As busy working professionals and caregivers, we all need a break from the grind.
Whether a short staycation or a longer break abroad, it’s important we disrupt our routines every now and then and create opportunities to care for our mental, physical, and emotional health.
It’s vital we give our mind, body, and soul the time to rest, restore, and re-energise in the way they deserve.
Granted, there may still be drama when we’re away! Let’s face it, we’ve all been there… but, for the benefit of our well-being why not experience these moments away from home? In an environment and place where a different lifestyle, culture and cuisine, and way of living can be enjoyed.
Not only does drama tend to resolve itself quicker in these settings, arguments are kept out of the home. Our place of sanctuary and care and love for the people we look after.
On holiday we try and learn new things, soaking up the elements. Be it sun, sea, and sand; wind, rain, and mist (think San Francisco); desert heat; or home ground soil (camping of course!), they all help to ignite and re-energise our senses!
Based on experience, here are my top holiday destinations and the reasons they’re perfect for boosting mental, physical, and emotional wellness.
Best for couples
California road-trip
There is nothing like a 2-weeks road trip, going from town to town, experiencing this breathtaking state. Its vastness makes you feel so insignificant, and the weather is supreme. You can sleep in your RV virtually anywhere. Created for road trips, vista points, and designated sleeping grounds are abundant in California. The views are spectacular. From the majestic Joshua Tree and Yosemite National Parks, where star gazing amongst Redwood forests is utterly mesmerising; to the largest and deepest Pacific Ocean, where whales, dolphins, and seals are spotted daily; the not-to-be-missed cosmopolitan and lively town of San Francisco also allows you to step into history on Alcatraz island; and, of course, the breathtaking Coachella Valley and wonders of the remarkable Sierra Nevada Mountains backdropped against the desolate desert stretching for miles on end. Getting immersed in the best the Golden State offers by car ignites and re-energises all senses.
Egypt
From the moment you land until your return flight, your senses will be activated and engaged. Egypt is a beautiful country with a vibrant culture, super friendly and welcoming locals, a rich and fascinating history, and an exotic desert brought to life through quad-biking, camel rides, and tea with the Bedouin tribes. The beach resorts are delightful and tailored with care to visitors, complemented by tropical waters, colourful fish, and night markets. Take a boat trip to Cairo along the River Nile to visit museums and, of course, one of the seven Wonders of the World, Giza’s colossal Pyramid, and the Great Sphinx. An enriching experience guaranteed to stimulate the mind, body, and soul!
Italy
From experience, Verona, Florence, and Venice are my choice destinations for holidaying couples. That said, I’ve not visited every town in Italy, and there are also tranquil areas like Lake Iseo and beauty spots like Lake Garda. I’ve also listed Sardinia and Sicily in my other lists down the page. What I do all know, however, is that Italy is not referred to as the country of love for no reason! It has a reputation for being the most romantic country in the world, reinforced by stunning scenery, a rich and captivating cultural heritage steeped in art and opera, beautiful streets and buildings, ancient architecture, sumptuous food and wine, and arguably the most passionate people I’ve ever met. Italy is the perfect destination for self-care and enjoying a romantic break away with your other half.
Ibiza
I’m sure this destination is great for couples! But for me and my girlfriends, Ibiza gave us the perfect wellness experience when we first attended YogaFit’s Retreat on the island and returned a second time some years later for a fun-filled Hen Weekend. It’s a beautiful island drenched in the sun, so all the time spent outdoors brightens and clears the skin! Having the luxury of breathing sea air every morning and evening, practicing sunrise and sunset yoga, pilates, combat fitness, and tai chi, having a laugh with friends, bonding with besties, and enjoying fresh local produce helps to purify and re-energise our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Best for families
Hong Kong
Naturally, I’m biased because Mum is from Hong Kong. Growing up, we spent quality family time every few years. The size and vibrancy of the island, however, do lend itself really well for family holidays. You can travel around the island quickly and conveniently. The shops, restaurants, cafes, day markets, and evening street food stalls never close! Experience the best city life with some of East Asia’s most beautiful and spiritual temples alongside the rejuvenating waters, beaches, mountains, walking, hiking, and cycling trails. It really is a country that has it all – ideal for the whole family – and never sleeps. For its size, can you believe there’s also Hong Kong Disneyland Resort to visit!? There are also waterparks and other must-see places like Macau that are just a ferry ride away. No two visits are the same, and trips to Hong Kong are guaranteed to dazzle, ignite, re-energise, and revitalise your senses, health, and happiness.
China
Alongside Hong Kong, China is my country of heritage, so I am naturally biased. That said, it is a beautiful and fascinating country steeped in history, ancient palaces, temples, and gardens, as well as in art, philosophy, opera, and calligraphy.
