Connect with us

Wellness Travel

Mailena resort to redefine luxury travel in Loreto, Mexico: Travel Weekly


Meagan Drillinger

For U.S. travelers seeking a beach escape that feels far from the crowd, yet is just a direct flight away, Loreto remains one of Mexico’s most underrated destinations. Sandwiched between the Sierra de la Giganta mountains and the Sea of Cortes, the small fishing village of Loreto is the gateway to a Unesco-protected marine park and enough natural beauty to rival better-known Baja hot spots without the associated buzz.

Despite seasonal direct airlift from U.S. cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix and Dallas, Loreto has managed to fly under the radar. The destination has cultivated a loyal base of repeat visitors drawn to the nature, small-town vibes and low-key energy. But a new wave of upscale development, headlined by the forthcoming Mailena, a luxury wellness retreat slated to open in late summer 2026, is poised to put a new stamp on Loreto.

The 96-room beachfront Mailena will offer personalized health and longevity programming. Photo Credit: Mailena

A first in wellness for Loreto

Mailena will be the first wellness-focused and adults-only resort in Loreto. The 96-room beachfront property, part of the 741-acre master-planned Danzante Bay development, will offer personalized health and longevity programming, a cenote-inspired wellness center, holistic dining and biohacking therapies.

It’s a shift for a destination that, until recently, has been best known for its rustic fishing culture, peaceful beaches and unhurried pace. When I visited in 2022, I stayed at Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto, the flagship resort of Danzante Bay. Even then, it was clear that while the infrastructure existed for a luxury experience (TPC Danzante Bay, the Rees Jones-designed golf course, is a draw in its own right), the overall feel of Loreto was still refreshingly unpolished. Locals outnumbered tourists. The malecon was quiet. The islands just offshore, part of Loreto Bay National Marine Park, could be explored without many other boats in sight.

That sense of seclusion remains a key part of Loreto’s appeal. Mailena’s design by Mexico-based architecture firm Broissin leans heavily into sustainability and sensory immersion. The resort will feature three distinct zones, including a lobby centered around a living olive tree; a signature restaurant overlooking the Sea of Cortes; and a wellness complex with facilities such as sensory deprivation tanks, snow rooms, steam and sauna areas and shiatsu treatments in a warm-water pool.

Loreto is tucked between the Sierra de la Giganta mountains and the Sea of Cortes. Photo Credit: Mailena

Travel infrastructure in place

What makes Loreto stand out in the luxury travel space is that these enhancements are arriving slowly, rather than through a flood of mass-market tourism. Mailena joins an existing inventory of understated but high-quality accommodations. Villa del Palmar continues to serve families and couples with a full-service experience and access to the TPC course. Private home ownership and luxury condominiums at Danzante Bay further signal that Loreto is becoming a second-home market for discerning travelers who value privacy and nature over nightlife.

Importantly for travel advisors, Loreto’s infrastructure, while modest, is reliable. The Loreto Airport makes the town the only Pueblo Magico with direct international air access, making it relatively easy to book direct flights from key U.S. markets. On the ground, tour operators offer excursions from whale-watching and sport fishing to island hoping, hiking and cultural tours of Loreto’s 17th century mission.

For clients seeking an alternative to (or an extension of) Cabo, Loreto remains an attractive option. New developments like Mailena will add appeal, but the region’s protected status and limited flight volume (for now) mean that mass tourism will be kept at bay.



Source link

Wellness Travel

Not leaving your hotel is 2025’s hottest travel trend – and Ibiza’s luxurious new opening has us convinced

Published

on


Whether you want to relax, party, dine, or indulge in wellness, there’s been a boom in hotels and resorts that quite simply have it all, and one of Ibiza’s hottest new openings has us convinced that perhaps slow travel really is the way forward.

54 per cent of Gen Z travellers said when picking a destination they prefer to stay in one place and “absorb the vibe”, with 42 per cent saying they choose hotels based on on-site events, nightlife, or wellness options.

There’s quite literally no better place to combine all three elements than the White Isle, and there’s little wonder that the newly-refurbished Destino Five (formerly Destino) is already packed out, quite literally around-the-clock, as a result.

Having opened its doors for the new season in June, the luxury haunt, which has upgraded to a five-star Grand Luxe hotel since its rebrand last summer, will play home to the Pacha ICONS series, welcoming dance music legends including Marco Carola and Solomun under its poolside pergola each week.

  Destino Five

Meanwhile, in the daytime, it’s a relaxed beach club and hotel, with sprawling views over Ibiza Town and Formentera, and a wellness offering to boot, with a fully-equipped outdoor gym (trust us, you’ll need to work off that breakfast buffet), and on-site masseuses available to tackle those post-party muscle aches.

