wellness travel

Baby Boomer Travel Guide: Health Benefits

Published May 1, 2017 | By Clark Norton

Active travel like this European bike tour is loaded with health benefits for boomers

Most of us probably don’t travel for our health — but generally speaking, it’s a very good perk, especially for baby boomers.

Studies have shown that leisure travel can be good medicine.

There’s straight-up wellness travel, of course, such as visiting a health spa to lose weight.

But travel in and of itself can also do the job.

Here’s why:

Travel helps reduce stress and promote relaxation by taking a break from routine.
Travel usually results in greater physical activity, particularly walking. But you might also learn tai chi in China, practice yoga in India, or bicycle around Europe.
Travel promotes brain health by challenging us with new and different experiences and environments. It can potentially help ward off dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Travel can also help ward off depression… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, cycling, health, Hiking, Medical tourism, Spas, Wellness travel | Tagged Baby Boomer Travel Guide, Medical tourism, travel health, travel health benefits, wellness travel | 2 Comments

Finding Wellness Travel in All the Exotic Places

Published June 6, 2016 | By Clark Norton

Laos’ Pak Ou Caves are a site for Mekong River-based meditation. Photo from Travel Laos.

In recognition of Global Wellness Day — June 11 this year — I thought it would be apropos to mention a few of the more unusual ways to promote health while traveling. As a baby boomer, I’m prone to the usual stiff joints and other nagging ailments, and love the idea of medical tourism, even if it’s mostly an excuse to go somewhere exotic.

Water-based Meditation.

While I don’t practice meditation, I have a few good friends who do, and they always seem focused and calm. Does meditation have this effect, or are naturally calm and focused people drawn to meditation?

I don’t know, but I do know I could use a little more calmness and focus in my life, and I love being on water, so maybe I’ll try:

The Mekong Spa at Belmond… Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Baby boomer travel, California, cultural travel, health, Luxury travel, Medical tourism, Wellness travel | Tagged andBeyond Vamizii, Calistoga, Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France, Connaught Hotel, Costa Rica, GoldenEye, Jamaica, Laos, London, Luang Prabang, luxury spas, Meditation, Mekong Spa at Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao, Mozambique, Napa Valley, Nayara Springs, Silverado Trail, Solage Calistoga, Spas, St. Bart's, wellness travel, yoga retreats | 2 Comments

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.