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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Book with points at these 10 wellness-centric hotels for an active start to 2026
Kathryn Romeyn is a travel and design journalist living in Bali, Indonesia, who travels frequently with her husband and toddler. She contributes to The Points Guy, plus a variety of other publications, and co-hosts Conscious Traveler, a podcast inspiring meaningful exploration through stories of culture, conservation and community. Kathryn packs her Canon DSLR for every trip and seeks out remarkable landscapes and wildlife, fascinating cultures, Neapolitan-style pizza and long, left-handed waves.
January 3, 2026 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
The article highlights a range of luxury wellness resorts worldwide that offer immersive fitness and health experiences, from desert ziplining to ocean sports and urban wellness programs.
Properties featured include destinations in Arizona, Mexico, California, Costa Rica, Bali, Rome, Colorado, Hawaii, Turks and Caicos and California's Ojai Valley.
Each resort offers specialized activities such as surfing, martial arts, guided hikes, racquet sports, and wellness therapies, catering to various interests and fitness levels.
Many of these resorts can be booked using loyalty program points, providing options for travelers seeking both relaxation and active pursuits.
What to consider
Rates vary significantly by property and season, and some activities may require advance booking or additional fees.
Certain amenities, such as wellness screenings or specialized classes, may be subject to availability or capacity limits.
Point redemption rates for hotel loyalty programs differ, with some properties requiring a substantial number of points per night.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of unique wellness offerings and activity highlights at each featured resort, helping you choose the best fit for your travel and fitness goals.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Whether it's a summer break or a hard-earned, end-of-year getaway, there’s a certain time for the kind of vacation that involves lots of lounging, eating and drinking heartily. But we'd argue that there’s also a special moment during and right after the holiday season that's all about action: mindfully moving, trying out a new skill or sport, exercising regularly and putting your health first.
Naturally, a good time for this is the start of a fresh calendar year, a period awash in resolutions that, let’s be honest, can be hard to enforce or even implement in the first place. A deliberate, purposeful trip at a wellness-focused hotel or resort — replete with lots of inspired offerings and amenities — can set the stage for success in the long run.
If you find it tough to turn intentions into real-life habits, consider spending some points on one of these luxurious properties around the globe that make it easy to start moving your body.
Adrenaline amps up every physical challenge at Miraval Arizona, where the wellbeing concept is experiential and immersive amidst Tucson's spectacular desert landscape. There are wellness specialists aplenty across the 400 acres, ready to help guests unwind, and to help adventurer-seekers test their mettle with the 45-foot-high Desert Sky Zipline and Sky Island Traverse. Somewhat aggressive mountain-scaling and more moderate hiking are also an option, as are archery and Purple Sage Equine Meditation; this meditation practice may not be as physical, but it has terrific mental and emotional benefits.
Rates at Miraval Arizona start at $1,180 or 45,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Surf seekers or the wave curious can find everything they desire at W Punta de Mita. It's situated on a beautiful beach with curling swell that suits beginners all the way up to pros — and winter is the best season for surfing. The resort’s surfing program includes introductory lessons and, for experienced surfers, expert coaching. After hours spent in the water, guests can head carefully into ice bath plunges on the beach, journey through cacao ceremonies led by a mother-daughter shaman duo, take a yoga class or even find bliss through sound healing therapy beside the ocean.
Rates at W Punta de Mita start at $359 or 62,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
RANCHO VALENCIA RESORT & SPA/FACEBOOK
This 45-acre, all-suite destination with major Mediterranean vibes is far from just a Southern California spa destination (though it certainly excels in that area). This Rancho Santa Fe-based resort offers more than 100 fitness classes offered weekly — everything from spin and Pilates to boxing and TRX, as well as guided hikes and longevity treatments available. There’s a special emphasis on racquet sports, too. Guests can use more than 20 total pickleball, tennis (both hard and European red clay) and padel courts, and there is an array of programming around the latter that includes advanced clinics and tournament play.
Part of the divinely natural and protected 1,400-acre private Peninsula Papagayo, fitness and movement programming at this beloved resort is all about being outdoors. There are scenic running trails and a competition-grade martial arts dojo in the jungle where guests can try jiu jitsu, and then enjoy a Thai massage or stretching classes afterward. There are SurfX guides for conscious wave catching, and there's Palmares Reserve: The Outpost basecamp for mountain biking, aerial trekking and ziplining. New-in–December 2025, guests visit Papagayo Park for padel courts and a pump track. Nomads, the resort’s new adventure wellness offering, offers naturalist-led mangrove kayaking, snorkeling and e-biking adventures.
You’d be hard pressed to find a more sublime Pilates studio than the one immersed in lush foliage at this wellness retreat where many guests book an inclusive "Wellness Path" meant to address a specific concern or goal. The pavilion used for circuit training and yoga is epic, too, and at the gym, guests can work with trainers who help produce lasting results. Just getting around the property, with plenty of hills and steps required, is a workout in and of itself. But it's a dreamy one, thanks to the energetic, mystical atmosphere created by tucked-away pools, a temple and wholesome restaurant surrounded by green.
Rome isn’t the most obvious wellness destination, but the newest signature experiences at Six Senses Rome are all about being in motion throughout the city. Offerings include a beautiful rowing experience with the River Guardians on the Tiber River, as well as guided jogs through ancient streets with Run Through History. There are full wellness programs or individual sessions, from hatha yoga and reformer Pilates to ultra-efficient EMS strength training. Plus, guests have the opportunity to book a wellness screening, comprising 40 key biomarkers that yield a detailed health assessment. Finish each day with a healing soak in the thermal Roman baths.
Rates at Six Senses Rome start at $1,295 or 247,000 IHG points per night.
Grand Hyatt Vail Resort & Spa
HYATT
One of the best ways to burn calories in the great outdoors in the wintertime is undoubtedly by skiing or snowboarding. With ski-in/ski-out access, this Vail, Colorado, resort — which sits a whopping 8,000 feet above sea level — is a beautiful choice. Follow a day on the slopes with oxygen therapy sessions and gorgeous guided snowshoeing trips at sunset, through the hotel’s Conscious Apres program. Other offerings include contrast therapy, movement sessions and scenic heated infinity pools for post-activity recovery.
If your active interests tend toward the watery and salty, this beachfront Kohala Coast dream is the place for a healthy 2026 start. The resort’s Kainalu Ocean Sports team guide guests in a beautiful assortment of exploits on the Pacific Ocean including but not limited to two-person outrigger canoeing, paddle boarding, surfing and snorkeling (humpback whales sightings not guaranteed but very likely). For adventurous types there’s also an Intro to Underwater Rock Running course led by Extreme Performance Training coach Bullet Obra, who shepherds participants through the incredible Hawaiian-style workout.
Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa. MARRIOTT
At this blissful South Caicos resort and spa, the activities on offer are almost as varied as the islands' rare ecosystem. With expert guiding, vacationers can kayak through a mangrove forest past hidden coves or partake in the challenging thrill of bonefishing in the Caicos Bank shallows. Perhaps even more stimulating are wing foiling and kite boarding lessons, which harness the island’s steady breeze — and the participant’s core strength and balance — for fast-paced journeys atop the turquoise water.
With a dry, temperate climate, this resort in the bucolic Ojai Valley, with sweeping Topatopa Mountain views, boasts an luxurious spa, abundant wellness classes on offer and a championship golf course. It’s perhaps most known for its multi-court tennis center, where on-site clinics and private coaching for guests of every ability level are led by United States Professional Tennis Registry pro Dimitar Yazadzhiev. Pickleball is an option, too, as is horseback riding, guided hiking, aerial yoga and art classes.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