We visited within the first few weeks of it re-opening its doors, and despite its glossy makeover, it still feels quintessentially Pacha, and has the authentic Ibiza feel that people fell in love with it for in the first place.

The signature cherry emblem of the Pacha Group is in the subtle details of the decor – from coffee table books laid out in the foyer, ready to be papped for Instagram, embellishments on the towels of the day beds by the pool, and a huge woven mural on the side of the main building.

@sophthompson

Replying to @Em Destino Five room tour ☁️🤍 #destinofive #ibiza #hotel #ibizahotel #luxurytravel #fyp

The 159 rooms range from a small, but sophisticated place to rest your head between returning from Pacha nightclub (which is a 10 minute drive down the road), and when you head down to Playa Pacha, the on-site poolside playground for an afternoon of sun, to the sprawling Cherry Suites, which boast outdoor gardens, their own private pool, and dining tables fit for a tapas feast with friends.

In the Luxe Rooms, you’ll still get to enjoy a private terrace, perfect for those pre-dinner cocktails, alongside all of the usual amenities; a King bed, wet room, flat-screen TV, and fully-stocked bar.

The decor is largely the same whichever end of the scale you go for (fair warning, a Diet Coke from the mini fridge will set you back €10), with timeless, veined marbles in the Pacha group’s signature greens and reds adding those luxury finishes to cabinets and bathrooms alike.

  Destino Five 

However, nostalgia is one of the biggest consistent themes both in the rooms, as well as out, and is what really turns your average luxury stay into an immersive experience of its own.

Expect to see vintage photographs from some of Ibiza’s most raucous nights illustrating its history hanging from the walls above the beds, and huge, circular mirrors on the ceiling above you as you sleep, adding a sultry touch that feels like a quintessential nod to the party scene.

What really sets Destino Five apart from other five-star haunts on the island, is that there’s so much going on, it even welcomes non-guests on a daily basis to enjoy its flair, whether poolside, or in one of its two incredible restaurants.

Elia was our restaurant of choice; a relaxed, breezy terrace overlooking the Balearic Sea and Dalt Vila, serving up upscale Greek dishes including squid ink risotto, and a hearty moussaka.

As the sun begins to set, expect a signature Ibiza soundtrack from the in-house DJ, and moody lighting to set the tone for the party ahead – whether you’re sticking around for the Pacha ICONS series on a Thursday, which transforms the pool area into a world-class dance floor (there’s nothing more satisfying than quite literally rolling into bed post-party if you ask us), or zipping up the road to Pacha nightclub itself.

Should you find yourself venturing out to Pacha (which has even earned the title of the world’s most sustainable nightclub), where residencies this year include BLOND:ISH, Camelphat, and Sonny Fodera, consider dining at the in-club restaurant, serving up a Japanese-Mediterranean fusion menu, complete with private DJ to get you in the mood for an evening (and morning if you’re brave enough) of dancing. What’s more, you can then simply slip into the club with complimentary entry via the curtain that separates the two, rather than joining any queues.

Meanwhile, for those lazy days, by the pool is the aforementioned Playa Pacha, a beach club-style setting serving up delicious cocktails and fresh, Mediterranean bites, and also welcomes a DJ to its poolside booth each afternoon. The fresh spicy tuna sushi and zesty ceviche dishes aren’t to be missed as you enjoy an afternoon of slow living, ready to turn up the tempo once again as the sun goes down.

Crucially, from the moment you arrive to the final farewell, Destino Five is proving it’s far more than just a place to stay. It’s a full-spectrum Ibiza experience – a seamless blend of luxury, rhythm, and relaxation. Whether you’re chasing the party, recharging your soul, or simply want to experience a slice of Ibiza’s legacy, you’ll find it all right here, without even having to leave its gates.

For more information and bookings, visit destino.fivehotelsandresorts.com/

Why not read…

This luxury Ibiza hotel is a hit with the party crowd – because it’s proof you can truly have it all

Wellness tourism is on the rise – and this luxury Greek resort is where everyone’s flocking to reset

Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter

Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.





Source link

Continue Reading

Wellness Travel

NCL ushers sea change in self-care – TTN Worldwide – TTN Worldwide

Published

on



NCL ushers sea change in self-care – TTN Worldwide  TTN Worldwide



Source link

Continue Reading

Wellness Travel

NCL ushers sea change in self-care – TTN Worldwide

Published

on



NCL ushers sea change in self-care  TTN Worldwide



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 AISTORIZ. For enquiries email at prompt@travelstoriz.com