Expert Jen Ruiz Shares Wellness Experiences Worth Traveling For

Have you ever thought to yourself: Wow, I need a vacation from my vacation. If so, you’re not alone. Traveling is one of the most enriching and rewarding ways to spend your time, but it’s also true that the planning, the sightseeing and the constant moving around can be truly exhausting. But what if you could take a trip that left you feeling totally refreshed? We’re not just talking about an overpriced spa getaway or off the grid retreat — we’re talking about wellness travel.

Wellness travel has shifted from a quiet niche to one of the fastest growing ways to see the world. Travelers are no longer satisfied with just a beach lounger or a basic massage. They want experiences that feel restorative and rooted in place. They want to leave with a calmer mind and a clearer sense of connection to the world around them.

It’s no surprise that given the rise of stress, digital overload and constant noise, people are gravitating toward trips that help them not only relax, but reset too. Wellness travel gives guests a chance to slow down and engage all their senses, often through settings that draw deeply from nature and local tradition. These experiences ask you to be present. They invite you to breathe, listen and feel the landscape instead of rushing through it.

Jen Ruiz, travel expert, best-selling author and founder of Jen on a Jet Plane, has visited some of the most incredible wellness spots across the world. We asked her to share which experiences were the most memorable for her and what made these particular destinations special. Each one blends culture, nature and care in its own way and offers something far more immersive than a typical getaway.

Sleep with bees in the Italian Alps

BeeWellness Contadino in northern Italy is not your standard retreat. Instead of a typical spa room, you rest in wooden cottages built into the mountainside. Hay mattresses warm your back and the bees buzz in their own hives attached to the end of the cabin. You never touch the bees, yet you feel their presence.

Ruiz says the soft hum creates a vibration many see as a grounding frequency. Guests book half-hour sessions and breathe with the steady buzz. Afterward, you can try flavored honey made from herbs and wildflowers harvested nearby.

Meditate with horses in Park City

In Utah, the Park City Horse Experience brings guests into guided meditation sessions surrounded by slow moving horses. There is no performance or show — the animals set the tone with quiet steps and gentle shifts in energy. The horses are led around the space and may even come up to interact with you.

Ruiz says the practice encourages guests to match their breath to the calm rhythm of the herd. The open mountain landscape adds a sense of ease that is hard to replicate indoors.

Soak in the “fountain of youth” in Puerto Rico

Baños de Coamo has long been one of Puerto Rico’s most storied wellness sites. Local legend calls it the island’s real fountain of youth and the warm mineral water has drawn visitors for generations.

Ruiz describes how the heat rises from volcanic rock and settles into your muscles with a slow steady warmth. Even President Franklin D. Roosevelt once soaked here during his travels in the 1930s. Today guests still arrive hoping to leave with a little more comfort in their joints and a lighter step.

Float in Iceland’s geothermal Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is arguably Iceland’s most famous attraction and remains a classic to this day. Bright geothermal water stretches between black lava fields and steam lifts into cool air. It is popular and polished yet still feels otherworldly.

The lagoon’s mineral rich water gives the space its pale blue color. Guests drift from warm pockets to small stations where they smooth on silica masks. Some wade toward in water bars for a drink without ever stepping out of the heat. Ruiz calls it an ideal entry point for travelers curious about wellness experiences.

Find calm in Budapest’s grand thermal baths

Szechenyi Baths are among Europe’s largest thermal complexes and one of Budapest’s most recognizable landmarks. Yellow Baroque buildings frame outdoor pools that steam through winter and summer.

Ruiz says the baths offer a full range of wellness experiences from therapeutic indoor pools to saunas and a beer spa tucked below the main floor. The setting blends history and play which gives the space an easy charm.

Why these trips matter

Wellness travel continues to grow because people are seeking more than entertainment. They want rest that feels meaningful, not rushed or performative. These experiences slow the body and quiet the mind through natural sound, warm water, steady movement and sunlight. They also honor local traditions whether it is a centuries old thermal pool or a modern meditation practice shaped by the landscape.

A typical trip will give you memories, but a wellness oriented trip gives you something deeper. It helps you return home with a clearer head and a sense of having cared for yourself in a way that daily life rarely allows.

Thank you to Jen for sharing her expert insights. To keep up with her adventures, follow along on Instagram or Tik Tok.

This story was originally published December 5, 2025 at 12:00 PM.