Years ago, on one of my first truly long-haul flights, I received sage advice from spa industry icon Sylvia Sepielli, president of SPAd (Sylvia Planning and Design), whose portfolio reads like a who’s who of the world’s best spas. We were enroute to Malaysia to experience her then just-opened Spa Village at Pangkor Laut, a dreamy timbered spa built on stilts in the water (and heavy on authentic Malay healing, Ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine therapies). Beyond tired, we were in that hazy, travel fog where all sense of time and place are lost.
“Salt water.” Sylvia smiled knowingly.
Her words seemed random, out of context even, as we soared high above the clouds.
“It’s my cure for jet lag,” she explained. “The first thing I do when I reach my hotel room is to drop my bags, change into my swimsuit, and jump into the ocean. The saltwater is instantly grounding.”
“And if the sea isn’t an option?”
“I bathe. I try always to reserve a room with a deep soaking tub, carry my own healing salts, and dip immediately into the warm water — no matter the time, day or night.”
For the 20-plus years since Sepielli imparted her jet lag wisdom, I have taken her advice. Immediately upon landing, I jump into the ocean, or alternatively, a deep tub laced with bath salts (one of my favorites is Kerstin Florian’s Mineral Wellness Soak). Every time, I feel immediately refreshed and grounded. Curious about other time-proven wellness strategies while on the road (and in the sky), I canvassed a few of my favorite wellness experts for their sage advice.
Wellness Phenomenon Deborah Szekely
At age 102, Deborah Szekely, founder of Mexico’s famed Rancho La Puerta destination spa, and the original Golden Door Spa in California, still enjoys traveling. At this writing (June 2024), she had just returned from a two-week trip to New York City and Washington, DC. And she continues to travel weekly from her home in San Diego to The Ranch to participate in a Q&A with guests. Wellness has always played a role in Szekely’s life; when she was 8, her mother — frustrated with not having access to fresh fruits and vegetables — uprooted the family from Brooklyn to live a healthier lifestyle in Tahiti. At age 18, alongside her husband, Edmond, Szekely started a health ‘tent camp’ (without running water or electricity), ultimately growing it from a small cluster of adobe huts to more than 80 private casitas, a dozen gyms, four pools, and plethora of mind/body, yoga, Pilates, and fitness classes. The body wraps she invented for her very first guests — linens steeped in boiling hot water and laced with fresh herbs to relieve achy muscles — are still a staple spa treatment at The Ranch.
Top Wellness-Travel Ritual: “I still walk one mile a day to stay active. When I was younger and traveling extensively, I would take a long walk — a full hour or more — as soon as I arrived at my destination to stave off jet lag. Breathing in fresh air and getting rid of the stale airplane air always helps tremendously. While I don’t snack while traveling, I do carry a small bag of cashews if I’m going to miss a meal.”
Always in Her Carry On: “I always pack a washcloth to cleanse my face after travel. I also use a tinted moisturizer every day to help keep my skin hydrated. When I was younger, I would pack a jump rope in my handbag as an easy, compact form of exercise that I could do anywhere.”
We Care Spa Owner, Susan Lombardi
Susan Lombardi, owner of the renowned We Care Spa in Desert Hot Springs, California, began working alongside her mother, Susana Belan (the spa’s founder), decades ago after a health scare prompted her to leave her high-powered fashion career in New York City and Paris. At that time, Lombardi says she was worn out from jet setting and not sleeping or eating well. “I came home (to the desert) where my mother showered me with green drinks, colonics, and yoga.” That transformative time catapulted into a major life reset. Lombardi no longer travels to the point of exhaustion, but when she finds herself “in need of a break from the 360 days of sunshine in the desert,” she knows exactly how to stay balanced. And grounded in the air.
Favorite Wellness Travel Rituals: “You have to make travel work with your lifestyle, not against it. I’d never want to start a trip feeling jet lagged, so I really focus on minimizing that. I start with cotton or cashmere staples from Theory or Enza Costa, or a fabulous sweater from Urban Zen, that are comfortable on the flight, but chic enough upon landing to go straight into a meeting, art gallery, or dinner. When I pass through TSA, I like to sit down and make a power shake with We Care Spa Plant Protein and Greens; that keeps me full and happy until I land. The problem with airport or airline food, and the alcohol too, is all the sugar and sodium; that’s what feeds jet lag.”
