyCrashers, all-inclusive vacations at the resort in the southwest mountains of Utah start at just $200/night. For that price, you’ll enjoy three squares a day, a deluxe room, morning hikes with a guide, healthy life classes, access to all the fitness classes the resort offers, plus use of the hotel’s bikes, strength training equipment, and pool. Optional outdoor add-ons include horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, and kayaking.
Yoga Retreat
Yoga and meditation twice daily, Jacuzzis and saunas make for a fitness vacation that will leave you relaxed.
If relaxation is the top priority for your vacation, pack your bags and head for Island Falls, Maine. There, you’ll check in at the Sewall House Yoga Retreat where Yoga Journal says you can start relaxing with meditation and yoga sessions morning and evening. The $130 to $210/day price includes three daily vegetarian meals, hiking, biking, use of the Jacuzzi and sauna, and plenty of activities centered around the lake such as swimming, kayaking, or canoeing. Get even more relaxed with massages, available for an extra charge.
Go On a Surfin’ Safari
Surfing is demanding physically and great for fitness. Catch a wave on your fit-cation learning to surf!
Spend a week learning how to surf or sharpening your surfing skills at Kalon Escuela de Surf in Costa Rica. The all-inclusive prices start at around $300/night and during your seven-day stay you’ll enjoy the services of a private chef to prepare meals and snacks, a private room with its own bath, 3 to 4 hours of surf coaching for 5 of the 7 days, surfing class Pilates, massage, professional videos and photos with video analysis of your progress, plus access to a personal mobile concierge. The cost of transport to and from San Jose is included, but travel costs to get San Jose are, of course, separate.
DIY Race-Cation
Oregon is for runners. The trails in and around Portland are the ideal place to spend a running vacation.
For those who prefer vacations with less structure, or who don’t feel the need to be overseen and instructed, a visit to a locale that offers little more than the perfect setting for running, biking, swimming, or all three, is the answer. Shape1 thoughtfully breaks it down for you in the March 2016 issue, listing the ideal locations for triathletes (San Diego, CA), runners (Portland OR), and cyclists (Tucson, AZ and Boulder, CO). Keep in mind that DIY-ing it means that you won’t foot the bill in one, all-inclusive price, but that doesn’t mean your trip can’t be affordable, especially if you book your travel and hotel stays through travel sites that offer discounts for “bundling” your trip. Additionally, you’ll have more control over your meals, and can choose to pack food for breakfasts and lunches on the go, only eating out for dinner.
Dream Fit Trips
If you’ve ever envied the rich and famous for their resources, spend your fit-cation training like a star with a celebrity trainer.
If your interest in a fit-cation is piqued but you’re not sure where you’d like to go or what you’d like to do, there are plenty of people who would love to help you plan the fit trip of your dreams. Fit Trips can hook you up with a wellness event, get you trained like a superstar with a celebrity trainer, jumpstart your weight loss program, and even book a fit-cation for the entire family. On the other hand, if you do know what specific activity you want your fit trip to center around, an Internet search of “surf camps,” “Jui Jitsu training camps,” or pretty much camps for any activity will result in an abundance of options for a vacation you’ll never forget.
1Sara Angle, “The Latest Fit Trip: Race-Cations,” Shape, March, 2016