A New Mindset About Travel

Regenerative tourism is the future of travel. Who else remembers the barrage of articles in December 2019 about the threat of over-tourism? Then, last year’s virtual lack of tourism also harmed communities around the world, highlighting the impact that each of us has on each other and on the planet, and evidencing the importance of balance. That is why, as people around the world begin traveling again, I believe that we will do so with heightened awareness of the need for regenerative tourism.

“Regeneration is a mindset and a daily practice that a traveler should embody as their aspiring outlook on life, both at home and on the road. It is understanding that all parts are interconnected through a regenerative principle called ‘whole systems thinking,'” said Regenerative Travel co-founder Amanda Ho in Hong Kong Tatler magazine.

In essence, regeneration goes a step further that sustainability’s “do no harm” ethos. Regenerative tourism takes into account the natural landscape and community of a place and seeks to create positive impact.

The Return of Travel

I miss traveling. Not just because I miss the sense of adventure and adrenaline that comes from being other places, but because I miss who I am when I am in those places: open, curious, patient. I miss the feeling of connection, of realizing the small space that each of us occupy on this special planet, of recognizing how much more we are alike than we are different. After a year fraught with so much change and division, I am eager to travel again, to be reminded of these things.

Saul and I are fully vaccinated! We feel so thankful to the scientists, doctors, pharmacists, government officials, and others who made it possible. Where I expected to feel freedom, I feel relief, mixed with a sense of duty to act responsibly as I begin to make travel and lifestyle decisions. While I do still feel anxious when in close proximity to others, my fear has largely been replaced with true gratitude for life’s little luxuries. I find myself appreciating things I used to take for granted, like the satisfaction of picking out my own produce at the supermarket, or the crunch of chips and salsa on a restaurant’s patio. We will continue to wear masks, keep our distance, support local businesses, and tip well when we go out to eat (outdoors).

The CDC announced recently that fully-vaccinated people can safely travel domestically. That’s great news, and I look forward to visits with out-of-state family and friends soon. The European Union announced last week that vaccinated travelers from the US will be permitted to visit this summer. Later this month, the British Virgin Islands will begin easing its quarantine restrictions for fully-vaccinated visitors. Saul and I don’t have any specific trips planned yet, but after more than a year of darkness, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

My Destination Wish List

The following three properties are on my radar for when Saul and I start traveling again later this year!

Chable Yucatan

Chable Yucatan is set among a sprawling 750-acre oasis in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. Sustainably-sourced wood from local trees and stones from the site’s 16th century hacienda were repurposed to construct the modern hotel. With a private plunge pool in each of the property’s casitas and plenty of space to unwind close to nature (and away from people), it is the ideal first post-vaccination getaway!

Last year, Travel and Leisure magazine recognized Chable Yucatan’s spa as one of the top 5 international spas. Treatment rooms overlook an ancient cenote. Guests can feel good knowing that they are doing good by staying at a property that values supporting healthy ecosystems, including mangrove reforestation, reef care, and beach vegetation preservation. The restaurants serve food prepared with fresh produce grown in the onsite garden or sourced locally from small businesses. There’s even a resident bee colony and beekeeper, who teaches visitors about the essential ways bees support the environment. I’m particularly enamored with the idea of a tour focused on the journey of the native cacao bean from bean to bar.

Rosewood Little Dix Bay

After experiencing Rosewood hospitality on our honeymoon in Laos, Saul generously gifted me a Rosewood credit for our first wedding anniversary in December. We plan to use it to escape to the Rosewood Little Dix Bay in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands.

Originally opened in 1964 on land purchased by conservationist Laurance Rockefeller, the property reopened last year after a four year renovation. The revamp actually downsized the property, from 95 guest rooms to 80, and added a garden to supply the restaurants and employ local farmers. The property also eliminated single-use plastics. The hotel sits on a half-mile crescent-shaped strip of white sand edging a turquoise lagoon. Even though the beach is for the exclusive use of resort guests, I am tempted to take advantage of the Rosewood’s “beach drop” option to visit an even more exclusive beach. In this excursion, guests are transported by boat to one of seven secluded beaches on Virgin Gorda and left for several hours to enjoy lunch and snorkeling in complete privacy.

Six Senses Shaharut

It is not hyperbole to say that I have been waiting years for Six Senses Shaharut to make its debut, so I am thrilled that the hotel has announced an August opening date! The Israeli government recently announced that the country will begin re-opening to vaccinated tourists soon, and – to add a cherry on top – select Six Senses properties are now bookable with IHG points (hopefully this property will be added soon)!

The property is built into a rocky cliff in Israel’s Negev Desert using organic materials found on-site, and showcases its sustainability efforts at the brand’s signature Earth Lab. At Shaharut, these initiatives include an onsite water-use advisor and sustainability manager, as well as a camel farm and a date orchard. I am excited about the Alchemy Bar, where guests can make their own scrubs and facial masks for spa therapies using fresh herbs from the hotel’s garden. I already plan to use mine in the onsite hamman, or Turkish bath!