Have you heard of glimmers? The term posits that small, positive thoughts can bring a jolt of safety and calm to the nervous system. In contrast to “triggers,” glimmers are micro-moments of joy, connection, and presence that can be found in the everyday – something many of us naturally find while traveling.
Now glimmers are being intentionally cultivated at hotels and resorts across the globe, from Costa Rica to Italy. Here are a few below that are personal to me.
This resort has been on my goblet list for some time – one day I will make it there to soak in the thermal waters and restore.
Tabacon is the only resort in the area with a naturally flowing thermal river. Nestled within the largest and most beautiful private reserve in Arenal. As pioneers of thermal tourism and leaders in regenerative tourism in Costa Rica, the resort offers a unique concept of wellness at the foot of the majestic Arenal Volcano with an unwavering commitment to sustainability and the local community. Two new experiences for 2025 include the Balneotherapy Concierge program and the opening of an exclusive Hiking Trail through the resort’s previously unexplored 900-acre reserve. Tabacón is home to the largest thermal experience in the country, with 18 naturally flowing pools varying from 75-105 degrees. With the new Balneotherapy Concierge, visitors are provided with information and best practice about how to maximise the benefits of these therapeutic waters. Tabacón’s new Hiking Trail provides guests with the opportunity to wander in the resort’s 900 acre reserve for the very first time. The experience, that’s exclusive to resort guests, is led by a naturalist guide through the rainforest at the base of the Arenal volcano.
R Collection Hotels
I was lucky enough to have experienced one of the R Collection Hotels last year in Italy. My daughter ,Alexis and I stayed in the Grand Hotel Bristol on the Portofino Coast. We were blown away at the spa and the huge facilities. Be sure to make this a must-visit spa when in Italy.
Meet R Collection Hotels, a luxury Italian hotel portfolio with 10 properties located in premier locations throughout Italy: one on the Portofino Coast, three on Lake Como, one on Lake Annone, three in the heart of Milan and two mountain retreats in La Thuile and Courmayeur. Family-owned for three generations, R Collection prides themselves on preserving and enhancing Italian heritage while maintaining modern standards of luxury. Each hotel immerses guests in the captivating history and culture of the surrounding area while providing superb hospitality.
Want to find your own glimmers while traveling this summer? Check out this Guide to Glimmers below:
GUIDE TO GLIMMERS
Nature Walks & Sensory Meditation: Mindful nature immersion, like forest bathing, birdwatching, and guided meditations, enhances connection with self and surroundings.
Hotels:
- Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel (Trinidad) – Leatherback turtle beach nesting night walks
- Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa (Costa Rica) – Sensory gardens and thermal springs
- Rio Perdido (Costa Rica) – Canyon-edge trails and river tubing
- Nantipa (Costa Rica) – Beachfront mindfulness and native tree planting
- HADCO Experiences at Asa Wright Nature Centre (Trinidad) – Guided biodiversity walks in a private nature reserve
Noctourism: Dawn and dusk become anchor points for intention-setting, breathwork, and presence for star gazing, night walks and more.
Hotels:
- Nantipa and Tabacón (Costa Rica) – Guided sunrise meditations on the beach or in thermal pools
- Mt. Plaisir Estate Hotel (Trinidad) – Sunset yoga and turtle watching on Grand Riviere
- Rio Perdido (Costa Rica) – Cliffside sun rituals
Blue Mind: The meditative, calming effects that water has on our minds and bodies. Where travelers seek not just adventure, but restoration and mental clarity through connection to water.
Hotels:
- Mt. Plaisir Estate Hotel (Trinidad) –
- Nestled on Grand Riviere beach, one of Trinidad’s most untouched and soulful coastal settings.
- During nesting season (Mar-Aug), guests observe hundreds of Leatherback turtles emerge from the sea on this half mile stretch of beach —creating a powerful emotional bond to the ocean.
- Nantipa – A Tico Beach Experience (Costa Rica) –
- Surfing, paddleboard yoga, beachfront sound baths, and hammock lounging.
- Villas open to the sea breeze and sound of waves—an ideal Blue Mind environment, creating a space where travelers effortlessly enter flow states, calm the nervous system, and reconnect with themselves through water’s rhythm.
- Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa (Costa Rica) –
- Natural Thermal Springs: Guests soak in 18 different natural thermal pools that emerge from the Arenal Volcano—flowing, soothing, and mineral-rich.
- River Soundtrack: The gentle gurgling of nearby rivers is ever-present, grounding visitors.
- Waterfall Showers & Open-air Pools: Offer full-body immersion in the elements.
- Encourages stress release and physical detox through warm water therapy, delivering emotional and cognitive benefits associated with Blue Mind.
- R Collection Hotels (Italy – Lake Como & Lake Maggiore) –
- Lakeside Settings: Properties like Grand Hotel Victoria (Lake Como) and Grand Hotel Bristol (Portofino coast) are situated directly on glacial lakes, with panoramic water views.
- Water-Integrated Wellness: Lakefront cold plunges, yacht rides, watsu water massages, and hydromassage spa features (both Grand Hotel Victoria and Grand Hotel Bristol have the largest spas in Como/Portofino respectively).
- Slow Travel Energy: Encourages guests to pause, breathe, and reflect by calm waters.
- Rio Perdido (Costa Rica)
- River-Centric Design: Built above a convergence of thermal and cool rivers, inviting full water immersion.
- Activities: River tubing, thermal pools, and mud rituals connect guests with water in dynamic and restorative ways.
Savoring the Simple: Engage all five senses in a slow food experience that becomes its own meditation.
Hotels:
- Nantipa (Costa Rica) – Farm-to-table beachfront communal dining with indigenous flair
- Rio Perdido (Costa Rica) – Private Huerta garden tours with homemade tea and elixir tastings, chef dinners in the garden
- Grand Hotel Victoria by R Collection Hotels (Lake Como, Italy) – Seasonal tasting menus and vineyard-to-table wine pairings with lake views
Quote from Alyssa Mairanz, Owner of Empower Your Mind Therapy –
“Micro moments of happiness, or Glimmers, are incredibly powerful in helping to regulate the nervous system, which can lower overall stress and anxiety,” states Alyssa Mairanz, Owner of Empower Your Mind Therapy. “When experienced consistently, especially in the slower rhythm of travel, glimmers signal to the brain both safety and joy, building muscles for resilience and optimism in daily life. Travel offers a more natural gateway to curiosity, openness, connection and presence, which all coincide to build long term wellness.”
In collaboration with Alyssa Mairanz (CDBT, LMHC), therapist and founder of Empower Your Mind Therapy practice, this article created a “Guide to Glimmers” featuring hotels that integrate science-backed micro-moments into the guest experience. Think sensory walks in the rainforest, intention-setting at sunrise, and the art of dolce far niente.
