The Great Escape Magazine

Having the right tools makes it significantly easier and safer to carve a pumpkin. Many garden centres and supermarkets sell dedicated pumpkin carving kits in the weeks leading up to Halloween. These typically include a small saw-edged carving tool with a rounded tip, a scoop and a poker. They're far safer than using kitchen knives, which can be sharp and harder to control. If you have young children who are excited and wriggly, it's worth having a brief conversation before the tools come out. Explain what's about to happen, who will be doing which jobs and – crucially – that the sharp tools belong to the grown-ups.

Mindful eating forms part of an intuitive eating programme, which is a broader approach to self care. Intuitive eating encourages rejection of fad diets and social pressures in favour of listening to the body's needs. Unlike dieting, mindful eating and intuitive eating do not focus on eliminating certain foods.

Make the most of the season's fresh ingredients with these tasty French recipes for autumn – from cosy soups to roasted veg, casseroles, crumbles and more.

Wellness travel focuses on experiences that support your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing while you're away from home. Rather than filling your itinerary with back-to-back sightseeing, it encourages you to slow down, spend time in nature, stay active, enjoy nourishing food, and prioritise rest.

Family holidays and romantic breaks are among life's greatest pleasures – and a few simple habits can make them even better. Mental health experts like Dr. John Grohol suggest that weaving in small moments of personal time and wellness rituals is the secret to coming home feeling truly restored:    Plan ahead: Spontaneity isn't always the best recipe for a satisfying break, especially in a couple or group. With a little advance prep, you can talk about your own holiday goals and build alone time into the schedule. Some savvy travellers make a spreadsheet of meals, museums or other experiences they want to enjoy solo. Take mini-breaks: A short workout or yoga session, half an hour reading alone in the hotel room or a walk by yourself can reduce cortisol levels and reset the mind before rejoining travel companions. Be the early bird: Rising earlier than your companions frees up more alone time. Quiet meditation or exercise will really help set you up for an active and social day in terms of wellness, but solo exploration of a waking city can also stimulate the mind and senses with the unfamiliar.  Try the "solo meal challenge": Dining alone can be a test of independence, but also a lovely indulgence. Psychologists recommend the mild hedonism of a solo meal as particularly mentally rewarding because it lets you break the social "bubble" formed by couples and families on holiday without isolating you from those loved ones for more than a couple of hours. Novotel's Longevity Everyday philosophy is designed to make every stay as healthy and restful as possible, from nourishing food to restorative sleep and exercise. And Novotel Nice Centre Vieux-Nice is a great place to discover the programme in a location that lets you combine shared experiences with precious alone time. The beaches, quays and leafy promenades of the French Riviera begin a few steps from the lobby, and that breeze off the Mediterranean can help clear your mind. The Old Town also is close by, with abundant bistros where dining-for-one is a real treat. The hotel itself has a gorgeous rooftop pool where you can really make the most of solo moments.

Plan a 3-day Bangkok wellness escape with the city's best onsens, hammams, and spa hotels. Here's a day-by-day route to build the perfect wellness retreat.