JetBlue partially changed its seating chart. Justin Bieber refused to walk the Great Wall of China. And now the government has shut down?! We need a break.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. We asked, and you answered (and we answered, too). After a nationwide call-out for your favorite #RelaxationVacation, we've made the ultimate list of zen-worthy places in which to rest, relax, and ride out these crazy days. What does #RelaxationVacation mean to you?
If relaxation means style...
Head to St. Barts. If this isle of chicness can calm Lindsay Lohan down, imagine what it could do for you. First, your biplane will touch down literally 20 feet from the ocean (at supposedly the third most dangerous airport in the world, but whatever). Then, you'll check into a cottage at the Hotel Guanahani, where your butler will hand you a designer candle and a pair of flip-flops. If crystal turquoise water isn't your thing, saunter indoors for a life-changing jet lag treatment at the spa. St. Barts has no stoplights, little crime, and no taxes, so it's pretty much heaven.
If relaxation means imagination...
Cruise to Disney's Castaway Cay in the Bahamas. Twitter users @scottacampbell and @iplandisney told us Disney destinations are their ultimate relaxation spots. The parks can get a bit hectic, but Mickey’s private island is a little oasis of imagination. Bahamian and Caribbean cruises dock at Serenity Bay Beach, which offers cabana massages on an adults-only strip of sand. After your body calms down, unwind your tired mind at breakfast with the characters or a dance party with Lilo and Stitch.
If relaxation means being eco-friendly...
Go remote in Siwa, Egypt. Adrere Amellal is a wonderful sustainable hotel; the majority of reviewers on TripAdvisor prefer to call it "heaven". The little sand village hugs the bottom of a cliff in a desert playground of sand dunes and salt lakes. The resort works to preserve its dream-like setting by serving only locally-grown dinners in its pillow-covered dining grotto and burning only beeswax candles (there's no electricity) in bedrooms lined with romantic stone tiles.
If relaxation means family...
Try Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Named amongst most relaxing family beach towns, Hilton Head serves up seaside fun with an extra-heavy side order of chill. The fall forecast still reads in the 70s and 80s, but waterfront cabanas go for cheap at the Westin and golf courses become open plains of warm, crowd-less bliss. Stop and smell the jellyfish on a beach walk with the kiddos before a round of complimentary Chardonnay among trickling fountains at the Main Street Inn & Spa.
If relaxation means getting active...
Head to Poiana Brasov, Romania. HuffPost Travel Twitter follower @larisamanescu said the mountains of Romania are her go-to when she needs to “chill” (both literally and figuratively, it seems). It’s almost snowtime in Transylvania, which means you can escape to the slopes of Poiana Brasov resort ASAP. Ski the towering Carpathian Mountains or window shop in the coziest of small towns.
If relaxation means pampering...
Head to Miami. A wellness expert escapes to The Standard Hotel for its “world-class spa.” A veritable Disneyworld of spa features -- from mud pits to sound pools to rain showers to Turkish baths -- will make you forget the outside world exists. If you need extra help leaving reality behind, sign up for Inspirational Reinvention, a three-day spa experience where two hypnotists crush your “mental barriers” between meditation baths.
If relaxation means inner peace...
Try Shreyas Yoga Retreat in Bangalore, India. Yoga is, like, the purest essence of relaxation, and Shreyas is among the 10 best Indian yoga getaways. Awaken in the plush white linens of your garden tent and step straight from the shower onto a private palm-lined courtyard. Spend the day in yoga and meditation sessions, or learn to plant herbs in the resort's organic garden. At night, everyone comes together for vegetarian cuisine round the bonfire. Namaste, indeed.
If relaxation means being alone...
You belong in Ubatuba, Brazil. It’s weird they haven’t filmed "Survivor" here yet-- this island oasis is too remotely pristine (and pristinely cheap!) to be true. Perfect surfing waves kiss white-sand beaches while waterfalls trickle down tree-covered hillsides. Pousada Picinguaba, a favorite low-cost resort, offers rainforest treks and bird watching excursions. Take a kayak into calmer waters, and you’ll feel like the only person on Earth.
If relaxation means music...
Get to Riviera Maya, Mexico. Twitter user @danielabr3 told us the culture of Riviera Maya relaxes her more than anything. Book now, and you’ll catch November’s Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, when low-key (read: not incredibly famous) artists play on the sand at sunset. Sip sweet hibiscus tea at the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, where the spa’s Water Journey treatment will make you feel like you’re “lying up in the heavens.”
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Before You Go
