Does eating a lot of food, drinking fancy cocktails, and being lazy on a beach sound like a fun, relaxing vacation? Relaxing and fun yes, but healthy, active, and adventurous - probably not. Today, the interest in healthy lifestyles is permeating people’s lives; making physical activity a part of everyday life is the new reality - including making it part of a vacation.
An active and adventurous vacation isn’t a new concept and doesn’t just appeal to younger travelers. Today, the Baby Boomer generation has a growing interest in health and wellness vacations that help promote lifestyles that reflect good eating and exercise habits.
Exercise can easily be incorporated into a vacation’s activities in a fun, exciting way that doesn’t include visiting a hotel’s small, cramped fitness room or being stuck in your hotel room doing stretches – if you don’t want to. Why waste your time in a closet-like room with a single treadmill when you can go out and enjoy the amenities, sights, and sounds your destination has to offer? This is the purpose of a vacation, isn’t it? The following are some “active” vacation activities that can be incorporated into many trips:
- Rock climbing;
- Scuba diving and snorkeling;
- Kayaking;
- Whitewater rafting;
- Yoga retreats;
- Hiking;
- Bicycling;
- Golfing;
- In-line skating;
- Jogging; and
- Swimming.
However, the most important word of advice to remember when planning “active” vacations is to do the “homework” or research necessary to create a trip that meets your individual needs. The following are recommendations from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) on how to go about researching an “active” vacation:
- Costs. Vacations can become very expensive if you are not careful. Some high-end fitness and spa resorts charge more than $4,000 for a week’s stay. You might have to search more to find an affordable option, but they are available. Before booking a trip, find out what you are getting for your money and what is going to cost extra. Check for “escape clauses” that allow for a complete refund if you have to cancel your trip for any reason.
- Credentials. Make sure the staff conducting the activities you signed up for have the correct professional credentials or licenses. For example, when taking a wilderness or scuba diving trip, having professional leaders who not only know what they are doing, but have first aid and CPR training, is a must.
- References. If you’ve found a vacation on a Web site or read about it somewhere, it’s important to email or call the company or establishment with questions.Questions to ask include:
- How much individual attention will I receive?
- How long has your operation been in business?
- What are the facilities like? Do you have any pictures or a layout?
- What has to be paid up front?
- Amenities. Find out in advance the logistics behind the activities the establishment offers. How long does the activity last? How much training and or skill level is needed? What kind of equipment is needed? What is the road map for the activity? How safe is it?
- Individual physical and emotional needs. It’s important to take a fitness vacation for the right reasons. Make sure the trip will allow you to return rested, relaxed, and with enough energy to resume your daily routine. Also, the trip should produce happy memories and peace of mind. Also, be sure you can afford the trip and that it won’t break the bank and that it is the right time in your life to take this kind of vacation.
Source: Association of Retired Persons, (AARP).
