How to Find True Well-Being on Your Next Trip with JW Marriott

In today’s world, luxury lies in presence – in being able truly to experience the richness of each and every each moment. Ranged across the world, JW Marriott Hotels and Resorts are dedicated to this interpretation of luxury – havens where time slows, interruptions cease and the demands of the outside world are silenced, opening you up to the boundless treasures of the present. Here's how to discover your perfect now in Europe and the Middle East.

Feel the joy of sound

Sound healing promotes deep relaxation and improved sleep quality (Photo: Marriott International)

Sound has extraordinary power to heal. Combining a range of instruments such as Tibetan and crystal singing bowls, gongs, drums and tuning forks into a holistic practice is highly effective at triggering the body’s relaxation response – simply opening ourselves up to such an experience can counter chronic stress and enhance overall wellbeing, grounding us firmly in the present moment. You can even harness the power of your own voice, using humming and chanting to stimulate the vagus nerve and naturally calm the nervous system.

This wisdom is expressed at JW Marriott's newest addition: JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa, where guests can nourish themselves with a sound bath and voice activation session, which incorporates chanting and singing to unlock emotional blockages and enhance self-awareness.

At JW Marriott Hotel Madrid, meanwhile, guests are invited to take part in a mind-clearing sound meditation accompanied by Tibetan singing bowls. One major review of the benefits of Tibetan singing bowls found that “most studies reported significant reductions in anxiety and depressive symptoms, improvements in well-being and quality of life, increases in HRV, and decreases in heart rate.”

Mindfully flow with yoga

Regular yoga is a valuable wellbeing activity that has been proven to benefit the mind and body (Photo: Marriott International)

Originating in ancient India, the holistic practice of yoga has the power to ground you physically, emotionally and psychologically. Although there are numerous physical benefits – not least reducing systolic blood pressure and improvements to flexibility, strength, balance and even cardiovascular health – it is the benefits to the mind that make yoga such a valuable well-being practice. Students of its ancient teachings find they are better able to stay in the present moment and to truly relax. Studies have even shown yoga can help with chronic sleep issues.

Traditionally practised in India at spiritual communities called ashrams, yoga is adaptable to just about any environment. At JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea, in the Turkish city of Istanbul, you can join a morning yoga session beside the infinity pool, for instance, before deepening your immersion in the present with a grounding treatment at the spa or a meditative swim in the pool with its Marmara Sea views.

Nature always grounds and at the JW Marriott Hotel Berlin, yoga is enjoyed in the rooftop garden, with stunning views of Tiergarten park. You'll practice surrounded by lavender plants, adding a relaxing aroma that keeps you rooted in your environment. In France, meanwhile, the beachfront JW Marriott Cannes offers exclusive yoga classes for guests, accompanied by mind-clearing seaside air.

If a higher intensity calls, consider the approach offered at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, where you can cultivate mindful moments on a reformer machine, before winding down in the hammam.

Dive into 'now' with hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is a popular wellness treatment that can increase blood flood and improve circulation (Photo: Marriott International)

Submerging yourself in warm water can provide a sense-tingling fast track to the present moment. A relaxing hydrotherapy session can also help to increase blood flow and improve circulation, diminish pain and inflammation, lower your anxiety levels and improve sleep. As blissfully warm waters take the strain off weary muscles, you can sink into the moment, listening to the soft murmur of the jets beneath the surface and feeling the heat spreading through your body like a tonic.

The spa's hydrotherapy pool at JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha in the Qatari city of Doha is an oasis of bubbling water jets that will see any worries from the outside world float gently away, as well as combating jetlag, detoxing the body and aiding metabolism. Afterwards, settle in at one of the private poolside cabanas, which invite you to slow down and nurture that in-the-moment feeling even more deeply.

Make time for mindful moments

Meditation allows you to focus inwards, clearing the mind to reduce stress (Photo: Marriott International)

There’s something miraculous about meditation. As you focus inwards, whether on your breath or a mantra of your choice, the mind clears and the body calms. As your breathing slows it also deepens, easing anxiety. The science backs up anecdotal evidence, too: one wide-ranging review suggests that various forms of meditation do help decrease physiological markers of stress.

