From FOMO to JOMO: The Wellness Travel Shift You Didn’t See Coming

Of all the ways I could have optimized my last sightseeing morning in Paris, taking a long bubble bath was perhaps the least efficient. Yet there I was, soaking in the bustling 16th arrondissement while enjoying a wellness trend I later learned is called JOMO—the joy of missing out.

The concept is simple: Instead of packing travel days with back-to-back itineraries, the JOMO approach invites travelers to relax and enjoy a few priority activities, not everything.

Paris / Photo: Margarida Louro_Unsplash

“JOMO is closely tied to the growing focus on wellness,” says Angie Licea, president of Global Travel Collection, an international community of travel agents. “It encourages travelers to slow down, savor the moment, and embrace a more relaxed, fulfilling way to experience a destination, which resonates with people looking to balance their wanderlust with their well-being.”

The concept is beneficial to travel, but ditching feelings of FOMO (the fear of missing out) can enhance life overall. Today’s world brims with stimuli, from social media to emails needing a reply. According to the American Heart Association, JOMO can deepen connections, improve sleep, decrease anxiety, and foster creativity.

Four JOMO-Friendly Digs

Of course, when you travel halfway around the world, or splurge on a trip, it can be hard to justify missing out. Licea suggests a quality-over-quantity approach. “Instead of trying to cram in every big attraction, give yourself permission to spend more time in fewer places,” she says. “That slower pace really lets you soak in the local vibe.”

Additionally, consider dedicating a full or half-day to simply unwinding and letting the world pass by. The easiest way to do that, I learned in France, is to book accommodations with a view—the kind you truly don’t want to leave.

I didn’t care if I missed out on City of Light sights because I’d nabbed an Eiffel Tower-view suite at the Shangri-La Paris. Instead of sightseeing on the ground, I admired the architectural icon from my tub, and it’s still among my favorite Paris days to date.

Spa Sea Island / Photo: Courtesy of Spa Sea Island

Sea Island, Georgia

Missing out is part of the fun at this barrier island located off Georgia’s coast. The 50-acre getaway offers numerous activities, but opportunities abound for those craving rest and relaxation. Soak up the sun from a private sea-view balcony, and book a secluded Sea Island cottage for even more incentive to miss out.

Four Seasons Hotel New York/ Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons/Anna Michelle

Four Seasons, New York

For urban JOMO try the Four Seasons, located on 57th Street between Park and Madison avenues. It’s a peaceful sanctuary with all sorts of Big Apple scenery, from a couch that overlooks Central Park to a desk with Chrysler Building views. After four years of renovations, the art deco property reopened in late 2024.

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge / Photo: Courtesy of Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, Vancouver Island 

This getaway, reachable via a 45-minute seaplane ride from Vancouver, lets you go all in on JOMO. Listen to distant animals from your luxury tent or try stargazing. When adventure calls, the lodge offers boat rides to encounter seals and whales, heli hiking, and kayaking.

Le Dune Piscinas, Sardinia, Italy / Photo: Courtesy of Mattia Aquila

Le Dune Piscinas, Sardinia

For an easy entry into JOMO, head away from tourist attractions. Sardinia’s Le Dune Piscinas, for instance, sits on less-trodden Costa Verde. The coastline’s mosaic of honey-hued dunes and teal waters is about stillness. Beachfront Le Dune Piscinas offers guests a tranquil venue to sit back and enjoy the view.