Why Go Now This archipelago, an outpost of French Polynesia, has the geographic distinction of being the farthest group of islands from any continental landmass, and yet it is just a three-hour flight from Papeete, Tahiti’s capital, on Air Tahiti (airtahiti.pf). The island Hiva Oa (population 1991) lacks the blue lagoons and overwater bungalows of Moorea or Bora-Bora, but travellers in search of peace and quiet will find it here in the primeval landscape of cliffs, waterfalls and ironwood forests. Hiva Oa is also where French artist Paul Gauguin spent the final years of his career and the island draws plenty of pilgrims who are travelling in his footsteps.
The Details The main island’s only hotel, Hiva Oa Hanakee Pearl Lodge (pearlresorts.com; doubles from $389), has 14 bungalows, some of which face the lush Tehueto valley and Tahauku Beach. Each bamboo-lattice bungalow is outfitted with woven-palm wall coverings, carved tiki poles and traditional bark-paper paintings.
Arrange a tour with Pearl Lodge’s guide Lecortier Tematai, who will point out trellised vanilla orchids and petroglyphs and expertly manoeuvre dirt roads under a canopy of acacia and mango trees. He’ll drive you by Polynesia’s largest stone tiki, then stop for a typical Marquesan lunch (tuna ceviche, goat curry, fried breadfruit) at the house of native chef Pua Poevai.
In the main village, Atuona, the narrow thoroughfare is lined with shops selling Tahitian beer and one-story whitewashed houses with fishing boats lying in the yards. Gauguin’s grave is on a hill at Calvary Cemetery in the village and the Paul Gauguin Cultural Centre (+689 927 897) showcases 92 reproductions of his works. A stroll on the village’s black-sand beach at the base of 4,186-foot mount temetiu is the best way to end the day. You can rest assured that very few travelers have ever done the same. – shane mitchell
Why Go Now The pine tree-lined stretch of southeastern coastline known as Pranburi – a three-hour drive south of Bangkok and 30 minutes south of the popular resort town of Hua Hin – is blessedly free of the wandering masseurs, banana-boat operators and other interlopers who crowd many of the country’s beaches. Visitors are likely to encounter only the occasional couple strolling along the sand, enjoying uninterrupted views of fishing boats plying the Gulf of Thailand. A few kilometres inland, pineapple plantations, mangrove forests and rice fields attract travellers in search of the Thailand of 20 years ago.
The Details Change is slowly creeping into Pranburi and surrounding areas, announced by charmingly idiosyncratic boutique hotels; the area’s alluring mix of seclusion, authenticity and character is driving many travellers to choose it over Hua Hin. “Hua hin is becoming a big city with traffic,” notes Yingluck Chareonying, a clothing designer who was one of the first Bangkok settlers to open a hotel in the area 11 years ago. Her whimsical 12-room Brassiere Beach (210 Moo 5, Tambon Samroiyod; +66 32 630 5555; brassierebeach.com; doubles from $170) was inspired by two domelike islands that sit just offshore, and is set in a lush garden on a secluded beach.
Pranburi has plenty of authentic flavour, with countless seaside shacks dishing up tasty street food, like som tam (spicy green papaya salad), accompanied by honey-basted grilled chicken. The best meals can be found at the cluster of stalls on the beach at the southern end of town, where lunch for two runs just $7. – jennifer chen
Why Go Now Few New Zealanders, and even fewer Australians venture south beyond iconic Milford Sound, let alone the all-year round resort town of Queenstown. Yet this spectacular, sparsely populated natural wonderland encompasses under-visited attractions such as the World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park, The Catlins and the Southern Scenic Route, while for the more adventurous there’s Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third biggest land-mass after the North and South Islands. Visitors to this remote region will experience wild pristine forests, waterfalls, lakes and rugged coastlines, dotted with lonely lighthouses, and glimpse rare and endangered wildlife such as yellow-eyed penguins, whose beachside habitat can be viewed from a special-constructed hide at Nugget Point in The Catlins. Although Southland is being touted as New Zealand’s “next big thing” its remoteness will ensure that its relative obscurity will remain undisturbed for some time.
