How about treating yourself and your mum to a wellness retreat this spring? Here are our hand-picked Mother’s Day retreat ideas.

Wondering what to get for your mum for mother’s day this year? Forget about the usual flowers and chocolates. What better way to show your mum how much she means to you than taking her on a special spa break or wellbeing retreat. Treat her to a Mother’s day retreat (pardon the pun).

No need to go far, we have some excellent UK weekend breaks that don’t cost the earth but offer the pampering your mum deserves. You could always join her and spend some quality time together. And if you want to treat your mum to something really special, read on for Neal’s Yard Holidays’ picks of once-in-a-lifetime holidays, and Mother’s day retreat weekends.

This year Mother’s day is on the 22nd of March 2020. So what are you waiting for?

UK short breaks

For complete relaxation, treat your mum (and perhaps yourself) to a few nights in South Wales. Combine Yoga and Ayurveda with walks in the surrounding ancient forests in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), unwind in the hot tub, and you’ll both leave relaxed and rejuvenated.
March to May, from £570 per person for 3 nights full board, 10% discount if sharing room

For a women-only retreat to be Healthily Happy go on this wellbeing retreat offered by Raw Horizons in North Yorkshire. Laze in the hot tub with extensive views of the beautiful countryside, enjoy delicious gourmet raw food, plus of course yoga and mindfulness.
29 March – 03 April, 3-8 May, 7-12 June, 28 June – 3 July and 26-31 Jul 2020, from £1,095 pp for 5 nights, full board.

Here you find more UK retreats.

Europe

Or use this unique opportunity for yoga and a guided cultural visit to the Eternal City. Stay at the historic villa with pool on the outskirts of Rome. Your host and yoga teacher is Marina, a native Roman, art curator, author and editor of La Cultura Italiana – your most knowledgeable guide to Rome.
12-17 March, 18-23 May, 28 May – 2 June, 30 July – 4 August, 24-29 September 2020, from £465 pp for 5 nights in twin shared room, or £685 single room

And while there’s snow, you can escape to the French Alps for a skiing and yoga holiday. Stay at this great chalet with experienced teachers. Delicious food is served for you. Enjoy the stunning views, the sunshine, snow and fresh air. Return invigorated!
22-29 March 2020, From £1,425pp – £1,495 for 7 nights, choice of twin/double or single rooms

And here you find more retreats in Europe.

Ultimate treats

Make the most of up to 50% off full board accommodation from 23 April throughout the summer at the West Coast Ayurveda Resort in Sri Lanka. Come for 7 to 10 or 14 days to enjoy daily full-body massages, herbal steams and freshly prepared Ayurveda remedies that will leave your mum refreshed and energised.
From 23 April – October, From EUR1060, approx £793 pp per week inclusive in the single ensuite room, or share room to receive 20% off.

And for ‘something completely different’, come for a yoga wellness retreat in Costa Rica near Montezuma with Sunflower Retreats. Stay in the peaceful jungle lodge with beautiful flowering gardens in private reserve next to National Park on the pacific coast with its wonderful beaches. Enjoy pool, jacuzzi, and hammocks.
Selected dates between March and December, from £890 per person for 6 nights sharing room, or single room from £1188

We hope you find something you like in our selection of Mother’s Day retreat. For more options in March or April see retreats by date.

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Looking for a break close to home? – Here are a few of our favourite spots for UK holidays and retreats, just a train ride away.

If you’ve only got a few days to spare, there’s no need to waste precious time on tackling airport queues and foreign currencies. We have a wide selection of UK holidays, in beautiful retreats all around the country, where you can get away from your daily routine, unwind and relax.

In Dorset you can enjoy a long weekend of daily yoga, meditation and Kundalini sound healing at Mellulah Holistic Retreats.  A variety of activities are on offer at this tranquil farm in Milton Abbas, a stunning area of rural Dorset.

Scooting back to the beautiful north, treat yourself to a healthy weekend break (or longer) at Split Farthing Hall in Thirsk, a short distance from York and Harrogate. Life coaching, Kundalini yoga for all levels, meditation and guided walks are on offer, all designed to help you relax and revitalise.

If you really want to get away from it all, you’ll find a hidden gem surrounded by acres of private land and ancient forest in South Wales. Nature walks beckon and a selection of stunning beaches are just a short drive away. A combination of Kundalini Yoga and Ayurveda allows you to unwind and relax. An optional detox with juice-fasting can also be offered.

