The Top 5 Places to Relax Around the World

While exploring big cities can be fun, sometimes we all just need to relax. This means getting off the beaten path, avoiding crowds and traffic jams, and finding that perfect spot where you can let all your troubles melt away.

Here are the top 5 places to relax around the world:

1. Ubud, Bali
Ubud has long been known as the place to go for yogis, and there’s a reason why this place was in the movie Eat, Pray, Love. People flock here to find enlightenment, good food, and solitude among the temples and rice paddies.

Ubud is located inland, so it’s much cooler than the beach near Kuta and Legian (where you’ll find crowds of 18 year old gap-year travellers drinking and shopping), and attracts a slightly more mature crowd. Ubud’s location means that you can easily take day trips diving or to the beach, or simply wander and browse the many handicraft shops.

2. St. Lucia
If you’re thinking a Caribbean vacation sounds like you, St. Lucia is the place to stay. This is where you’ll find the best secluded, romantic resorts, and may of the hotels here have featured in the TV series The Bachelor.

Evening walks along the beach, relaxing by the pool, and exploring the rainforest, St. Lucia offers the perfect opportunity to disconnect from social media and live in the moment. Don’t forget to visit the sulfur springs, where you can take a full-body mud bath and experience the rejuvenating properties.

3. Lizard Island, Australia
Lizard Island is the northern most resort on the Great Barrier Reef, and with just one resort on the island, you’ll be guaranteed and experience like no other. Indulge in spa treatments, enjoy picnics on the secluded beaches, and make sure you go snorkeling or scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. The island is accessible by air from Cairns Airport, but once there you’ll feel completely secluded from the rest of the world.

4. Maldives
These islands have only gained notoriety as a honeymoon destination in the last few years, which means that although many of them are home to large resorts, there are still plenty to visit at leisure.

We’ve all seen the pictures of crystal clear water, powder soft sand, and the extraordinary coral reefs that attract snorkelers and divers, and you’d be excused for thinking a vacation here is out of your budget. However the Maldives can be surprisingly inexpensive to visit, provided you go out of peak season, and snap up a discounted hotel room.

5. Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is perfect for those who want to relax, but don’t plan to spend their vacation sitting on the beach. Known as the “Adventure Capital of the World”, bungee jumping was invented here, and the town is also famous for skydiving, whitewater rafting, and basically anything else that causes your heart to jump into your mouth.

Take a ride up the Skyline Gondola, or visit one of more than 75 wineries in the area. For a truly remarkable experience, take a helicopter tour and soak up some of the famous scenery from Lord of the Rings.