Advertisement

Destination divorces are now a thing

Destination divorce. Photo: Getty Images.

Taking a three-day resort getaway with your husband, complete with spa treatments, champagne, and picturesque walks through the grounds sounds like the perfect way to turn up the romance—or, you know, the perfect way to get divorced.

At least, that's the philosophy behind DivorceHotel, a Dutch company offering weekend divorce packages at six hotels in the Netherlands and the Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Related: 13 things to never say in the bedroom

Here's how it goes down: You check in on a Friday to your own separate rooms, and throughout the weekend, a team of skilled mediators, therapists, and other professionals deemed necessary for your divorce guide you through every part of your separation, from who's keeping the house to what needs to be signed and where.

Then, in between mediation sessions, you can take advantage of spa amenities, scenic bike rides, catered meals, and a bottle of champagne or three. Sunday, you check out. Divorced.

Related: Marriage myths busted

If that seems a little too celebratory for such a grim event, that's the point, says CEO Jim Halfens. "The marriage that failed, that's the negative part of the story," he says. "The divorce should be a positive new start." Most couples even choose to have joint meals, which they spend reminiscing over the good times of their marriage as they close this chapter of their life.

It sounds a little too good to be true, but Halfens says that it's the "pressure cooker" situation and tight timeline that keeps things amicable, rational, and fair, unlike traditional divorces, which can drag out over months or years and get very ugly.

Related: Seven times a casual fling is a good idea

That said, DivorceHotel does have a screening process to make sure you're suitable for the program before checking in—and angry couples who can barely be in the same room together need not apply.

The experience isn't cheap, but then, neither is divorce. Packages vary from couple to couple, but a weekend at the Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa could run you between $7,000 and $10,000—an option that has its perks compared to hiring lawyers who charge by the hour.

Whether or not you think DivorceHotel sounds like a dream or needlessly luxurious, hey—if there's ever a time you need a little pampering, your divorce is probably near the top of the list.