These are just a few ideas for UK holidays. We hope you find something you like. You can find more UK holidays and retreats on our website. Mention Neal’s Yard Holidays to receive exclusive discounts or treats on some of the above retreats.

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St Jude’s storm in the UK in 2013 has highlighted the importance of travel insurance that covers unexpected weather events.

Cancelled trains and flights left thousands stranded, and if they weren’t adequately insured, out of pocket too.

As in previous winters, there’s likely to be more disruption through storms, flooding and snow over the coming months, so you’ll want to make sure you don’t get caught out.

If your flight or train is cancelled, you’re likely to get reimbursed for your ticket by the rail company or airline, but what about your accommodation or any tours and activities you’ve booked?
Many travel insurance providers don’t cover “acts of nature” or “god”, as extreme weather events are often referred to. So it helps to know what to look out for.

Here are 6 tips that will help you pick the right travel insurance:

1. Use a price comparison website – not just to check the cheapest offer – but to compare several different policies. Look out for the main points as below and choose the one that covers you for as many events as possible. The Moneysavingexpert.com offers a ‘quick best buy’.

2. Read carefully through the insurer’s definition of “weather related events” and “acts of god” or any other terms they might use. Some insurance companies for example include volcanic ash clouds as a “weather related” event, others don’t.

3. Check the excess – you may have to cover the first £100 or £200 of a potential claim. Are you happy with the excess amount on your policy?

4. Are you covered for UK holidays? We often only think about travel insurance when we plan to go abroad. But if you’ve booked for a yoga weekend retreat and the trains aren’t running to get you there, you won’t get your money back without insurance.

5. Ensure your travel insurance is comprehensive. According to Moneywise UK: “A good travel insurance policy should have at least £2 million medical expenses cover, £1 million personal liability cover, £3,000 cancellation cover, £1,500 baggage cover and £250 cover for cash, as well as cover for delays and scheduled airline and end supplier (such as hotels) failure.”

6. Finally, choose a trusted insurer. There’s a lot of choice and new companies pop up all the time. Have a quick look at reviews from previous customers to make sure you pick a travel insurance that actually pays for justified claims. Surely that’s the whole point!

For further tips you can also check our previous blog on finding good and cheap health travel insurance for your retreat.

Safe journey!

Updated 22 July 2018.

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Don’t let the winter blues get you! Read our tips on where to go for January retreats.

January is a great month to travel. There are plenty of deals and cheap flights to be found – whether you’re looking for well-deserved sunshine and pure relaxation, or want help with your New Year’s resolutions.

Many of the Neal’s Yard Holidays and retreats offer detox programmes, so you’ll be able to rid yourself of festive excess and return home feeling well prepared for yet another year.

A yoga and Ayurveda retreat in beautiful South Wales will help you start the new year relaxed and rejuvenated. Join in daily yoga sessions, blow away the cobwebs with a walk in the ancient forest, and end your day with a soak in a hot tub. Detox programmes are available, and all food is vegetarian based on Ayurvedic principles and organic produce.

Pure bliss and relaxation wait for you at two of Neal’s Yard Holidays’ most popular retreats. South Coast and West Coast Ayurveda in Sri Lanka both offer top quality Ayurveda treatments including body massages, herbal baths and steams, and rejuvenating scrubs. You’ll enjoy delicious food prepared from fresh, local and, wherever possible, organic ingredients. Book early to avoid disappointment. You’ll feel a world away from wet and cold January in the UK!

For more January and winter holidays see our website.

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Want to get away from it all this Christmas? It may not be too late. Here is Neal’s Yard Holidays’ handpicked list of last minute Christmas retreats.

It happens to the most organised of us. We start off with the best intentions to book our Christmas holiday early this year. Then, before we now it, it’s upon us and all the best places are booked up. But it may not be too late… availability can be subject to change and it’s worth double checking.

While most of our long-haul holidays are indeed now full, there are still some other options for a last minute Christmas or New Year retreats, especially if you’re happy to stay closer to home.

For more inspiration see also our overview of other holistic holidays. Whatever you decide to do, have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

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Wondering where to go for a retreat in February?
Here is our handpicked selection of the best holistic holidays for the month.

