Why your next vacation could be all about sexual well-being

Some people travel to relax. Others travel to see new places and explore the world. It turns out that more and more travelers are also traveling to feel more comfortable with their existence as sexual beings.

In other words, more and more people are traveling to become better in bed.

Industry insiders call this new trend “sexual wellness” and say it’s resonating with open-minded travelers.

Several hotels and resorts across the country have launched promotions and packages to appeal to this sexually motivated group of travelers. Internationally, independent travel companies have also launched special vacation programs designed to help travelers reconnect with their sexual selves.

Last year, the Global Wellness Institute predicted that global wellness tourism would become a $1.4 trillion industry by 2027. And sexual wellness programs are gaining traction.

Conde Nast Traveler has named sexual wellbeing one of the top travel trends for 2024.

Suzannah Weiss, a sex educator and author of the forthcoming book “Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject,” said travelers are increasingly seeking out such trips to relieve tension and dissatisfaction in their sex lives. She said many people are stressed out about work or raising children and fall into a rut where they no longer connect with each other on the same level of intimacy they once did.

Taking the time and space to reconnect can pay off enormously, she noted.

“Many couples struggle with their sex lives because their nervous systems are in fight-or-flight mode due to the demands of work and parenting,” said Weiss, who also works as a sexologist at BedBible.com. “Vacation is a great way to reconnect sexually.”

Optimizing intimacy

One of the most comprehensive sexual wellness programs available today is at Miraval Arizona, an exclusive resort and spa outside of Tucson.

Here, sex educator Lyndi Rivers teaches three different programs focused on sexual wellness — two for men and women and one for women only. The latest course, titled “Optimize Your Sex Life,” is designed to help participants discover what motivates their partners when it comes to sex.

Rivers said the course facilitates communication and teaches “students” skills they can practice in the hotel and in their rooms at home.

In the other mixed class, participants learn how to better connect with themselves, while the women-only class explores how the female body processes spontaneous and reactive desire. All group classes cost $125 per person.

“My focus is to give people the tools and information they need to better understand themselves and spark curiosity to create the sex and love life they desire,” Rivers said. “Everyone has a slightly different idea of ​​what a good sex life looks like, and I really try to cater to that.”

Rivers also offers individual coaching and consulting sessions upon request.

Sexual wellness is one of the options on the menu at the new SHA Mexico, an all-inclusive luxury resort and clinic with 35 residences and 100 rooms that opened in Costa Mujeres in late January.

During a base stay, guests receive comprehensive assessments of their physical, emotional and mental health. They can then choose from four personalized health programs based on the assessment results.

Those who wish to improve their sexual well-being can book additional (and à la carte) medical treatments from a wide range of options, such as shock wave therapy for erectile dysfunction in men and physiotherapy sessions to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles in women.

These procedures are performed by a department of the clinic known as the “Sexual Wellness Department,” according to clinical director Jair Olivares.

Olivares said sexual health is a big part of overall well-being.

“Sexual health evolves with age, but with a holistic medical approach, these changes can realistically be managed to increase sexual satisfaction and fulfillment, thereby integrating wellness into our guests’ entire lives,” said Olivares.

Other options

Depending on the couple’s wishes, numerous other treatments and short breaks for sexual well-being are available.

IntimacyMoons, a company founded by sex therapist Marissa Nelson, offers private retreats for business professionals and their partners. A retreat at the Conrad Hotel in Washington, DC, includes one hour of pre-retreat counseling, six hours of workshops and two post-retreat sessions. (Private retreats can also be arranged in Martha’s Vineyard, Miami, the Bahamas or Barbados.)

There are other specialized sexual well-being services available around the world.

Retreats from Back to the Body, an independent travel company, focus on bodywork sessions with intimacy coaches to identify desire and overcome feelings of shame. Sex Club, another provider, offers workshops in London and Berlin that are more revealing and include specific exercises to explore new approaches to touch, pleasure and more.

Several hotels are exploring other aspects of well-being that may impact sexual relationships.

One example: The Longfellow Hotel in Portland, Maine. The 48-room hotel is scheduled to open in May. A program is currently being developed around packages and spa products for women that specifically address female health issues such as menopause and premenstrual syndrome.

Spa director Melissa DeLois said the hotel will offer a treatment that includes massage and guided breathing exercises specifically for women going through menopause.

“Nobody really teaches us about menopause; the only thing I knew about it was that you get hot flashes and you miss your period,” DeLois said. “We just try to make it as accessible as possible and talk about it a lot. We want to make sure it’s not a taboo.”

Get the job done

Not every resort has been successful with its sexual wellness programs.

For example, Hotel Wailea, an adults-only Relais & Chateaux luxury resort on Maui, offered a sexual wellness package earlier this year and then discontinued it after a few weeks. This particular program was called the “Intimate Connections Tantra Experience” and included a 90-minute private session led by a tantra practitioner.

According to the program description, the session included gentle breathing exercises, synchronized movements and shared breathing exercises – all designed to create a sacred space for vulnerability, trust and emotional exploration.

Hotel representatives declined to comment on the change.

Sex educator Weiss added that other hotels struggle with sexual wellness promotions that involve nothing more than an expensive room and a bag full of sex toys.

“Sometimes it’s all about marketing,” she said. “Sometimes it can be a gimmick.”

Because sexual health programs can change unexpectedly and the topics are very sensitive, it can sometimes be difficult to find detailed information about the programs online.

Weiss says the best way to evaluate programs is to contact hotels directly and ask for a full breakdown of what’s included. Often, that means contacting the spa if the front desk doesn’t have comprehensive information.

Weiss added that it’s important for travelers who have booked a sexual wellness trip to have no inhibitions and be willing to put in the work necessary.

“You can go to a fantastic resort with a wonderful sex package, but if you’re not ready to connect with your partner (or yourself), you won’t get much out of it,” she said. “Be open to (new) things. Think about new activities you can do together. Listen. That … will lead to an unforgettable vacation.”

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