Travel Places to Visit Wellness Retreats

3 Places Where You Can DIY an Affordable Wellness Retreat

Tamim Alnuweiri

December 28, 2018

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Photo: GettyImages/Courtney Keating

Wellness retreats are a dime a dozen. Okay, so, they're actually way more expensive than that, but it holds true that more options exist than you could possibly know what do with. You could easily spend weeks trying to decide which one best fits your needs. Or you could DIY your own wellness retreat, ensuring that every detail rises to your very specific standards.

Throughout the past year, we all seemed to be working way too much and the general population was more anxious than ever, meaning that total burnout felt imminent. With that, according to data compiled by vacation home rental company VRBO, the latest traveler searches make perfect sense: Queries on the site that include the term "yoga" are up 65 percent, searches for "fitness centers" are up 40 percent, and those for "gyms" are up 30 percent. Holidaymakers are looking to get active outdoors as well, with searches spiking for activities like like skiing, hiking, and golf.

While a professionally organized wellness retreat can make for a great escape, planning it yourself can mean big savings. With room for you and up to 19 of your closest friends, any of these houses (currently available on VRBO) would be the perfect locale to host an affordable wellness retreat.

1. Waikoloa, Hawaii

As if you need any convincing that Hawaii is the way to go, consider that this place sleeps eight people, has a meditation room, a half basketball court, access to an open-air exercise pavilion, and a beach club with snorkeling and myriad other water activities. State of the art indoor and outdoor kitchens complete the package. All in all, it's a steal at $250 a night per person.

2. Ojai, California

Somewhere in between a full-on DIY retreat and one that has some professionals involved, this California VRBO is the place to go if your traveling group is basically everyone you know. With a professional yoga studio (and teachers for hire) as well as basketball and badminton courts, the property sits on acres of fruit orchards. If you manage to fill out this home's 20-person capacity, it's just $75 a night per person.

3. Reading, Vermont

With room for 16 people, this home in Vermont is a mere $23 a night per person, making it the most affordable of the options. A cabin-like retreat, the upper landing of this house has an expansive yoga studio with treetop views.

Ready to hit the road? This is how one wellness pro packs for retreats and how Karlie Kloss has mastered carry-on only travel.