Can I claim non-business travel as a tax deduction?

For example, say my wife is stressing out over current problems and I send her back to her home country for a month, so that she can relieve tension by spending time with family and such. Can the expenses incurred be considered as a deduction, perchance being listed under medical since this was done for a theraputic reason?

No, that is not deductible, even if on a doctor's order.

Note to "nctaxguy" below: Back to "Tax School", Dude! That is NEVER deductible, even on a physician's orders.

No. The only way this would be counted as a medical deduction is if her primary care physician recommended her to go home to visit family. Otrherwise, its just a personal trip, regardless of the benefit.

No even with her being stressed this travel expense is not deductible on the Federal Tax return

You cannot include in medical expenses a trip or vacation taken merely for a change in environment, improvement of morale, or general improvement of health, even if the trip is made on the advice of a doctor. However, see Medical Conferences, earlier.

Publication 502
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p502/index.html

Have her visit a couple of doctors while she's there and say the trip was to see a specialist! That is still pretty iffy, though. I wouldn't recommend trying to deduct it all.

No you can't claim that. Travel to get medical care prescribed by a doctor might be, but not the travel you describe.