Do you really need to spend crazy money to be healthy? You’ve heard before that healthy living is expensive. Buying organic food, purchasing a good mattress, getting rid of toxic personal care products – it adds up. But how much is too much to spend on your health? Is there a limit?

I went to one of the bougiest, most expensive wellness and longevity resorts in the world and my thoughts on the experience might surprise you. 

The Most Advanced Longevity Resort in the World

In the Summer of this year my husband and I took a trip to Montreux, Switzerland, to visit Clinique Le Prairie, revered to be the top wellness and longevity resort in the world. Isaac is working on a longevity resort concept and as such, decided it would be a good idea for us to visit one of the best. 

Plus, it was around our anniversary and we wanted to stay and tour around Switzerland after we visited the resort. It was the perfect combination. 

Without exception, Switzerland is an absolutely gorgeous country. The resort was tucked away in Montreux, a charming lakeside town surrounded by the Alps. It felt quaint, yet brimming with life and breathtaking beauty. 

I had no idea the Swiss had a wine culture and even though we don’t drink, the hillside vineyards we explored were one of my favorite aspects of the trip. The scenery was stunning. 

My Experience at the Resort

Clinique Le Prairie is set up in programs that you can choose based on your interests. We were in the 4-day detox program (which I think they have now retired).  Here’s what they did extremely well:

• Relaxation and Luxury: They made it very easy to unwind and release all tension from everyday life. The spa treatments were top notch (and I’ve been to some of the best in the world). We were upgraded to a suite and it was very comfortable with breathtaking views.  

• Staff: The team was outstanding.  They know hospitality very well and we felt every need was attended to at the highest level.  They are first class all around. 

• Food Creativity: It’s not easy to make healthy food stand out, but some of the dishes they offered could have been featured in a Michelin star restaurant. 

• Fitness: They did some really cool physical assessments in their fitness studio. They have advanced body scanning technology and tests that measure balance, agility and flexibility that were very insightful and fun. 

• Scenery: We loved that they integrated sightseeing into the program. We went hiking in the hills and for long lakeside walks and bike rides. Since we are lovers of the outdoors we appreciated the opportunity to see the country while participating in the wellness program. 

Here’s where they missed the mark and have some opportunity to grow:

• Lab Testing: For a claim that they are the best in the world, the lab testing was very disappointing. They did standard, run of the mill conventional testing that you could get from any primary doctor in America. They measured things like blood pressure, and ran a basic blood panel.
  
  They took a stool sample, but we never received the results. I was expecting more advanced lab data and technology. I’m used to functional health testing which offers much more insight than conventional medical testing. This definitely felt like a missed opportunity.
  

• Lack of Customization: They didn’t seem to use the lab information they did receive to customize our experience. For example, my husband’s iron levels tend to run high and mine run low – this was reflected in the lab results they provided.
  
  But we were fed the same diet.  He was given lots of beans (and so was I), which can increase iron levels and he didn’t need that.  I, on the other hand, was not given any additional support for the low iron levels on my lab results, so that also felt like a miss.
  

• Vegan Diet Culture: They also push a vegan diet making it nearly impossible to get adequate protein. Especially, if you’re very physically active like Isaac and me. I was hungry…a lot.

• Doesn’t Promote Lasting Change: Their biggest area of opportunity is in helping people sustain the changes they make at the resort. There was no option for continuity of care or coaching on next steps or how to create a healthy lifestyle. This is not an issue for us, because we are already living a healthy lifestyle. But those that are not would struggle to make any lasting changes from the experience.  

Generally, this felt like a luxurious place to go and get pampered, run some basic lab tests and go home. We felt extremely relaxed. But was it worth the price tag? And how much did we pay?

Was It Worth the Price?

We got the program at a discount for a charitable donation. The discounted price was $15,000 or $7500 each for me and my husband for the 4 days. With flights and transportation added in there we probably spent close to $20k just to go to the resort. It was a hefty price, but since it was also our 15 year anniversary and we stayed for several more days, it made it easier to invest that kind of money. 

Would I do it again just for the resort experience? No. Not if I wanted a health transformation, which for that price most people absolutely want and deserve to see. And this brings me right back to my opening question: Do you need to spend crazy money to be healthy? 

Your Health Is an Investment, But Be Wise

A healthy lifestyle is an investment, but not all investments pay the same returns.  Just like you can’t expect to invest money and double returns overnight, you can’t expect quick health fixes to create lasting transformation. 

Make this a quote: True wellness and longevity are built over time, not a weekend. 

What you do consistently will create the results you see – good or bad. This is why your best ROI is to invest your time and resources into health solutions that will pay off long term – and that’s usually whatever makes it easier for you to live a healthy lifestyle today. 

We invest in things like good quality food, functional health testing, high quality supplements and a whole house water filtration system. 

Maybe you need a personal trainer or to spend some time swapping out toxic kitchen products. You don’t need another detox program or quick fix. It’s really about focusing on the solutions that create lasting results. 

I want to hear from you in the comments. What are your thoughts?  Do you think you have to spend crazy  money to be healthy? Do you spend a lot of money on your health and do you feel it’s worth it? Let me know below!