The Fashionable Frequent Flyers

One of my biggest takeaways from the darkest days during the pandemic was a need to prioritize self-care, mentally and physically. As a “frequent flyer,” making time for both of those things can be quite difficult. Enter the Sensei hotel brand, America’s premier wellness vacation brand. I was fortunate enough to visit Sensei Lanai in 2021 when I was out in Hawaii and this hotel was everything I could’ve hoped for and more. The hotel was the perfect blend of luxury and wellness, with an equal focus on mental rejuvenation and physical revitalization.

Let’s talk about the mental rejuvenation. For me, this is an important part of any self-care regiment and this was clearly a priority for Sensei Lanai. One key element of that is relaxation and the spa regiments available at Sensei are unmatched. The hales offer various treatments that suit a variety of needs and you can also opt to spend some alone (or couple time) enjoying the various onsen pools, the sauna, steam room, and traditional Japanese freestanding bath in the hale. It sincerely was an full on dream. But that’s not it; they actually have an outdoor onsen garden with various pools of varying temperatures in a secluded part of the hotel. It’s nothing short of spectacular. Check out my Instagram reel of the setting here! Honestly, there was no better place to find my inner peace. I also really loved the meditation offerings.

Let’s talk about the physical revitalization portion. This was by far one of my favorite parts about the resort. Now, many resorts have gyms and it’s on individual guests to determine whether or not they’ll be active and work out. When I’m at home, I’m extremely disciplined. When I’m on vacation, I’m pretty much drinking champagne all day so I don’t opt-in to workouts. Sensei’s program is particularly well done because your personalized program has bursts of physical activity built in — amazing hikes, unique fitness classes, and other activities like the adventure park to keep the blood flowing. It was amazing.

Lastly, the grounds are really just so beautiful! The grounds are incredibly lush and there’s a lot of color all around. I absolutely adore the pool, and the hot tubs on each “corner” of the pool. The onsen gardens are breathtaking and the inside of the hotel is incredible. Also, the on-site restaurant is a Nobu so how can you go wrong! My only real “gripe,” if you can call it that is that the rooms were a little basic. I loved the smart toilets, but beyond that, not much I’d say about the room. Everything else was exquisite.

Check out more Sensei content on my Instagram page here! You can also read a blog post about which Hawaiian island to choose for your vacation here that’s particularly helpful if you’re considering Hawaii for your next trip.