The Details One of the world’s great undiscovered drives, The Southern Scenic Route officially begins at Te Anau but it can be easily begun in Queenstown. The route passes near Fiordland and Southland. At Te Anau, the architect-designed Fiordland Lodge (472 Te Anau Milford Highway; +64 3 249 3832; fiordlandlodge.co.nz, doubles from$500 in winter), perfect as an overnight base for visiting either Milford Sound, or the less famous but larger and more difficult to reach, Doubtful Sound. Allow some time to relax in the cavernous, though comfortable, main lounge of Fiordland Lodge with superb views of Lake Te Anau.
Unlike the rest of New Zealand, the southern portion of the Southland region is bereft of true luxury accommodation, except, that is, for the strawbale-designed, ultra-private Tikana Lodge at (347 Livingstone Rd, Winton; +64-3-236-4117; tikana.co.nz; doubles from $1383). It’s located on a farm surrounded by verdant, undulating paddocks populated by grazing deer. Owners Donna-Maree Day and Dave Lawrence are exceptional hosts and, on a clear day, they can take you to the top of a hill where the outline of Stewart Island can be seen. The water in Southland, which has the longest daylight hours in New Zealand, is warm enough for swimming in summer months – just – in the Catlins, with Curio Bay and Dolphin Bay recommended as safe and sheltered beaches. At Curio Bay don’t miss the petrified fossil forest, which features 160 million-year-old logs frozen in time at the waters-edge.
The Southern Scenic Route can be completed in the city of Dunedin where the stylish bed and breakfast, Mandeno House (667 George St, Dunedin; +64 3 471 9595; mandenohouse.com; doubles from $216) is a great find. Dunedin and Queenstown have flight connections to Australia while Invercargill, the under-loved, and oft-eschewed, Southland capital of Invercargill was once unkindly dubbed the “arse-hole of the world” by The Rolling Stones, has links to the main New Zealand cities and towns. – anthony dennis
Why Go Now During the late 19th century, the Pacific Coast town of Mazatlán was a playground for vacationing members of the German, French and Mexican aristocracy, who took up residence in the Centro Histórico, or old town. Its reputation as an elite hot spot continued through the early 20th century. But in the 60s, the city – just a three-hour flight from L.A. – became a popular port for cruise ships. Soon after, strip malls and chain restaurants sprouted up along the Zona Dorada, a 20-kilometre stretch of beach 15 minutes north of the Centro Histórico. And the neo-classical mansions with 16-foot ceilings and wrought-iron balconies – remnants of Mazatlán’s heyday – were abandoned and all but forgotten. Until now, that is.
The Details The 114 hectares that make up the old town are experiencing a renaissance, with stylish cafes, boutiques and hotels opening on seemingly every corner. Local Alfredo Gómez Rubio jump-started the revitalisation in 1997 with Pedro y Lola (Avdas. Constitución and Carnaval; +52 669 982 2589; dinner for two $56), a Nuevo Mexicano restaurant named after Mexican actor Pedro Infante and ranchera singer Lola Beltrán. housed in a 130-year-old neoclassical building, the former social club, which hosted prominent dance performances in the 1800s, serves regional dishes such as molcajete (chunks of arrachera beef with grilled nopales, onions, and fresh panela cheese) in a wood-beamed dining room. Soon after, artists miguel Ruíz and his Belgian wife, Helene van der Heiden, opened Casa Etnika (50 Calle Sixto Osuna; +52 669 136 0139; casaetnika.com.mx), an art gallery and crafts shop. Inside, Michoacán silver necklaces hang alongside colourful paintings by local residents.
More galleries followed, as did a complete overhaul of the nearby 1874 Teatro Ángela Peralta (1024 Avda. Constitución; +52 669 982 4446; teatroangelaperalta.com), an 841-seat Italian Renaissance-style theatre with an open-air lobby and triple-tiered balconies – all of which helped put the area back on Mexico’s cultural map. In 2007, Conchita Valades de Boccard created Casa Lucila (16 Calle Olas Altas; +52 669 982 1100; casalucila.com; doubles from $262), old town’s first seaside boutique hotel, built on the site of a 1940s nightclub frequented by John Wayne and Ernest Hemingway. overlooking Olas Altas beach, the eight contemporary rooms are outfitted with custom-made mahogany doors, Italian ceramic-tiled floors and local wood furniture.
