Keeping Cool: The Wellness Escapes, Rituals & Summer Finds We’re Loving Right Now
- Mandy Gore-Booth
- May 28
- 4 min read
As the UK swelters through another heatwave, this summer’s biggest luxury suddenly feels surprisingly simple: staying cool.
While we all love a bit of sunshine, soaring temperatures are changing the way many of us think about travel and everyday wellbeing. It is perhaps no surprise that this summer’s wish lists are increasingly centred around altitude, water, shade and space.
From Alpine spa escapes and secluded lakeside cottages to beachfront villas, cooling skincare rituals and nourishing seasonal recipes, here are some of the places, products and wellness finds we are falling for right now.
The Rise Of The ‘Coolcation’
One of the biggest travel trends this summer is undoubtedly the rise of the ‘coolcation’ - travellers actively seeking out cooler climates, mountain air and outdoor-focussedescapes over high-temperature hotspots.
Hotel Böglerhof
Set in the beautiful Austrian village of Alpbach, Hotel Böglerhof feels perfectly positioned for this moment. Summer here is all about fresh mountain air, forest walks, natural swimming lakes and panoramic Alpine views rather than battling for shade by overcrowded pools.
The hotel’s expansive spa and wellness offering makes slowing down feel effortless, while its growing focus on family and teen wellness reflects a wider shift towards more mindful, nature-led holidays for younger travellers too. Family yoga, sauna experiences designed for teens and plenty of opportunities to swap screens for mountain adventures all form part of the experience.
Hotel Lürzerhof
Also firmly embracing the cooler side of summer is Hotel Lürzerhof in Austria’s Salzburger Land, which reopens at the end of July following a major spa expansion.
The timing could not feel more perfect. The transformed hotel will feature seven pools, including a striking new cantilevered rooftop infinity pool with mountain views that feels tailor-made for heatwave season.
Alongside panoramic saunas, relaxation spaces and guided wellness experiences, the hotel taps into another growing wellness trend: contrast therapy. Cooling dips, fresh mountain water and restorative spa rituals suddenly feel far more appealing than chasing ever-higher temperatures abroad.
Waterside Escapes Closer To Home - and further afield
As much as we love a European summer, for those staying closer to home there is also something incredibly appealing right now about escaping to quieter corners of the UK where rivers, lakes and sea air naturally keep temperatures feeling more manageable.
If the call of the Caribbean feels impossible to ignore, a luxury private beachfront villa with sea kayaks, paddleboards and cooling sea swims might just be the answer.
Rural Escapes
Rural Escapes has some particularly beautiful waterside cottages across Cumbria that feel made for easier summer living.
At Abbot Moss, a restored sandstone cottage on the private Lazonby Estate, days revolve around lake views, wild swimming, kayaking and riverside walks. Meanwhile, Sampson’s Cave offers a peaceful retreat on the banks of the River Eden, with huge gardens, woodland walks and long evenings spent outdoors.
In a summer where many people are craving simplicity, nature and space, these kinds of slower British escapes feel more relevant than ever.
Sugar Bay Villa Jamaica
For those dreaming of something more tropical, Sugar Bay Villa in Discovery Bay, Jamaica offers a very different kind of keeping cool.
This beautiful beachfront villa is all about effortless Caribbean living - paddleboards, sea kayaks, sea swims and unhurried afternoons shaped entirely around the water. Best of all, the villa is fully staffed, with a private cook, butler and housekeeping team meaning there is no sweating in the kitchen or thinking about logistics - just long lunches, sunset dinners and complete relaxation. It feels private, relaxed and wonderfully low-key in the best possible way.
The Small Rituals Helping Us Feel Cooler This Summer
Not every cooling ritual requires a plane ticket. Some of the most effective ways to feel better during hot weather can be done right at home.
Cooling down is influencing beauty rituals too. Arella’s new wellness accessories collection is full of products that feel particularly good during hot weather. Their copper body brush is ideal before a cool shower, helping to gently exfoliate, stimulate circulation and leave skin feeling refreshed and energised. Meanwhile, chilled gua sha tools stored in the fridge have become one of our favourite mini heatwave hacks for cooling tired faces after long days in the sun or commuting across London.
And when it comes to supplements, liquid wellness products simply feel easier to take during summer too. Chilled collagen sachets over ice suddenly feel far more appealing than heavy powders or tablets in hot weather.
Another handbag essential right now: a cooling face mist. Verde London’s Aloe Vera & Rose Petal Face Mist has become a desk, travel and post-sun staple thanks to its refreshing, hydrating feel. Kept in the fridge, it delivers instant relief during particularly sticky London afternoons.
Hot weather naturally changes the way we want to eat too. Suddenly, lighter meals, colourful ingredients and hydrating foods feel far more appealing than rich comfort dishes.
One cookbook we are reaching for repeatedly right now is Sharon Feanny’s Live Fit Kitchen, which is packed with nourishing, flavourful recipes that feel ideal for warmer days. The focus is very much on balance, freshness and approachable healthy eating rather than restrictive wellness culture - exactly the kind of food many of us crave during heatwaves when heavy meals can feel overwhelming.
So whether your version of staying cool this summer involves rooftop pools in the Alps, wild swimming in Cumbria, chilled collagen sachets or simply preparing fabulous seasonal salads, we fully support it.
Perhaps this summer’s real luxury is not doing more at all, but simply finding the places, rituals and routines that allow us to slow down, breathe deeply and feel comfortable again.
Pilot PR is an award-winning integrated public relations & communications agency working with established and emerging brands across the travel, luxury lifestyle, beauty, spa and wellness sectors. For more travel and wellness inspiration, read our latest travel content here.
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