Always in Her Carry On: “For long flights I bring with me the Silver Elixer and Eyemulsion from Julisis. A few drops under my eyes, and around my face and neck, keep me feeling rested and recharged. Also, I always have a playlist of great music, no matter how long or short my trip is. There’s a lot of Bossa Nova, some ABBA, and a few new things my daughter has introduced me to. It makes even sitting in LA traffic a breeze.”
Luxury Travel-Wellness Advisor, Julie Shotmeyer
As a luxury travel advisor and the founder of Jet Set Getaways in New Jersey, Julie Shotmeyer spends her time exploring the world’s most luxurious destinations so she can share her expertise back to clients. Her work translates to a lot of flying time and mapping out the perfect itinerary, which for her always includes a focus on renewal, rejuvenation, and wellness.
Top Travel-Wellness Rituals: “When I return to my hotel room at the end of the evening, no matter how tired or jet lagged I am, I always cleanse my face and apply a hydrating mask for 30 minutes. While the mask is on, I place my legs up against the headboard or wall and take long deep breaths — in through the mouth and out the nose — to regulate my blood flow, reduce any swelling from the flight, and induce relaxation before sleep. Thinking about all I am grateful for from that day always makes me feel happy and zen. After the mask is removed, I give myself a facial massage — a technique I learned from facialist and creator of luxe Italian skincare Pietro Simone. Soaking in a bath of epsom salts for 20 minutes, then rinsing off with a quick cold shower, similar to a warm-cold plunge ritual at a resort spa, also lowers stress and boosts my mood and energy.”
Always in Her Carry On: Forever Glow Anti-Aging Face Mask by Joanna Vargas: “This is my must-pack beauty essential to protect my skin from drying out on flights and during the trip.”
Farmaesthetics Founder, Brenda Brock
Rhode Island-based Farmaesthetics founder Brenda Brock travels extensively for her natural beauty skincare line. “International or domestic, two days or two weeks, my wellness travel objectives are always the same: sustain and protect my health and wellbeing while on the road. Traveling can be taxing, even when heading to the most beautiful places on earth, and keeping my body relaxed is important to maintaining my energy levels.”
Top Travel-Wellness Rituals: “I try to pack smart and light to minimize physical stress, and to hydrate — internally and externally. I always pack a travel-size, multi-use lotion and a purifying mist to hydrate the skin. I also drink a lot of water and bring a fresh orange for easy fuel. To ensure a good night’s sleep, I bring products with my favorite scents. Studies have shown that familiar smells can comfort us when away from home. My go to is Farmaesthetics Dreaming Oil, one of our Etheric Inhalation Oils, made with therapeutic-grade lavender and clary sage. Just one drop at night in the palm of my hands and cupped over my nose for deep inhalation before bed, helps break the cycle of stress and preps me for restful sleep.”
Always in Her Carry On:
Farmaesthetics Cool Aloe Mist — “To hydrate the skin in flight; it is also a refreshing herbal antibacterial to help keep skin clean, including using it as a toner at night before moisture application.”
Farmaesthetics Deep Lavender Rub — “I apply this heat-producing herbal balm to my neck and temples to help relieve tension, but I also place a dab under my nostrils, to help keep germs, or viruses from entering nasal passages.”
Farmaesthetics Nourishing Lavender Milk — “I generously slather lotion on my hands and then pat onto my face and neck to help protect moisture loss. I can do this over makeup when in transit and also use day and night as my facial moisturizer.”
PR Wellness Aficionado, Darlene Fiske
After years working at the famed Lake Austin Spa Resort, Texan Darlene Fiske started her own travel PR agency, The Fiske Group PR. Five years ago, she co-founded S’Well Agency, hyper focused on wellness brands. “I love working directly with founders, sharing their vision, and telling their story in a way that’s not been done before. I travel a lot for work, either hosting press trips in the Hudson Valley and Mexico or meeting up with editors in New York and attending spa and wellness conferences around the globe.”