Around the corner, Melville Suites (99 Avda. Constitución; +52 669 982 8474; themelville.com; doubles from $110) is more traditional: it’s a 19th-century former nunnery converted into 20 large suites that are brimming with hand-carved armoires and Mexican antiques. El Santo y La Panga (1505 Niños Héroes; +52 669 985 4124; dinner for two $110) is old town’s newest addition. the pint-size seafood joint packs in locals nightly, who come for tuna tostadas with chipotle mayonnaise and avocado. “Mazatlán has turned a corner from what it was 40 years ago,” says owner Jaime Flores. “It’s an exciting time to be here.” – jeff spurrier
Why Go Now The prime Levantine location and sandy turquoise shores of this tiny island belie its complicated political past. But after decades spent divided between a turkish-occupied north and Greek-speaking south, Cyprus is unifying, and international attention is now focused on its wildflower-covered hills and crystalline coastline. Cyprus is changing dramatically around the port town of Paphos, the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite. During the Hellenistic period, Paphos was Cyprus’s capital, renowned for its temples and olive groves. today, this UNESCO World Heritage site serves as an entry point to the island’s most exclusive resorts, and to tiny nearby crafts towns, like Omodos and Lefkara.
The Details The chic Almyra (+357 26 888 700; thanoshotels.com; doubles from $360) set the tone for Paphos’s resurgence when it debuted in 2004. Designed by one of Karl Lagerfeld’s favourite architects, Joëlle Pléot, and Tristan Auer, the centrally located hotel lures Europeans with its white-washed bungalows and black-bottom pool. Down the coast at the mod-rustic Thalassa Boutique Hotel & Spa (+357 26 881 500; thalassa.com.cy; doubles from $670), the 58 suites – most with butlers and all named after a Greek god or goddess – are perched on a peninsula just above Coral Bay, over-looking 3400-year-old Mycenaean ruins.
Although equally historic, Limassol, a harbour town on the southern coast, is more focused on its future than its past. Indeed, the marina of this commercial hub, home to the largest shipping port in the Mediterranean, is in the midst of a $390 million make- over. In the old town, cobblestoned Agiou Andreou Street houses many stylish shops: You’ll find Cavelliesque tunics and blouses from Cypriot designer Pantelis Mitsu at Mitsu Mitsu (191 St. Andrews St.; +357 25 359 291) and handmade gold and enamel jewellery at the Precious Metal Gallery (17 Agora Anexartisias St.; 357-25 353 639). the island’s only micro-brewery, Draught Microbrewery Bar & Grill (Vasilissis St.; +357 25 820 470), is located nearby. on the waterfront is Londa (+357 25 865 555; londahotel.com; doubles from $620), a 68-room seafront retreat designed by the venerable Italian firm Caruzzo Rancati, also responsible for Milan’s Gianfranco Ferré flagship. A favourite of British fashion designer Julien Macdonald, the hotel has creamy marble and wood interiors, a mod restaurant and an alfresco bar with a DJ and dancing. It adds just the right amount of gloss to the increasingly cosmopolitan city. – david kaufman
A recent influx of farm-to-table restaurants and small-scale wineries has turned this Fleurieu Peninsula town 50 kilometres south of Adelaide into a choice summer retreat. Willunga House is a 160-year-old Georgian mansion with five simple, light-filled guest rooms. +61 8 8556 2467; willungahouse.com.au; doubles from $324.
Porta Vila, Vanuatu Tucked between Australia and Fiji, this island has the best of both worlds: traditional Polynesian tribal culture and a modern hotel called the Breakas Beach Resort and Villas . Fronted by a palm-studded private beach, the 36 bungalows are decorated with dark-wood furniture and neutral tones. +678 23670; breakas.com; doubles from $323.