Over time, the benefits mount, including increased self-awareness, improved attention span and greater emotional regulation. It becomes easier to remain in the present moment, not just while you meditate but also as you go about your day, your mind sharper and more focused.

If you're seeking to make meditation a regular practice, JW Marriott Hotel Madrid will provide a good grounding, with twice-daily group sessions in the JW Garden. Here you’ll learn the art of meditation from an expert teacher who can help to guide and motivate you. At noon, moreover, the session is accompanied by Tibetan sound bowls, adding an element of sound healing to the practice. The evening session, meanwhile, features dynamic breathing exercises, rounded off with a relaxing tea.

Taste every moment

Good food should never be overlooked for it can boost mood, reduce stress and even improve cognitive function (Photo: Marriott International)

Savouring fine food and drink is one of the best ways to slow down and fully experience the moment. As you taste fresh ingredients or a perfectly prepared local dish, your senses take over: the smell, perhaps, of just-cut herbs, the sound of meat sizzling on the grill, or the flavour of a truly ripe tomato.

There’s no better place to practise this meditative pleasure than in the glorious Italian city of Venice, where dining is accompanied by soul-calming views of canals and the pleasing forms of Venetian Gothic architecture. At the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa on Isola della Rose in the Venetian lagoon, you can join the Authentic Venice Experience at the Sapori Cooking Academy, heading out with the chef to collect fresh ingredients at the Rialto Market and in the resort's JW Garden, before returning to the hotel for an immersive cookery class focused on traditional Venetian recipes. Each scent and flavour as you chop artichoke, unwrap cheese and sip a freshly squeezed juice will return you again and again to the now.

Let tension melt away

Massage encourages deep rest in the present (Marriott International)

Being present is about the body as much as the mind, and a massage encourages both to rest deeply in the present. The friction of massage warms the muscles and enhances the flow of oxygen-rich blood, allowing the body to heal itself and to flush out any toxins. As your muscles are gently encouraged to relax, any tightness, tension or pain is eased and with these physical benefits come emotional ones, as stress and anxiety fade away.

Ancient massage practices have been honed to perfection over countless centuries. One such massage, exclusively available at the JW Marriott Absheron Baku in Baku, Azerbaijan, is the traditional Gobustan Essence Package. This bespoke wellness experience is rooted in Azerbaijan’s Gobustan region and features a full body massage with local naftalan oil, a volcanic detoxifying scrub packed with skin-enhancing minerals and a calming jasmine tea.

Alternatively, book into the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London in London’s tranquil Mayfair to enjoy a massage with essential oils in the privacy and comfort of your suite, or take a room at the JW Marriott Hotel Muscat in Oman and indulge in a soothing head-to-toe aromatherapy massage. Tailored specifically to your needs, an aroma scent test determines which blend of essential oils will best indulge your mind and body.

Soak up nature's glow

Spending time in nature is widely recognised as a powerful wellness activity, improving mental and physical wellbeing (Photo: Marriott International)

Surrounding yourself with the scents, sounds and colours of a beautifully tended garden is a joyful way to immerse ourselves in the now. All JW Marriott hotels offer exclusive JW Gardens for the pleasure of guests.

At JW Marriott Hotel Istanbul Marmara Sea, you’ll encounter the unmistakable scent of lavender among the herbs of the garden, while in Madrid the petite patio has the feel of an oasis. It includes a vertical garden, warm corners for curling up with a book, and everywhere the aromas of lemon, rosemary and thyme.

There's an enchanting range of gardens to enjoy at JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, including typically Italian olive groves. Finally, for a true taste of nature, edible plants and fresh herbs are harvested daily at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai from its stunning, hi-tech garden which are then used by chefs across its restaurants.

Published: October 17, 2025

Last Updated: October 31, 2025