Tenerife: 96 Hours of Expansion at Bahia del Duque
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Tenerife, Canary Island
I love celebrating my birthday, whether its with a vacation or something from my wish list. It’s always one of my favorite times of year! Last year, for my birthday, I decided that "celebrating" was going to be a vacation, but it would look a bit different, it was going to be time away to be still. It meant expansion. It meant finding a corner of the world where I could breathe, think, realign, and center myself without the weight of work, wife, or motherly duties.
I chose Tenerife, specifically for the weather in October. If you’ve ever researched the Canary Islands, you know that this is the perfect place to escape the grey of Germany. It’s technically "non-peak" season, which means the crowds have thinned, the energy is calmer, and the atmosphere is just chill. The weather? Absolutely perfect. We’re talking consistent 80-degree days, clear blue skies, and that golden, honey-thick sunlight that gives you the perfect sun kissed glow.
This was a very intentional decision planned after experiencing seasonal depression in Germany, for the first time the year prior. That’s a WHOLE other story…drop me a comment if you want to know more about that
The Needed Buffer: Ease Before Takeoff
When you are a high-performing woman balancing a career and a vision, your natural instinct is to rush. You want to work until 5 PM, race to the airport, and start your vacation in a state of exhaustion. I’ve learned that this is the fastest way to waste the first two days of your trip.
Because my flight from Frankfurt was an early one, I decided to lean into the soft life vacay mode before I even left the ground. I booked a night at the Hilton Frankfurt Airport, right at the terminal. I wasn’t fighting traffic or worrying about an alarm clock failing me. I checked in, had a quiet evening with dinner and drinks, and woke up feeling like the vacation had already begun. This "buffer night" is a strategy I now swear by: it transitions the brain from work mode to chill mode.
Arrival At Bahia del Duque
Stepping onto the grounds of Bahia del Duque is like walking into a Spanish villa covered in pastels and greenery with the fresh wind blowing in from the beach, it’s a dream. The architecture is a nod to traditional Canarian colonial style, but with a level of luxury that feels both grand and intimate. The lush gardens, the sound of the Atlantic, and the intentional design of the resort immediately signaled to my nervous system that it was time to relax, let go, feel at ease and center in this peaceful place.
The resort is huge, yet it feels private. During those four days, the focus was entirely on rest, reflection, and being pampered. When we talk about living an aligned life, we often focus on the "doing": the habits, the schedules, the work. But alignment is also found in the "being." In Tenerife, I wasn't a wife, a professional, or a builder of brands. I was just a woman experiencing the world, taking time for self, and enjoying every moment of it.
Bahia del Duque Resort
The resort is vast, yet it feels private. During those four days, the focus was entirely on rest and reflection. When we talk about living an aligned life, we often focus on the "doing": the habits, the schedules, the work. But alignment is also found in the "being." In Tenerife, I wasn't a wife, a professional, or a builder of brands. I was just a woman experiencing the world.
The Culinary Friction and the Spa Pivot
Let’s be real for a second: not every part of every trip is a 10 out of 10, and that’s okay. At the time of this trip, I was strictly Pescatarian. While Bahia del Duque is stunning, I found the food options for my specific diet at the time to be a bit of a challenge. It wasn’t quite the culinary explosion I was hoping for, but I will say the pizza I had out in town was really good. Since then, I’ve actually incorporated lamb back into my diet, which probably would have made the menus a bit more exciting!
However, when the food doesn't hit the mark, you pivot to what does. For me, that was the spa.
If there is a heaven for relaxation, it’s the spa at Bahia del Duque. It wasn’t just a massage; it was a sensory experience that allowed me to shed the layers of stress I’d been carrying from my 9-5. It is through these moments of extreme physical relaxation that our minds finally have the space to create. We often think we need to "think harder" to solve our problems, but usually, we just need to get in a hydrotherapy pool and let the water do the work.
Travel as a Tool for Personal Clarity
Why do we travel? It’s not just for the photos or the stamps in the passport. We travel because it expands us. It gives us a different lens to view cultures, and more importantly, a different lens to view ourselves.
When you are in a different country, surrounded by different sounds and different ways of living, your own life back home comes into sharper focus. You start to see what’s working and what’s just "clutter." For me, those 96 hours in Tenerife provided a clarity that I couldn't find in my home office. I was able to look at my vision with fresh eyes. I realized that the weight I felt wasn't because the vision was too big, but because I wasn't giving myself enough permission to be "off." Living aligned means choosing experiences that nourish your soul. It means recognizing when you need a reset and having the audacity to take it. My birthday trip wasn't just a getaway; it was an investment in my mental architecture.
Problem-Solving: Planning Your Own Expansion
If you’re feeling the weight of your daily grind and you know you need a shift, here are three ways to make your next trip a tool for true alignment:
1. How to Plan a "Rest-First" Itinerary
Most of us over-schedule our vacations. We try to see every landmark and eat at every "must-visit" spot. For your next trip, try a "rest-first" approach. Pick one main activity per day: whether it’s a spa treatment, a specific beach, or a long lunch: and leave the rest of the day open. This lack of structure is where clarity actually lives.
2. The Benefit of "Buffer Nights"
If you have an early flight or a long commute to the airport, book a hotel at the airport the night before. This eliminates the "travel day stress" and allows you to start your vacation with a sense of peace rather than a spike in cortisol. It’s a small investment that pays off in how much more present you are when you arrive at your destination.
3. Using Travel as a Tool for Personal Clarity
Bring a dedicated travel journal: but don’t just write about what you did. Write about how you feel. Ask yourself: "Who am I when no one here knows my job title?" and "What part of my life back home am I not missing right now?" The answers to these questions are the keys to your alignment.
Tenerife reminded me that I am more than my output. It reminded me that the world is wide, the sun is warm, and my identity is something I get to curate every single day. Whether you're navigating life's changes or just need a moment to breathe, remember that expansion is always available to you if you’re willing to seek it out.