Reset, Please: Where to Go When You Need a Vacation from Your Vacation
It happens to the best of us - what starts as “let’s not be too scheduled on this trip” turns into morning tours, lunches out, afternoon museum visits, happy hour, dinner, and dessert (and should we just get a nightcap at the hotel bar?) By day six, your photos app is full, your suitcases have doubled in size, and you’re in need of a pedicure. This is the “I need a vacation from my vacation” moment - and no matter where in the world you’ve overextended yourself, we have a hotel that will fix you right up. Whether you’re dragging after days hitting the highlights in a European capital or groggy from a week of early-morning safari drives, read on for five of our favorite final stops.
ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea | Alicante, Spain
Surrounded by the whitewashed houses of a historic hill town, flexibility is the name of the game at ZEM. Whether you’re in need of a full-body detox or just want to make sure you head home from your summer trip with a healthy glow (and a topped-up tan), the staff is here to fulfill your personal version of wellness. ZEM builds fully individualized programs around each guest, led by a team of attentive specialists. Days are structured entirely around your wellbeing: menus full of fruits, veggies, herbs, and botanicals grown at neighboring Finca Althaya, a 50-acre organic and sustainable estate; unhurried mornings in one of 42 wellness suites; long afternoons beneath the Mediterranean sun. (The property’s motto is, “Longevity should also feel joyful.”) The care doesn't end at checkout, either, as ZEM's professionals work with you to establish habits designed to last long after you've returned home. And for those who find it difficult to fully switch off, the rolling hills of Alicante and the town's layered history offer just enough to satisfy the curious eye, making ZEM as appealing to the devoted spa-goer as it is to the traveler who simply needs to stop moving for a while.
Pair it with: San Sebastian and Barcelona - post-pintxos, paella, and multiple twenty thousand step days on the Gothic quarter’s cobblestones, you’ll be ready for a reset.
Dar Ahlam | Skoura, Morocco
A heavenly hideaway tucked into a palm grove on the edge of the Moroccan desert, Dar Ahlam is an oasis worth traveling for. A five-hour drive from Marrakech, Dar Ahlam feels removed from the rest of the world, and provides visitors with a chance to reconnect with simple pleasures. Days can be spent lounging by the outdoor pool, eating exquisite Moroccan cuisine, or visiting nearby Berber villages on camelback. The hotel’s 14 rooms are set in an impeccably restored kasbah and feature an eclectic mix of contemporary artwork, local antiques, and earth-tone linens. Don’t worry about being on time for a dinner reservation, because there’s no restaurant here (no lobby or spa either) - every meal is private and set up just for you in a different little corner of the property. Similarly, while the hammam and steam room are wellness highlights, treatments like massages, scrubs, and facials can happen under the dense olive branches and fig trees. If you’re looking for a vacation that’s more mindfulness and leisurely walks in cinematic valleys and less time scrolling on your phone, the Atlas Mountains are calling.
Pair it with: Fes and Marrakech. After the sensory overload of the Chouara Tannery and navigating the winding alleys of the medina, take some desert downtime.
Naviva, a Four Seasons Resort | Punta Mita, Mexico
Four Seasons has long had a paradise for families in Punta Mita, but with the 2022 opening of neighboring Naviva, the brand welcomed a whole new type of luxury. This adults-only sanctuary has 15 undulating tents that peek above the jungle, offering dramatic glimpses of the Pacific and immersive privacy. The textures are luxe, with canvas walls and stone bathrooms, and vintage touches offer a feeling of safari on the Pacific coast. Days drift by with gentle intention: start with cliff-side yoga or a hike through jungle trails, slide into an open-air spa pod or traditional temazcal sweat lodge, then linger over mezcal cocktails and farm-to-table cuisine at Copal Cocina. A wellness journey is part of every stay, and whether you decide to stretch your spa time across the full day or enjoy the 574-foot private beach, the accommodating staff is there to help. Healing ceremonies that draw on local traditions are integrated into the offerings, and the chefs are ready to whip up whatever will make you feel good, whether that’s vegan cuisine or another spicy margarita.
Pair it with: Mexico City. After an itinerary packed with taco tours and Aztec ruins, we need time in the Temazcal.
Sterrekopje Farm | Franschhoek, South Africa
There’s something vaguely mystical in the way travelers talk about their time at Sterrekopje - it’s a “space” as opposed to a hotel, and there’s an energy here that inspires reflection. You’ll hear the words “haven” and “sanctuary” in many descriptions. There are no “activities” or “experiences” - there are “rituals” and “rhythms.” The 11 rooms are centered on a 17th-century farmstead, which now blossoms with biodynamic gardens and sprawling olive groves. The average guest is stylish, soulful, and artsy, but if you’re on a break from humanity, resident pigs Croissant and Frangipani and their canine companions Frankie and Winston have an infinite capacity for cuddles. When owners Fleur Huijskens and Nicole Boekhoorn speak to wellness, they mean more than 90 minutes on a table in a robe - it’s in the produce that springs from the earth as part of their soil-to-soul initiative; it’s the bath house, yoga hut, soul shed, and herbal apothecary built especially with your healing in mind. And if this all seems a little ascetic, don’t get the wrong idea - joy abounds (as you might have guessed from the names of the pigs). Your room might have a cheeky leopard print chaise or painting of a circus performer, and there’s plenty of time to dive into the offerings from hundreds of excellent neighboring vineyards.
Pair it with: Cape Town and the Sabi Sands. The colorful coastal cacophony and the incredible discovery of the bush merit a few days of reflection.
Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô | Dak Lak, Vietnam
Fronting a powdery beach on the the Dăk Lăk peninsula, Bãi San Hô is a retreat made for travelers who are seeking seclusion. Often dubbed "Vietnam's Best Kept Secret" and compared to the Seychelles, the resort's dense tropical canopy keeps it cool and means there’s plenty of privacy to go around (though rest assured, the sweeping views of pristine waters from your beach or hilltop villa will not be impeded by the palms.) The attention to detail here is seen in a personalized plaque engraved with your names greeting you at the suite door, and the warm staff, who will know you by name before you've had a chance to introduce yourself. Beyond the exceptional ocean and land activities, set aside time for Hoa Sen Spa, where terracotta rooms glow with warmth and centuries of healing traditions are woven into the treatment plan. Then, there's the food: fresh seafood and chilled noodle bowls that are just what the doctor ordered (It’s me. I’m the doctor.)
Pair it with: Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh. Angkor Wat and the urban energy are each mind-blowing in their own way - piece your peace back together as you gaze over the South China Sea.
