Recognized each September, National Yoga Month gives wellness resorts a platform to showcase the various yoga activities available to guests, both novices and experienced yogis.

National Yoga Month, celebrated each September by wellness resorts, spas and yogis throughout the world, offers travelers the opportunity to experience the many benefits of this ancient mind and body practice that can build strength and flexibility while also enlightening one’s spiritual being. From sunrise yoga sessions to Vinyasa, guests who visit one of the following resorts can participate in a wide variety of yoga activities specially designed to enrich one’s overall well-being.

Eden Roc Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

The luxury property has a unique Cenote on the estate – a deep cave made from limestone. It offers a Cenote Wellness Retreat experience for guests. This include a yoga session, followed by a massage, meditation session and a healthy smoothie to complete the experience. There is a waterfall fountain in the cenote and the healing sound of the water provides a more therapeutic experience for guests. Guests can enjoy special wellness activities in the cenote, including such spa treatments as the new Reiki Energetic Massage and more.

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For super-rich travellers, exclusive-use villas promise a level of privacy, security and flexibility that is often not available in even the finest five-star hotels. 

It is little wonder, therefore, that there has been an uptick in the number of UHNWs opting to hire their own private havens. Virtuoso, a leading global network of agencies specialising in luxury and experiential travel, found a love of villas initially triggered by Covid social distancing has become a lasting trend. 

‘It turns out, people like the serenity of spaciousness without sacrificing service,’ reads the company’s Big Hotel Report. ‘From the Caribbean to Europe, travellers are turning to villas and residences for solitude with outside-the-box perks.’

Steve Lassman, vice president of villa product and agency relations at Villas of Distinction noted: ‘It’s the privacy, value, and amenities such as personal chefs that are driving villas’ popularity.’ 

Leading hotel groups are tapping into this movement by investing more in standalone villas within existing resorts. Other standalone providers claim to offer a tier of exclusivity.

Here are some of the best exclusive-use villas available… 

Founders Villa, Eden Roc Cap Cana, Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

The 11-bedroom Founder’s Villa is set to become a jewel in the crown of Eden Roc Cap Cana when it opens in October. Designed to create the feeling of a ‘hotel within a hotel’, guests are granted access to resort facilities while providing that feeling of space, privacy and independence. A team of hotel staff are on hand to provide bespoke services, alongside a private chef and concierge. 

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We had not vacationed together as a family since right after my father died, in 2011, which meant that we had not vacationed together as a family since my two children, Miles and Nathaniel — 5 and 7 — were born. Sometime last year, Rima, my stepmother, started talking about a large-format family vacation, the kind where all of us (her, my two sisters, my husband, me, my kids, my sister’s partner) could all fly off to some far-flung island for a week in the sun.

We had done this, actually, on repeat. When my father was alive, our destination of choice was Caneel Bay, on St. John, a resort opened by Laurance Rockefeller in the 1950s. When my father died, we went back, one last time, to spread his ashes in the jet stream. This time, taking the advice of friends, we booked the four-bedroom Imperiale Villa at Eden Roc Cap Cana, a Relais & Chateaux property in the Dominican Republic that could accommodate our big group.

Our villa had rooms upstairs and down. We were greeted by hats and beach bags — enough for adults and children. A bottle of Champagne awaited us, as did cheese, fruit and assorted snacks. The backyard of the villa was entirely aquamarine pool, a vision in the afternoon heat, when you’ve just left frigid Boston with two children under 8.

The first night, we took our golf carts (included) over to La Palapa, one of the resort’s multiple on-premises dining concepts. La Palapa is open-air and overlooking the water. I had been tipped off by a friend: Order the spaghetti pomodoro and basilico — spaghetti with tomato and basil.

To be honest, it wouldn’t have been my first choice, but actually, it took me back to my first-ever adult summer in the Hamptons, the year that Scott Conant opened Tutto il Giorno in a tiny space on Bay Street. A friend of mine was the general manager, and I had only ever been out east once before, as a child. I came in and sat at the bar, and Conant’s legendary pasta, threaded through with butter (his recipe was a riff on Marcella Hazan’s, but I didn’t know that then, either) stayed with me, like the permanent glow that lived on that part of Long Island from May through August.

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Visit one of these dreamy locales in 2024 for the romantic vacation of a lifetime.

