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One of Green O's 12 secluded Tree Hauses, it is a high-rise guesthouse that immerses travelers in nature and quiet solitude. Provided by: The Green O
There are some people who should avoid spending time alone. And some people get giddy thinking about it. I fall deeply into the second camp. Case in point: I recently read an article about how Outside magazine writer Tim Neville spent four days alone in complete darkness and solitude and felt a pang of jealousy.
Before the pandemic, I was an introvert. But in the years since the world resumed its frantic pace, I've noticed that the voice that usually whispers in my brain asking for calm has become a deafening roar.
That's why I planned a media visit to Green O, Montana this spring. I'm one of 12 secluded, adults-only properties that share 60 square miles, or 37,000 acres of forest (roughly twice the size of Manhattan) with sister property Paws Up Ranch. He will be hiding in The Tree House. However, the guest capacity of the two facilities is less than 300 people, so each guest can easily have 100 acres to himself. Friends and family invited me to join them on this vacation. I said no.
Quiet luxury began as a trendy phrase used in the fashion industry to describe expensive designer clothing that is not obnoxiously obvious. But now the term also refers to expensive vacations that take travelers away from people and the noise that comes with it.
Research shows this is what Canadians prefer. Oona O'Leary, general manager for Canada at luxury travel advisory firm Virtuoso, said an internal survey found that Canadians cited “relaxation and connection” as the top reasons they were interested in traveling this year. There is. Similarly, she says Virtuoso's advisors told her that “quiet luxury and wellness-based travel is on the rise.”
According to Flight Center Canada, of the 52 per cent of Canadian travelers planning a solo trip, 58 per cent plan to focus on introspection and contemplation, and 51 per cent seek self-discovery.
Diana Stobo, founder of The Retreat in Costa Rica, is not surprised by the growing interest in this style of travel. The enclave has been offering “The Art of Resting” since 2021. This is a minimum of five days of leave for people who struggle with interrupted rest, anxiety, and burnout. It's as much about choosing what not to do as it is about choosing what you can do (breathing exercises, yoga). cranial massage, etc.). The goal, she says, is to provide a comfortable space for people who want to do as little as possible.
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The Retreat in Costa Rica offers programs lasting over five days to help guests recover from burnout and anxiety.Provided by: The Retreat
“Many of us can't let go. We need to change that mindset,” she says, adding that people often feel guilty when they are unproductive. Her program encourages embracing a “slow vacation,” and supports guests in deciding whether to spend time in peace, quiet, or solitude rather than running from one activity to the next.
“What we need to start doing is giving ourselves permission, because if you wait for someone else to do it, it won't happen as quickly,” Stobo says, adding that rest is a parasympathetic He added that it activates the nervous system and has a blood-lowering effect. It applies pressure to calm your heart rate and aid in digestion. “It's amazing how your body reacts.”
Steve Hurst, managing director of Paws Up and Green O, agrees, saying that even guided experiences can be booked privately, and that supporting (rather than directing) guests is central to the property's approach. I pointed out.
“If you're here to work on the first chapter of that book, we'll deliver your coffee and pastries every morning, and make sure you have the right cocktail when you're in a slump. ” he says. “If you want to go outside and take off your shoes and walk in the woods, I can show you where the softest spots are.”
Quiet luxury comes at a price. My Tree Haus is his two-story house that is 23 feet tall. The floor-to-ceiling windows and 1,030 square feet of indoor living space make me feel like I'm “floating in the clouds.” My dining options also include meals created by James Beard Award-nominated chef Brandon Cunningham. Room rates start at US$2,290 (approximately $3,155) for two adults, a price that could send any would-be traveler back in the world. But hosts here and at similar establishments insist the space is worth the price if it's peaceful. (Rates for the other accommodations listed above range from approximately $400 to $800 per night.)
Pegasus Lodge CEO Baptiste Calonque says the company's collection of six luxury lodges serves a very specific type of traveler. We offer luxury villa-style accommodations located in Indonesia, Oceania, Portugal, and British Columbia. Still, he estimates that about two-thirds of his guests come alone, looking for a quiet place, and that it's a place with more wildlife than people. “For us, the ultimate luxury is space, and the space factor is always built into our products,” says Kalonk.
Brian Gage agrees. He owns and operates Pegasus Nootka His Wilderness Lodge, a floating fishing camp in British Columbia. He has seen firsthand the humiliating effects of a quiet vacation. “There's no doubt that we get caught up in our immediate surroundings, and that's a good thing because it forces us to reflect on what's important to us,” he says. “It puts your life into perspective.”
Perspective, stillness, and clarity are what I'm looking for in my floating home in Montana. I also hope we can find a way to bring them home.
