For the past 25 years, the Condé Nast Traveller editors have reviewed some of the world’s best spas and wellness retreats, spending time with leading scientists and experts changing the way we view health and wellbeing. Below, we've rounded up the best tips, advice and healthcare we've gleaned over the years.
Drink warm water first thing
“Ayurvedic clinics always recommend starting your morning with warm water to flush out toxins and set you up for a healthy day. Occasionally, I add lemon (which helps make the body alkaline), ginger or turmeric (for their natural antiseptic properties) to the water, but it's the easiest thing to do and feel like you've made a great start to the day!” Divia Thani, global editorial director
Eat dinner earlier
“On a recent trip to Lanserhof Tegernsee, I picked up a few simple habits that can make a big difference to your gut health. Eating dinner earlier – around 6-7pm, or 3-4 hours before bedtime – gives your body time to digest food before hitting the hay, which naturally slows as you sleep.” Sarah Allard, digital director
Be present during dedicated self-care time
“One amazing tip I picked up from the Ayurvedic doctors at Soukya in India was to be more mindful during treatments. Imagine yourself being healed – picture yourself releasing tension as you have a massage, for example. It makes a huge difference for me; previously, my massage time is usually spent asleep or thinking about what was for dinner.” Anita Bhagwandas, beauty director
Practice mindful eating
“I stayed at Palace Merano last summer and my biggest takeaway was to stop overloading my digestive system. I am someone who rushes meals, which overwhelms your gut, and I also forget to drink water throughout the day so then have a pint of water in one go, which flushes out any healthy bacteria that might have been helping me. I've tried to slow down and take proper breaks for meals, and I also now have raw food for lunch and throughout the day (salads, fruit, nuts), and then cooked food for dinner (soups, stews, stir fries) as that is easier to digest and won't sit in your system overnight.” Charlotte Davey, fashion and lifestyle editor
Get comfortable sharing your emotions
“I got some great advice from a wonderful doctor in Austria. She said, rightfully, that Brits tend to square away their feelings, but by doing that we close ourselves off to the people around us and don't allow new relationships to grow. She advised me to open up and see what happens – those who have your best interests at heart will want to hear and help you with your problems. Similarly, if you feel in your gut that something no longer aligns with your needs, listen to it! It's healthy to take stock and question the things you that don't serve you or feel right anymore.” Megan Wilkes, art production manager
Cleanse twice at night
“Recently I had a facial at Dr Leah’s Baker Street clinic and, among lots of other tips and tricks on how to handle my hormonal skin, my practitioner told me that after wearing makeup, your skin needs two deep cleansing sessions in order to fully remove the layers and debris that have gone deep into your pores. Ever since then, I’ve made sure to wash my face twice at night when I’ve been wearing makeup, and I’ve noticed a huge difference in my skin – it’s much brighter and less congested.” Sophie Knight, senior visuals editor
Cold water is magic
“The health benefits of cold water are common knowledge these days. Having been lucky enough to grow up in Cornwall, I’ve always had pretty easy access to the best cold plunge facility there is – the ocean. But what to do when you want to tap into the benefits of cold water every day when spas, seas and plunges are harder to access? This is what I asked the team at Cornwall’s beachside Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, who suggested ending showers with a blast of cold water (even just 30 seconds), which can reap much of the same rewards.” Lucy Bruton, social media manager
Start the day with nourishment
“I had a consultation from an incredible Ayurvedic doctor when staying at Vakkaru in the Maldives. Following a full consultation Dr Suranga Dassanayake recommended a whole host of lifestyle changes. The one I've managed to continue to stick to is in regards to my mornings. One of her main recommendations was to always start the day with something warm and nourishing, ideally bone broth but if I don't have time, I'll just do warm water with lemon. And then I always make sure to eat my breakfast before I have my coffee, which is much kinder on the digestive system.” Lauren Burvill, commerce editor
Don’t overlook breath work
“I went on a retreat to Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda, where doctor Stefania Doria conducted a series of Autonomic Nervous System tests where I was asked to practice Pranayamic breathing. After just 10 minutes of guided breath work, my sympathetic nervous system had decreased massively. The message was clear: learning how to effectively listen, monitor and control your body’s response to external stimuli can intrinsically improve your ability to handle stress. I’ve since taken to practising diaphragmatic breathing as often as possible – first thing in the morning, last thing at night, during lunch breaks – and I’ve noticed I am much calmer in the face of stressful or typically triggering situations." Olivia Morelli, senior digital writer
Stretch every morning
"At F Zeen in Kefalonia I joined a guided stretching session. It made me realise how tight my muscles are (thanks to being on a laptop 24/7), and the importance of stretching regularly. Now I do it every morning with deep breathing. It's made such a positive difference." Noo Saro-Wiwa, features writer
Have mindful nighttime drinks
“I visited Sha Wellness in Spain over a year ago, but I still drink one of the drinks that was served there, called Apple Kuzu. It is served warm each night and tastes lovely, but can also help with blood circulation, decongesting and regulating digestion. You just dissolve 1/2 a tsp of kuzu in a glass of organic apple juice (warm or cold), stir and enjoy.” Anita Bhagwandas, beauty director
Using breathing techniques to combat stress
“Part of my yoga teacher training course was an immersive week in Andalusia where we practiced meditation and pranyama (mindful breathing) before sunrise every day. The idea was to achieve mental clarity and a sense of calm, and while I absolutely have not managed to maintain the practice daily, I still come back to it whenever I start to feel overwhelmed or anxious. It's a good one to do with headphones the commute home. Living the life of a full-time yogi in London isn't feasible, so small wins like this are enough for me.” Sarah Bannerman, acting commerce editor