For most newlyweds, the honeymoon is the trip of a lifetime. While you may end up taking longer or more far-flung vacations down the road (maybe with your growing family) this first post-wedding getaway—no matter how long it is or how close to home—is an experience unlike any other. It allows you the time to embrace your brand-new marriage, with all the planning and stress of the big day behind you. It also sets the tone for the epic adventures you’ll have in your future. And most importantly, it provides memories that you’ll cherish for the rest of your lives.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic promises paradise—1,000 miles of coastline and all—just two hours south of Miami. The second largest Caribbean country, the island is known for its world-class beaches and romantic resorts, so it’s no wonder that it’s one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world. You just can’t beat the proximity to the continental United States, the clear blue ocean waters (the Atlantic Ocean on the north end and the Caribbean Sea on the south), and next-level sunsets.

As for the best time to go? Book your first-married trip between November and April to take advantage of consistently good weather and avoid the rainy season—and when you do make the trip, make sure to stay at Eden Roc Cap Cana. With just a quick jaunt from the local airport, you’ll have unlocked your own personal oasis. Stay in one of the secluded, ocean-front bungalows (which come with private pools and golf carts), dine in one (or all!) of the property’s award-winning restaurants (the salt-baked fish at La Palapa shouldn’t be missed), and play a round of golf on the resort’s 18-hole golf course, which hugs the shoreline. Though returning from your honeymoon is a challenge no matter what, this property makes it all but impossible to leave.

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Where you start the big day sets the tone for the rest of it—which is where one of these chic spaces, designed just for wedding parties, should be on your radar.

When it comes to selecting your bridal suite—you know, the spot where you’ll get ready for your wedding in the morning or even sleep away the revelry come night—now is not the time to cut corners. “This is where the fun and all those wonderful memories begins,” says destination event planner Guerdy Abraira. “You want the right setting, so splurge away.” So, what makes a bridal suite worth the splurge? Per Abraira, beyond luxury, comfort, and (if you can swing it) a nice view, there are also certain logistical things to consider. You’ll want ample room for your wedding party to spread out, outlets in several different areas for hair and makeup artists to plug in their tools, a kitchenette for keeping drinks and snacks cool, and potentially separate sleeping quarters so your bed area can stay an oasis of calm. Ideally, your sweet will have a balcony or side room for folks to retreat to for a bit of fresh air or to take a private phone call during the exciting morning.

1. Eden Roc Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

If you’re flirting with the idea of getting hitched in the Caribbean, put Eden Roc Cap Cana, in Cap Cana, Dominican Republic, on your radar stat. The resort—which boasts exclusive villas (and full-blown, on-site estates available for entire wedding parties’ accommodations or more intimate gatherings), a sprawling golf course (great for the guys!), a private beach, and four restaurants—has everything couples could want in a destination wedding venue, including a brand new bridal suite with direct access to the spa. The configurable space has its own massage room, a pedestal full-length mirror (perfect for those getting-ready shots of you getting zipped into your dress), and beauty chairs for your hairstylists and makeup artists. A chic wrap-around couch makes it the perfect place to lounge the wedding morning away, with a glass of Champagne in hand and your best friends by your side. The best part? Knowing there’s an endless paradise—and the love of your life—just beyond the front door.

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Virtuoso travel advisors and other experts around the globe tell us what’s in (and out) in the world of luxury stays.

No surprise here: We’re obsessed with hotels, in all their stylish, five-star glory, and we’re always turning to fellow hotel aficionados to find out what’s new and exciting. The truth is, these properties are often the front door to discovering what’s next in travel.

Naturally, Virtuoso travel advisors are on top of all-things-luxury-hotels right along with us, and they’re doing a little trendspotting of their own. At the moment, wellness innovations are everywhere, says Virtuoso advisor Kelly Gelfand. “Hotels are offering more-comprehensive experiences such as meditation and sleep programming to go along with their traditional gym classes,” she says. Expanded sustainability and social responsibility initiatives loom large too, according to advisor Urvashi Marwah. “Travelers are more mindful of the environmental and social effects of their trips, and they want options that reflect their values,” she says. “Hotels are prioritizing eco-friendly practices and community support.”   

The activities menu is going late-night.

When dusk falls at the Dominican Republic’s 65-room Eden Roc Cap Cana, couples can take their dinner (and Champagne) inside the resort’s on-site cenote – with live-music accompaniment. 

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