I can organise an entire trip and forget to leave any time to enjoy doing nothing.

There will be somewhere to eat, someone to meet, something to photograph. Even the gaps can become opportunities to catch up on emails. Before long, a change of scenery has become the same busy day in a different postcode.

I love what I do. I love travelling, meeting people and experiencing new places. But I am becoming more interested in what happens when I leave a little space in the diary.

A facial. A massage. An evening when the phone stays out of reach.

For men, I think there is still something worth saying about giving ourselves permission to enjoy those things without needing an excuse.

We can book a haircut weeks ahead and barely question it. Making time for a facial or a spa appointment should feel just as straightforward.

Making room in Edinburgh

The Spa at The Edinburgh Grand is the sort of place I would build a quieter city afternoon around.

The hotel already has that wonderful sense of occasion I have written about before. On St Andrew Square, you are right in the middle of Edinburgh, with all the temptation to head straight back out and keep exploring. Setting aside time for the spa gives the day a different rhythm.

It is a treatment-led space, with three treatment rooms and a menu developed around Skeyndor skincare, facials, massage and body rituals. Consultations help tailor the experience to the individual, rather than expecting everyone to arrive knowing exactly what to book.

That matters. If you are a man who has never booked a facial, a treatment menu can feel like another thing you are supposed to understand. Having someone talk you through your options makes it more approachable.

My ideal Edinburgh spa trip would leave time on either side of the appointment. Arrive without rushing. Put the phone away. Afterwards, allow the afternoon to unfold rather than immediately checking what has arrived in the inbox.

The spa recommends arriving 15 minutes early and suggests pairing a treatment with lunch at Lady Libertine or afternoon tea at The Register Club. That sounds like a very appealing way to spend a few hours in the capital.

It also changes what a city break can look like. You can enjoy the restaurants, the architecture and the shops, while leaving room to feel rested.

Wellbeing that fits into the trip

There is a wider travel conversation here. VisitBritain’s 2026 consumer trends framework identifies opportunities to weave smaller wellbeing experiences into urban travel. It is an idea I can get behind: making space within the trip you are already taking.

At AC Hotel Glasgow, AC Origins brings that approach into the bedroom.

The hotel describes it as an on-demand, in-room wellness experience, offering guided meditation, yoga stretches and facial massage, complemented by an ishga Discovery Set.

What appeals to me is the privacy and convenience. If you have arrived after a long journey or spent the day in meetings, you might want something you can do at your own pace, in your own space.

It also offers a gentler introduction for someone who feels unsure about walking into a spa. There is no need to make a full day of it. You can start by setting aside part of an evening.

The important decision is to make that time available. Otherwise, it is remarkably easy to spend the whole evening scrolling from a very comfortable hotel bed.

A little familiarity in the wash bag

Skincare is another small routine that can travel with you.

I have already written about my experience using ishga’s Hydra+ Oil, particularly the hydration and lasting glow I noticed. Having a routine I enjoy makes looking after my skin feel like something I want to do.

For travelling, ishga’s smaller formats offer a practical way to keep the essentials close. Its travel collection includes Active Cleansing Lotion in 30ml, Anti-oxidant Marine Cream in 10ml and 30ml, and Nourishing Face Oil in 10ml. There is also a Shampoo & Body Bar with a separate travel tin.

I would keep the approach simple. Take the products that suit your skin and that you will actually use. A wash bag does not need to become another complicated project.

There is something reassuring about keeping a familiar evening routine when everything else changes around you. Different city, different room, a few minutes that still belong to you.

Time without an audience

Perhaps that is the part I find most appealing.

So much of my working life involves being available, speaking to people and sharing experiences. I enjoy it enormously. I also want to get better at recognising the moments that can remain private.

A treatment does not need to become content. A quiet afternoon does not need a photograph to prove it happened.

Nor should looking after yourself depend on being able to book a luxury hotel or a spa. An uninterrupted walk, a slower evening at home or putting the phone in another room can deserve the same place in the diary.

I would like more men to feel comfortable making those choices. To book the facial they have been curious about. To ask what a treatment involves. To enjoy being looked after without laughing it off.

For my next city break, I want to leave a little more room between the reservations.

I suspect I will enjoy everything else more for it.