With so much to do, see, and eat, there is something for everyone. When I visited with Mum, Dad, and my husband in 2008, it couldn’t have been more perfect. I returned home enriched, more spiritual, and with a deep sense of belonging, comfort, and happiness. The Forbidden City and Great Wall of China made the grandest impression on me.
Other must-see places include the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Beijing National Stadium, and one or some of the most beautiful ancient towns. I’m intrigued to see Yongding in Fujian Province, known for its unusual architecture called Tulou (earth buildings). Built by the Hakka community, the ethnic group Mum belongs to, I look forward to seeing this during my next visit. There’s also a plethora of beautiful lakes to explore, including the West Lake in Hangzhou, listed as a world cultural heritage site in 2011, silk factories, and opera theatres. So rich and all so nourishing for the mind, body, and soul!
Thailand
Like Hong Kong, I had the privilege of experiencing Thailand with family. It was a holiday with Mum and Dad, my sisters, uncles, aunties, and cousins – and one that everyone enjoyed together. Amazing – considering the size of our group. All made possible because the Thai are friendly and welcoming, the accommodation and leisure activities on-site for both young and old are well-designed, the tuck tuck transportation is fun, and the streets lined with mini stalls and markets are colourful and lively. On the other hand, beaches with golden sand and exotic palm trees are bustling with water sports and parasailing. The food is delightful, and the temples are grand and awe-inspiring – offering a truly sensory experience for the whole family.
Sardinia
This Italian island is dear to me as it hosted my wedding and exquisite beach ceremony for my husband, me, and about 30 of our close friends and family. A relatively quiet island, the locals are affectionate and accommodating. While the warm air and crystal clear blue sea meet the serene coastline and sandy beaches, the picturesque mountains and hills, crisscrossed with hiking trails, brim with vibrant vegetation and assorted fruit trees. Hire a car for convenience, and if you stay in the Southeast like us, visit Villasimmius for its culinary delights. Embark on a boat trip for an afternoon to bask in the sun and bathe in the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea. Our boat, Mathilda, and her crew cared for us graciously, took us from beach to beach, and even served lunch! And what better way than to round off the day with a sunset BBQ dinner from the comfort of your own villa? For an exquisite experience, head to Spiagge San Pietro Resort. Its charm enticed us to base our wedding here, and it is an understatement to say our entire party was glad we did. Staying in this luxurious setting made us feel so special, and we are eternally grateful to have hosted our beach ceremony and after-party on this exceptional piece of paradise.
Best for families with toddlers
Staycations in the UK
Located conveniently close to home (compared to flying abroad), Bath, Harrogate, Padstow, Purbeck, and Sandbanks give UK families with toddlers an ideal break from home.
Bath
Bath brands itself as the Original Wellbeing Destination, and not without good reason. Whether visiting with friends and their children before we had our own or by ourselves with a 1-year-old, Bath is always elegant, pristine, full of culture and heritage, green spaces, and vibrantly attractive with its array of shops, including independent stores, restaurants, and museums.
Visiting Bath with toddler(s) is enjoyable because, with so many fun and interesting things to do, there’s no time for boredom. Given its size, everything is pretty accessible too. On a nice day, a walk around the centre is a must!
Built for pleasure and relaxation, beautiful Bath has been a wellbeing destination since Roman times.
visitbath.co.uk
Harrogate
In the heart of Yorkshire, this beautiful place gave me, my husband, and our Son the perfect long weekend for my special birthday.
A distinctive feature of Harrogate is its vast open space surrounding the vibrant and thriving town centre. At 200 acres, this gives Harrogate a green and spacious feel and a reputation as the place to go to for relaxation and indulgence, synonymous with quality shopping and afternoon tea.
And if you haven’t already discovered Taylors of Harrogate Yorkshire Tea, where have you been!? My personal favourite has to be Yorkshire Gold.
Born through a boom in Spa tourism during the Victorian 1800s Harrogate quickly developed a reputation for luxurious getaways for body and soul. The high society of the Victorian Britain flocked to Harrogate to enjoy the air, the space and the therapeutic spa treatments as well as taking the famous Harrogate waters.
visitharrogate.co.uk
The Spa history continues to shape the town with a number of spas, including the original Turkish Baths in the iconic Royal Baths building in the town centre. In addition to all of this, we were a short drive from Mum and my sister, her husband, their family, and my nephews and niece. What a special birthday treat for me indeed and an idyllic way to nourish my mind, body, and soul!
Padstow
Inspired to visit this town made famous by Rick Stein, we discovered more to Padstow than just great places to eat.
It is still a working harbour, surrounded by lovely beaches, including Harlyn Bay – considered one of the best family beaches in Cornwall – and offers charming shops and lively streets to wander around.
