10 Healthy Travel Trends

Ready to get fit in 2012? Ditch your smartphone for a tech detox vacation. Or push your limits at a weight-loss resort. Check out the top trends for getting on the health bandwagon this year.

Athletic Volunteerism Get fit, give back, and see a new city at the same time. According to Cheapflights.com, 2012 will see an increase in athletic volunteerism, a trend fueled by growing participation in mega sports events like the NYC and London marathons. Biking more your thing? Check out events like the Ride to End AIDS, a 7-day bike ride from San Francisco to LA.

Detox and Unplugged Vacations On a quest for quiet? Need to unplug from your gadgets? Resorts and hotels are answering our growing addiction to technology by promising not to have Wi-Fi or TV on their isolated grounds, but rather wellness services like yoga and meditation -- all designed to quiet your mind.

Vacation With Your Pet<br/ According to a recentPetRelocation.com survey, nearly 1/3 of all pet owners planned to travel outside the US with their pets this past year. That trend is likely to grow, as more hotels and airlines, such as Pet Airways, continue to make it easier to bring your pooch along on your next break. And since traveling with your pet guarantees a more active vacation, you won’t have to worry about hitting the hotel gym.

Weight-Loss Camps Want to take off work and pounds at the same time? The Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge, in Ivins, UT, offers healthy meals, a day full of exercise, the power of group motivation, and plenty of spectacular scenery with daily canyon hikes.

Healthier Options for In-Flight Meals Fruit on a plane? For some airlines, yes. Air Canada and Virgin America offer the healthiest in-flight food, a recent nutritional survey found. Pictured here is Virgin America’s “protein box,” sure to help give you an energy boost on your next redeye.

Healthier Cruise Ships When you think of taking a cruise, you may think of buffet food and unlimited drinks, aka a vacation of overindulgence. But in 2012, cruise lines are offering more ways to experiment with fitness trends or at least keep up with your daily workout regimen. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines offers yoga, Pilates, personal trainers, daily organized walks around the deck, and even pools with waves for resistance swimming.

Holistic Holidays Top US spas, such as Miraval near Tucson, AZ, offer more than physical benefits. In addition to helping you find your freshest layer of skin, Miraval’s spa services help calm your inner core enjoy with programs designed around mindfulness and self-discovery.

Hotels Offer More Fitness Options Hotels are feeling the pressure to offer healthier food options and better exercise facilities for travelers who don’t want to fall off the health wagon while on vacation. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts not only offers state-of-the-art cardio and weight-training equipment, but also studio classes and personal trainers.

Medical Tourism From Lasik to knee replacement, the high cost of health care is continuing to push a growing numbers of Americans to go abroad for medical care. Perhaps it’s easier to recover from surgery, too, in tropical paradises like Costa Rica and Thailand.

Spa Breaks Not Just for Women Spas aren’t just for the girls anymore. Couples are choosing spas for a romantic getaway, getting spa treatments side by side. Don’t worry, guys. Spas are making services more appealing to men, too, with less “girly” options, such as sports massages and gentlemen’s facials.