The growing trend for exploring our intimate needs and desires is long overdue. This is why adding sexual wellness to your next travel itinerary shouldn’t be taboo.
27 October 2023
When it comes to our body’s health, we often take certain facts for granted. We know, for example, that broccoli benefits our gut microbiome and regular exercise supports heart health. However, the benefits of sex on our overall health are frequently overlooked. Did you know that sex can boost your immune system, improve sleep quality, foster trust, and reduce stress? Moreover, practices like yoga and meditation can enhance arousal and desire.
In recent years, wellness has become more than just smoothies and spin classes; it encompasses an interconnected system between mind and body. Consequently, open discussions about sex are essential, as sexual wellness is one of the last frontiers of health awaiting mainstream exploration. At last, significant players in the travel industry are embracing this trend. Below, we delve into what sexual wellness entails and highlight various hotels, spas, and retreats that offer opportunities to enhance your sexual health.
What is Sexual Wellness?
“I view sexual wellness as a journey towards sexual authenticity, freedom, and pleasure,” says Dr. Karen Gurney, a clinical psychologist and psychosexologist. “Sexual satisfaction is highly correlated with both relationship satisfaction and psychological well-being. Engaging in sexual activity helps us connect with our bodies, our identities, and the present moment.”
While many health benefits of sex are linked to the release of the “love” hormone oxytocin, it’s reductive to regard sexual wellness solely as a series of hormonal responses. It’s equally about connection, self-esteem, and comfort with one’s own sexuality, alongside the use of sex toys or other external factors.
“We are often sold the notion that sex—whether solo or partnered—is merely a frivolous pursuit of our bodies,” Dr. Gurney explains. “Framing sex as separate from our identity, politics, or relationships makes it easier to dismiss its importance. Because of this, many individuals do not reflect on or set goals for their sex lives, unlike other aspects like work or diet. Additionally, sex and shame are frequently intertwined in our perceptions, creating barriers to open discussions about enhancing our sexual experiences.”
Why is Sexual Wellness Relevant Now?
While sex predates language, the pandemic certainly ignited contemporary discussions around it. During the initial lockdown, Cult Beauty, a beauty website, reported an 850% increase in the search term “sexual wellness.” A study conducted by The Kinsey Institute found that although sexual activity declined during the pandemic, one in five individuals expanded their sexual repertoire, which led to three times more reports of enhanced sex lives.
Not surprisingly, Gwyneth Paltrow, a well-known advocate for wellness through her platform Goop, has been vocal about sexual wellness. This year, she launched Goop Sex on Instagram—a dedicated space for the pursuit of pleasure. If influential figures like Paltrow are promoting it, it’s clear that significant changes are on the horizon. The global sexual wellness market is projected to reach $55 billion by 2028, prompting the travel industry to explore ways to engage with this growing interest.
In 2022, both Six Senses Ibiza and St Regis Punta Mita hosted sexual wellness retreats, the W Brisbane introduced a pop-up sexologist concierge service, and SHA Wellness launched its sexual health unit. Hotels worldwide now offer “love kits” as readily as they do snacks for their minibars.
What is a Sexual Wellness Retreat?
“Stepping away from the daily grind allows us to tap into our sexuality,” Dr. Gurney notes. “This occurs due to the novelty of new surroundings, reduced mental load related to chores, and increased quality time spent engaging in joyful activities or with fulfilling companions.”
Retreats can range from informal, self-guided experiences—akin to rejuvenating weekend getaways—to structured formats led by experts, incorporating practices such as coaching and erotic massage alongside discussions on boundaries, desire, body image, and more.
Moreover, any retreat that prioritizes rest, alleviates stress, and offers opportunities to connect with one’s body—through activities such as yoga or breathwork—and with partners (if applicable) will contribute positively to sexual wellness, even if sexual activity isn’t the main emphasis.
“A key benefit of retreats is simply changing your environment,” Dr. Gurney asserts. “For many, this setting may provide the perfect conditions to rejuvenate their sexual well-being. The challenging aspect afterward may be sustainability: ‘How will we maintain this momentum once back home?’”