Rarotonga, Cook Islands Keen to shake off its image as second banana to Tahiti, this sleepy island capital to the north-east of New Zealand is getting a luxe overhaul. Leading the charge is boutique resort Little Polynesian , owned by two local sisters Dorice Reid and Jeannine Peyroux, which ditched its dated look for a sleek, makeover 18 months ago. The overhaul, and the resort’s attached fine diner, means there is little need to stray, but do as there are local delights the full length of the island. +682 24280; littlepolynesian.com; doubles from $550.
Con Dao, Vietnam This pristine chain of volcanic islands is only 225 kilometres southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon Con Dao Resort offers simple, light-filled rooms set in a tropical garden. +84 64 830 155; saigoncondao.com/en; doubles from $144.
Andaman Islands, India Mumbai’s style set flocks to this archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. The Barefoot at Havelock has 18 thatched-roof cottages that are hidden in a lush rainforest. Radhanagar Village, Havelock Island; 91-3192/282-151; barefootindia.com; doubles from $130.
Boracay, Philippines Known to insiders as one of the world’s great diving spots, the nearly 10-square-kilometre island is poised to enter the international spotlight with the opening of the Shangri-La Boracay Resort & Spa this December. For now, check in to Boracay Beach Club . Many of the 30 rooms overlook the sea. +63 36 288 6770; boracaybeachclub.com; doubles from $158.
An alternative to overtouristed Bali, the laid-back pace of this surfer’s mecca is now drawing international crowds. With only one hotel on the island – the beach-side Aman Gati Hotel (not part of Amanresorts) – you’re guaranteed a stretch of sand to yourself. +62 361 780 1763; doubles from $54.
Windsurfers have long known about this fishing village on the Cesme Peninsula. And thanks to the addition of the Port Alaçati marina (lined with boutiques, galleries and restaurants), its reputation is fanning out beyond adventure aficionados. Stay at the 17-room port Hotel Alaçati . +90 232 716 0385; portalacati.com.tr; doubles from $220.
The Black Sea’s answer to St.-Tropez (with the yachts to back it up) is attracting celebrity visitors like Brangelina. Hotel Logatero ‘s 11 rooms are outfitted with sleek natural- wood furnishings. +359 5 502 4202; hotellogatero.com; doubles from $295.
Outfitters such as Micato Safaris (micatosafaris.com) are now including Lamu, a tranquil white-sand island off the Kenyan coast, in custom-tailored tours. If you’re on your own, check into one of the six Swahili-chic suites at the Banana House. +254 721 275 538; lamuretreats.com; doubles from $200.
European expats are converting groups of Andalusian-style villas in this quiet coastal town into boutique hotels, including the Spanish- Moroccan La Maison Haute , near the bustling souk. +212 653 448 88; lamaisonhaute.free.fr; doubles from $160.
This sandy spit is known for its arid landscape and secluded, mountain- backed beaches, just a two- to three-hour bus ride from Dubai. Book a room at the 60-room Golden Tulip Resort, Khasab for mesmerising Persian Gulf views. It has an on-site dive centre. +968 2673 0777; goldentulipkhasab.com; doubles from $300.
A laid-back tropical spit dotted with thatched-roof hotels, known for its lush forests and a smooth shoreline. At Casa Canada , 20 cabanas overlook an infinity pool. +11 505 644 0925; casa-canada.com; doubles from $123.
Just a half-hour boat ride from the mainland, the eight-kilometre coral strip has stunning barrier reefs and two nature preserves. The huts at the oceanfront seaside Cabanas have a cheery orange-and-red palette. +11 501 226 0498; seasidecabanas.com; doubles from $152.
Tranquil beaches, five volcanoes and diverse fauna make up the seahorse-shaped island. Wildlife viewing is unparalleled from the private seaview balconies at la Casa de Marita . +593 5 252 9301; galapagosisabela.com; doubles from $100.
Additional reporting by Katie Bowman, Paul Chai, Lisa C Cheng, Tanvi Chheda, Caroline Davis, Angela Fleury, Jennifer Flowers, Serra Guercay, Kendall Hill, Catesby Holmes, Rosamaria Mancini, Bree Sposato and Stephanie Stephens.