The 10 Most Slimming Vacations
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The ultimate vacation
You go somewhere luxe, indulge away, and come back thinner. Our experts canvassed the country to find 10 standout trips that make it easy to eat healthy and get toned without trying.
Our healthy-travel judges then ranked these top U.S. destinations, based on how nutritious and tasty the food is, how active you'll want to be while you're there (in other words, how creative and fun the exercise options are), how much private coaching is at your fingertips, and whether you'll pick up healthy habits to bring home. Jet off to one of these places this summer and your souvenir just might be a smaller dress size.
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Meet our judges
Melisse Gelula is the co-founder of WellandGoodNYC.com; she is also the former editor-in-chief of spafinderlifestyle.com.
Jim Kaese is a hotel gym expert and Editor in Chief for AthleticMindedTraveler.com.
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No. 1 Miraval Resort & Spa
How to travel: alone, with your partner, with girlfriends
The peaceful desert setting at Miraval will inspire your sweat sessions; all meals are under 450 calories.
An exhilarating zip-line trip through the desert. A flavorful, grass-fed beef tenderloin under 350 calories. The premier integrative-wellness program founded by mind-body guru Andrew Weil. These are just a few of the reasons why Miraval snagged the top spot. "You leave there feeling lighter in spirit and slimmer in your waistline," says Melisse Gelula, one of our panelists and co-founder of Well & Good NYC, a healthy-lifestyle Web site. Food-wise, dishes are portion-controlled, locally sourced, and delicious.
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More about Miraval
Cost: Rates start at $525 per night and are all-inclusive (800-232-3969; miravalresorts.com)
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No. 2 SwellWomen Surf & Yoga Retreat
How to travel: alone, with girlfriends
No worries if you’ve never been hangin’ ten before! SwellWomen welcomes beginners, and your body will still benefit big-time. "Even when you don’t get up on that board, it’s an amazing workout," assures panelist Samantha Brown, a host on the Travel Channel.
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More about SwellWomen
Cost: $3,595 all-inclusive rate for one week with single occupancy; $2,995 for double occupancy (800-399-6284; swellwomen.com)
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No. 3 Red Mountain Resort
How to travel: alone, with girlfriends, with your partner
It’s hard not to get your heart rate up at this resort located in Utah’s red rock country: You’re surrounded by thousands of acres of cliffs and canyons that beckon you to go hiking, biking, rock climbing, and horseback riding.
"What stood out most to me was their mountain-biking program," says Jim Kaese, panelist and co-founder of Athletic-Minded Traveler LLC. "Rentals and guides are provided for an array of rides."
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More about Red Mountain
The meals here are filling but diet-friendly. "You work up an appetite and then return to have really healthy food choices laid out for you," Gelula says. We love that there’s plenty of good low-cal grub, like chilled watermelon-cilantro soup, southwest chicken skewers, and frozen mango passion mousse—altogether, less than 500 calories!
Cost: A la carte rates start at $189 per night; package rates start at $250 per night, all-inclusive (877-246-4453; redmountainresort.com)
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No. 4 Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain
How to travel: alone, with girlfriends, with your partner
The dazzling backdrop alone is worth the trip hereSanctuary is set at the base of majestic Camelback Mountain, in a serene desert landscape. But it’s the resort’s attentive and skilled staff that landed Sanctuary at the number-four spot.
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More about Sanctuary
"The yoga and Pilates teachers will really push you physically, and the classes are small, so you get a lot of attention," Gelula says of the complimentary studio classes.
"The trainers will take you on hikes and bikes that will kick your butt, too," she adds. The executive chef here is Iron Chef America winner Beau MacMillan, who uses what’s fresh and local to cook up nutritious dishes like edamame-and-truffle dumplings. "Beau really knows how to get creative with healthy food," Gelula says.
Cost: Rates start at $235 per night (800-245-2051; sanctuaryoncamelback.com)
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No. 5 The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows
How to travel: with girlfriends, with your partner, with the family
Kick up your flippers and check out the tropical fish in the reef that’s on the Mauna Lani property.
