In this five-part travel trends series, The Sandton Times explores the various holidays or vacations travelers are opting for as a result of the pandemic, like The Spacation.

• After months under lock and key, mixed with stress, anxiety, and eventual cabin fever, people are ready to get out of the house.
• There are 5 trending holidays or vacations people are taking: the Workcation, the Vaccication, the Spacation, the Staycation, and the Retalication.
• Be sure to check in every day this week for 2022 travel trends.
  
• Visit www.sandtontimes.co.za/fly for the best flight deals.

As the world moves into 2022 with international borders opening up and vaccinations on the rise, it’s clear that travel has changed significantly and that the new reality of going on a trip, for business or pleasure, involves a massive focus on hygiene and cleanliness, vaccination passports, ever-changing restrictions but maintaining that undying desire to explore a new place.

Today it’s the turn of the ‘Spacation’. It’s likely the most frivolous of all vacations, but many will attest that a day in the spa is as good as a holiday, and some of South Africa’s most desirable spas offer just that! Massaging the word spa and vacation into one, it’s generally not a hard sell to anyone who appreciates odd fascial, herbal poultice massage, or reflexology.

It’s been a difficult couple of months, both mentally and physically, and the thought of being able to take even the shortest break, combined with a day or few hours of pampering, can be both rejuvenating and essential for overall wellbeing. Spa facilities as part of a premium hotel offering have become an essential must-have for any property wanting to attract prospective travelers, and being able to cleverly combine a full-stay offering including a few spa treatments with a bed & breakfast deal has filled many hotels up during the most challenging time for hospitality.

It’s the closest thing to a resort holiday for those not wanting to venture all too far, with most spa’s also offering common use areas like a sauna, plunge pool, relaxation area, or even a halogen salt therapy room.

And for those moms needing a bit of a break from the family, a ‘Spacation’ is a great idea to go on with some girlfriends, combining it with some wine dining and a Sunday morning sleep-in. Yet a ‘Spacation’ need not be a trip down the road. South African lodges and 5-star coastal hotels have created spa spaces that, for the most, are the highlight of any escape.

The Sediko Bush Spa at Palala Boutique Game Lodge in Limpopo offers a Merlot bath – a chance to soak in red wine; second only to drinking a glass or two. In Gauteng, ‘The View’ by 27Pinkx located at the Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton features a Halogen Salt Therapy room with a sodium chloride generator and a heated Roman bath with a 180-degree view of the city skyline.

There is certainly always a reason to unwind both physically and mentally, and whilst travel to far-flung corners of the world might seem quite stressful or in some instances, not doable, there’s nothing a Herbal Poultice Full Body Massage with a glass of bubbly, won’t solve.

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