Best Sexual Wellness Retreat for: Sensuality and Sisterhood
Back To The Body, various locations
Back To The Body’s retreats, located in destinations such as Italy, France, New York, and Mexico, aim to help women express themselves freely and without judgment. Its motto, “It’s not sex school—it’s self-school,” reflects founder Pamela Madsen’s expertise honed over years, combining bodywork sessions with intimacy coaching to unravel desires and overcome shame. A recent study in the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy revealed that participants reported significant enhancements in body image, arousal, satisfaction, and a heightened sense of connection with fellow participants, leading to a 95% return rate.
Best Sexual Wellness Retreat for: A Body and Mind MOT
SHA Wellness, Spain
This award-winning destination spa in Sierra Helada Natural Park, known for serious wellness and sunny retreats, has recently added a Sexual Health Unit. Launched in August 2023, it embraces a comprehensive approach to well-being, addressing sexual wellness, including function, desire, and self-esteem. “We will inquire about sexual satisfaction just as we monitor blood pressure, as it is all interconnected with health,” says psychologist Cinthya Molina, who leads this initiative.
Best Sexual Wellness Retreat for: Finding Connection on a Family Vacation
Naturhotel Forsthofgut, Leogang, Austria
A family holiday often poses challenges to intimacy due to the demands of parenting. However, this five-star hotel on Asitz Mountain makes romance attainable. “As a parent, I understand the need for quality time with your partner,” states the hotel’s owner, Christoph Schmuck. “We facilitate this by offering childcare from 9 am to 9 pm daily while reserving spaces for adults.” Enjoy treatments designed for couples at the adults-only spa, such as the two-hour waldSPA Sensual, which features an onsen ritual along with relaxation time. Alternatively, savor champagne under the stars with a private session in the rooftop whirlpool.
Best Sexual Wellness Retreat for: Practical Education in a City
Sex Club, London and Berlin
Contrary to what the name may imply, Sex Club offers a fully clothed experience. Co-founded by counselors Juliane Mueller and Conor Cregg, these weekend workshops provide a safe and inclusive space for individuals to explore sexuality—aided by discussions and embodied exercises centered on playfulness, desire, and connection. Participants learn to experience pleasure with ease, progressively shedding shame and hesitancy throughout the process.
Best Sexual Wellness Retreat for: A DIY Intimacy Experience
Unyoked Remote Private Cabins, UK
If you seek to enhance your sexual wellness in a less formal setting, consider creating your own retreat. Unyoked, which offers sustainable eco-cabins in secluded nature spots, has partnered with a sexual wellness company to offer “Come Together,” a downloadable course focused on intimacy and connection spearheaded by professional sex coach Georgia Grace. This collaboration provides ideal off-grid entertainment, enabling immersion in nature while fostering emotional connections. Cabins are available across various scenic locations including the South Downs, Suffolk, Norfolk, and The Black Mountains in Wales, boasting breathtaking views of the valleys.
Best Sexual Wellness Retreat for: Connection and Pleasure
Jan Day Retreat: Living Tantra, Somerset
Tantric sex gained recognition after singer Sting’s renowned sessions, but the practice of Tantra—which intertwines sensual and spiritual elements—has ancient roots. Jan Day, a respected Tantra and relationship expert, conducts week-long retreats for men and women focusing on meditation, breathwork, sharing, dance, and touch. “Feeling comfortable with our inherent sexuality empowers us to live fully,” Day explains. The workshops take place at the serene EarthSpirit Centre, surrounded by lush countryside merely five miles from Glastonbury.
Best Sexual Wellness Retreat for: Yoga with a Side of Sensuality
Chaya Yoga Retreats, Ibiza
Chaya Yoga Retreats leverage the picturesque Balearic landscapes to provide an immersive yoga experience aimed at well-being. Different themed events occur annually, and in 2024, the focus will return to The Temple of Yoni: Transformation Through Pleasure. The week-long retreat features daily yoga, meditation, breath work, and workshops designed to deepen understanding of pleasure anatomy—“yoni” representing the Sanskrit term for the vulva, vagina, and womb space. “Many people lack understanding of what sex can genuinely be; within this domain lies vast potential for healing and ecstasy,” notes Chaya founder Lucy Hill.