By February, the cold weather and short days are starting to catch up with most of us. Time to head for warmer pastures and stock up on some much needed winter sun. Both South and Southeast Asia are ideal destinations for this time of year – warm and sunny, but not too hot yet.

In fact the destinations are so popular for winter sun that it’s advisable to book before mid December or as soon as possible.

If a long-haul holiday is out of the question, there’s always the option for a short-break in the UK. A weekend of detox, yoga or meditation will leave you rejuvenated whatever the weather.

February retreats Sri Lanka:

Just as tranquil and relaxing, West Coast Ayurveda Resort in Sri Lanka allows you to discover the wonderful health benefits of Ayurveda. Enjoy synchronised full body massages, herbal steams and freshly prepared remedies, and yoga, right by a tropical sandy beach. Or stay at the popular South Coast Ayurveda Resort, nominated ‘Best chill-out resort’ by Harpers Magazine.

February short breaks in the UK:

Last but not least, you can recharge your batteries here in the UK.

In South Wales you’ll find a peaceful retreat surrounded by acres of private land and ancient forests. Enjoy yoga and Ayurveda treatments, and relax in the sauna or out-door hot pool after a country walk. Receive a 10% discount if you book before 15^th December 2013 for a winter getaway between now the end of February 2014.

For more February and winter holidays see our website. For travel tips and latest offers sign up to our newsletter.

Keep warm!

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Looking for winter sun and where to go for Christmas?
Here is a selection of our Best Christmas Retreats.

Christmas always seems like a long way off and then suddenly catches up with us. If you want to swap the festive stress and cold weather with a rejuvenating retreat of yoga and warm sunshine this year, there’s no time to waste. Some of our most popular Neal’s Yard Holidays retreats are already full, and many others will get booked up by mid-October.

If you are tied to a Christmas at home, or only have a few days to spare – not to worry. We’ve also got some lovely short breaks on offer, right here in the UK. So you can still escape for a relaxing and rejuvenating few days before the start of the new year.

But first, let’s talk about sunshine:

In Sri Lanka, you can truly get away from it all at Srimal Plantation Villa. Off the beaten track and surrounded by nature, you’ll wake up to the sound of tropical birds, enjoy a tailored programme of Ayurveda treatments and while away your days exploring the local villages and rural countryside.

Will you choose winter sun? In any case you can make this your best Christmas. See more choice of Christmas and New Year retreats.

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Looking for a holiday in October? – In some places it’s not autumn yet!
Recharge with a holiday in October before the cold sets in.

October is a great month for a holiday. You can catch the last of the summer warmth in the Mediterranean with average temperatures still around a comfortable 25 or 26 degrees Celsius, and the sea has warmed up during the summer. The crowds will be gone, and if you’re lucky, you’ll even have a beach to yourself.

Saying that, the UK often has some lovely autumn weather with wonderful autumn coloured foliage. So if you want to stay closer to home, check out our short UK breaks and getaways. Here you can always soak in an outdoor hot tub, or enjoy an evening with a good book in front of a roaring fire!

To check local temperatures about two weeks in advance, we recommend the BBC weather website. Once you are away the Met office site provides also useful local details.

For pretty much guaranteed warmth in October, head to the Canary Islands in Spain, Asia, or Northern Africa for your holiday, see latest choice on our destinations page. And see following our pick of where to go on holiday in October.

Beach, Ayurveda, yoga, and up to 50% discount
If you are craving perfect white sandy beaches, palm trees and warm seas, West Coast Ayurveda Resort in Sri Lanka is located right on a stunning stretch of tropical beach with a natural lagoon. Treat yourself to a uniquely luxurious holiday with full body massages. Enjoy up to 50% discount on full board accommodation until 7^th November.

Yoga and Pilates in sunny Canary Island
Or head for the Canary Islands. On Fuerteventura Azulfit offer yoga and Pilates retreats with surfing at the boutique Lotus Retreat location. Begin your day by wakening your body with vinyasa yoga at the white sandy beach of the turquoise ocean. Relax in the evening with blissful yin yoga and meditation. Please be aware that holidays run Saturdays to Saturdays only, due to scheduled flights.

These are only a few ideas. You can find many more October holidays on our website. Mention Neal’s Yard Holidays to receive exclusive discounts or treats on some of the above retreats.

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Updated 9 July 2018.

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