Triathletes flock to Mauna Lani to train for a half-Ironman that takes place on the hotel’s paradise-like premises, but there’s no need to be a professional athlete to enjoy staying here. Located on three miles of secluded shoreline, the resort lets you play hard outdoors at everythingkayaking, tennis, golf, even coconut husking. (Trust us, you’ll work up a sweat!)
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More about Mauna Lani Bay
Cost: Rates start at $395 per night (808-885-6622; maunalani.com)
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No. 6 Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino
How to travel: with girlfriends, with your partner, with the family
Ready to relax? Chill out at one of the Hyatt’s lakeside fire pits.
Just walking around at an elevation of 7,000 feet will get your heart pumping. This Hyatt is nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, right on the shores of Lake Tahoe (with its own private beach), so there are countless ways to get moving outside. "You can go on walks and runs around the forested area and take thrilling mountain bike rides up and down the nearby Flume Trail," Kaese says. "And the winter skiing is superb in the surrounding mountain peaks."
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More about Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe
Cost: Rates start at $178 per night (775-832-1234; laketahoe.hyatt.com)
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No. 7 Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach
How to travel: alone, with girlfiends, with your partner
The Canyon Ranch menu is broken down by carbs, calories, protein, fat, and fiber content.
At Canyon Ranch Miami, it’s all about the staff, which includes a team of integrative physicians and wellness pros who will help you learn the skills needed to get into peak shape. "You take classes here knowing there is a guiding, intelligent expert at the helm of it," Gelula says. With more than 40 on-the-house exercise offerings (including Zumba and kinesis) and low-cal yet mouthwatering food, you can’t help but shrink while you’re their guest.
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More about Canyon Ranch
Cost: Rates start at $525 (800-742-9000; canyonranch.com)
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No. 8 Montage Laguna Beach
How to travel: alone, with your partner
Montage is located on 30 beachfront acres, and all rooms overlook the water.
It’s all about location at this luxe resort, which is set high on a coastal bluff overlooking white-sand beaches and the Pacific Ocean. Among the many ways you can burn calories by the shore: a beach boot camp, sunset yoga sessions, and a fantastic running path along the ocean. "You will be inspired to become a runner because of this path!" Gelula says. You can also hightail it into town where "the galleries and shops will keep you walking for miles," Kaese adds.
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More about Montage
Cost: Rates start at $595 per night (866-271-6953; montagelagunabeach.com)
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No. 9 La Posada Resort & Spa
How to travel: with girlfriends, with your partner
"The whole city of Santa Fe is behind organic, wholesome, and healthy living," Brown says. "And La Posada is at the heart of it all," surrounded by mountains and two blocks from Santa Fe’s historic, buzzing city plaza, which will lure you to walk, walk, walk to explore it. (Don’t miss the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.)
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More about La Posada
Cost: Rates start at $225 per night (866-331-7625; laposada.rockresorts.com)
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No. 10 Fairmont Battery Wharf
How to travel: with girlfriends, with your partner, with the family
This boutique hotel right on Boston Harbor boasts stunning coastal views, but the real draw weight-loss-wise is the city itself: Boston is a walking and biking mecca. The Fairmont is close to some of the city’s historic landmarks, such as the Freedom Trail and Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and you can borrow a complimentary BMW bike to cruise around on.
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More about Battery Wharf
Cost: Rates start at $279 per night (800-257-7544; fairmont.com/batterywharf)
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Runners-up you’ll love
At this relatively new boot-camp spa, guests log 10 hours of exercise a dayhiking, strength training, and yogaand eat a 1,500-calorie vegetarian diet. (888-777-2177; theranchmalibu.com)
Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa, Thompsonville, Michigan
This picturesque resort boasts a green spa, with a huge fitness center and free classes like water aerobics, and Nordic walking. Order off the special Peak Performance menu for leaner, lighter fare. (800-968-7686; crystalmountain.com)
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More runners-up you'll love
Give those famous hills a run for their money by following the Westin's comprehensive maps around the city. When hunger strikes, choose power eats off the hotel's SuperFoodsRx menu. (800-937-8461; westinstfrancis.com)
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By Karen Asp Karen Asp