Top Travel Wellness Rituals: “Hands down, the best jet lag fighter is an app I discovered when I went to the Global Wellness Summit in Singapore in 2019. With almost a complete flip of time zone, I was panicked as my business partner and I were launching the brand’s podcast, Global Wellness Conversations, and I needed to be on my game from day one. Enter, Timeshifter. Created for astronauts with insights into light, sleep, and circadian rhythms, it’s the easiest thing to use and fun too. You enter your flight information and a few days before lift off, it suggests bed times, wake-up times, light, and caffeine (if you take it). If you’re a rule follower like me, you will magically arrive in your destination rested and ready for the shift. It is an absolute must when traveling internationally.”
Always in Her Carry On: “We all know how bad the air is ‘up there,’ so I really try to give my skin some extra love before getting on a flight. I wear as little makeup as possible and coat my skin in a nice face oil — my go to is Pietro Simone’s Fierce Oil. The 2 oz bottle gets through TSA with no problem, and it’s light enough to wear daily but luscious enough to also wear at night. I don’t bring any other moisturizers, this baby is all I need.”
Spa and Wellness Consultant, Mindy Terry
Over the past two-plus decades, Spa and Wellness Consultant Mindy Terry has traveled the globe — crisscrossing the Americas, Caribbean, Asia, Middle East, and Europe — to share her wellness wisdom with some of the world’s most fabulous spas. The Spa at Glenmere, NY, Sahra Spa at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, and Rosewood Sense Spa, Abu Dhabi are all in her client portfolio. She is also a certified health coach and yoga instructor.
Top Travel-Wellness Rituals: “When I move through airports, I bypass trains, elevators, and moving sidewalks — and walk the longest route. This gentle exercise gets the heart pumping, increases circulation, and helps to reset the circadian rhythms. During long-haul or connecting flights, I always get a massage or take a long hot shower in the airport lounge or when I land to ward off jet lag and get the circulation going. I also drink only water and eat lightly on the plane to help digestion. And I’m not too shy to stretch or do a bit of yoga in my seat or in the aisle when everyone’s asleep or engrossed in a movie.”
Always in Her Carry On:
No-Jet-Lag: “A flight attendant recommended this homeopathic remedy made in New Zealand 20 years ago and I swear by it for alleviating the effects of jet lag.”
Phytomer’s 12-Hour Moisturizing Flash Gel: “This skin-saving moisturizer adds hydration and gives my complexion a dewy-fresh appearance, during long-haul flights.”
Tata Harper’s Aromatic Irritability Treatment: “An aromatic roll-on, I find it instantly calms frazzled nerves.”
Corporate Spa & Wellness Director, Penny Kriel, UR
Penny Kriel, corporate director of Spa & Wellness for Salamander Collection, travels frequently for both work and family visits ‘back home’ to South Africa. “When I travel long journeys abroad, I always make sure I’m traveling with compression socks which helps a lot to prevent swelling and water retention. Before departure, I drink a Berocca that is loaded with Vitamin B12 and douse myself in an immune-booster essential oil. I always have my water bottle with me and refill it frequently to ensure I stay hydrated throughout the flight. The air is always so drying on the plane, so I have lip balm, eye cream, facial mist, moisturizer, and hand lotion handy. For the longer flights, I add some eye gels, because I always get puffy from the lack of sleep. “
Top Travel Wellness Rituals: “On my arrival day, and before bed, I soak 20 minutes in the tub; I always travel with CBD salts, tinctures, and ointments. I pair [the bath] with a detox facial mask and a cup of chamomile tea. If I only have a shower available, I’ll use one of my lavender shower bursts and still do my mask and tea afterward. The tea, combined with my CBD tincture and white-noise app, always helps with a restful night’s sleep. The Timeshifter App has also been a game changer, and I’ve come to enjoy using wellness patches to help give me a boost for the first couple of days crossing time zones.”
Always in Her Carry On: “I always have my Acrely CBD products, Formulae Prescott Tri Balm which is a cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer, and Coola’s Refreshing Water Mist that helps with bluescreen protection and has a SPF 18.”
Featured image by Roberto Nickson via Unsplash
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