In addition to Rick Stein restaurants and Paul Ainsworth’s Michelin Star Number 6, there are cafes, bistros, tapas bars, tearooms, and pubs dotted around the harbour.
There are also traditional Cornish pasties and fish and chip take-aways.
Attractions like family theme parks, surfing and water sports for older children, and sealife safaris are also aplenty.
Padstow is the perfect base to explore the Camel estuary and to rest, restore, and rejuvenate.
Purbeck – camping at Burnbake
A stunning location for family camping and true to its word – Burnbake is where the forest meets the sea, a super attractive selling point for parents with children. The other thing that drew us and our friends with their boys to Burnbake is the raving reviews from other families. While luxury forest lodges are available we opted for the camp field and private group area. We introduced our Son to his first memorable experience of tent life and cooking on an open fire. Perfect for families with toddlers, the site encourages freedom and good old-fashioned outdoor play. A rural wildlife haven, rabbits, birds, butterflies, squirrels, and deer enjoy the woods, forest, and stream alongside visitors young and old. Don’t get so enchanted that you forget to venture offsite! The glorious Studland beach and ruined Corfe Castle Village, about a 15-minute drive away, are worth visiting. Our children relished playtime by the sea, a beach picnic with ice cream, and garden fun in the Village pub we stopped at.
Sandbanks
This exclusive area and iconic beach is close to Bournemouth University, where I studied over 20 years ago. Just as it made an impression on me back then, it had the same effect on me, my husband, and our Son when we visited in 2022. Stay in one of the luxury Airbnbs as we did, explore the area and coastline by foot, and take an open-top bus to Purbeck and Studland Beach.
Barbados
The only difficulty my husband and I experienced holidaying in Barbados with our toddler was the journey time. While children tend to sleep on a 9-hour flight – our boy didn’t, not on the way out nor the way in. Not a wink!!
The beaches and waters are famously spectacular, but what made this family holiday pop for us is the resort, with its winning formula for families with young children. There are spacious two-floor apartments, a beach restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, three pools of varying depth and size, and an indoor games/nursery room. When we didn’t fancy restaurant food, an elderly gentleman, Levi, would be out front at lunchtime with his street food van. We tried everything, from homemade fried chicken and fish to rice and peas, macaroni cheese, coleslaw, and various meat curries. I even took a portion of gorgeously gelatinous pig trotters one afternoon. The convenience of everything at the resort made holidaying in this tropical paradise with our Son easy and comfortable. More than that, we felt like royalty, and that’s rare for parents of a toddler to say!
Albania
Having family here, we’ve been privileged to explore and enjoy this hidden and relatively unknown country to its fullest.
From the capital city, Tirana, in the north, it’s beautiful to pass quaint villages, large farms, donkeys on the road (!), and spectacular mountain views en route to the beaches down south. Although sun, sea, and sand are widespread along the coastline, waters are far more exquisite in places like Himare, Sarande, and Ksamil.
Himare is part of the Albanian Riviera with the beautiful Spile and Marachi Beaches. A little further away are pretty beaches, Livadhi and Jali.
Sarande, on the other hand, is sandwiched between the Ionian Sea and hills of olive groves. In the centre are archaeological remains of a 5th-century synagogue, later an early Christian basilica. Intricate floor mosaics are still visible, and the 16th-century Lëkurësi Castle overlooks the town on a hilltop.
Ksamil is a village and former municipality in the Riviera of Southern Albania.
It’s also part of Butrint National Archaeological Park – an important archaeological site containing artefacts and structures dating from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages.
In 1992, the Butrint joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
In the village of Muzinë is my personal favourite, the Blue Eye water spring and natural phenomenon!
Sicily
A splendid island for family holidays! Everything from the weather to the accommodations, beaches, sea, and town life is riveting and simply perfect for travelers with little people.
Best of all is the food – this is the place to have seafood pasta and indulge in plates of fresh prawns, squid, octopus, sawfish, mussels, and clams!
Besides seafood pasta, you can buy and taste fresh produce like no other, and – of course – the ice cream is on another level.
If you or anyone in your family are allergic to cow’s milk, nuts, and egg, like my Son, this blog should help you manage these in Sicily.
That aside, the sun, sea, sand, seafood, and sleep in Sicily work wonders for parents, helping to replenish and re-energise the mind, body, and soul.
Take it from someone who knows! Sicily has long been on my bucket list, and our family holiday there with our Son this summer certainly did not disappoint.
If you’ve holidayed at any of these places, I’d love to hear from you and see what you thought of them.
Or do you have other destinations to recommend for replenishing the body, mind, and soul?
Let us know, and let’s spread the news – after all, sharing is caring! x
