A life well traveled is a life well lived - so what are you waiting for? From Europe's most idiosyncratic museum to an island dubbed by locals as "far away from far away," these awe-inspiring destinations mark the spot for your next global jaunt.
Canyon Point, Utah
Picture This: You’re sitting at the epicenter of 600 acres of desert sanctuary, surrounded by 164 million-year-old rock formations and geological gems. Exhibit A: Antelope Canyon is the backdrop. Exhibit B: In the distance is Grand Staircase-Escalante National monument. No, it’s not a mirage; it’s the setting for Amangiri, the breathtaking Canyon Point enclave for A-listers and billionaires alike who know well that ultimate isolation is priceless. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, and Victoria and David Beckham are just a few of the elite set who’ve nested in one of its 34 suites, which each offer private courtyards, terraces and fireplaces. R&R is the name of the game at Amangiri, with a 25,000-square-foot spa and heavy focus on Navajo healing traditions to prove it. Though, with the shores of Lake Powell’s twisting slot canyons a 30-minute drive away (plus Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park and Grand Canyon National Park easily accessible via private chopper or within a 2 ½-hour drive), it’s worth getting outside. If a hot air balloon ride and horseback riding through the desert are on your bucket list, kill two goals with one trip. Rates from $1,400 per night, aman.com
St. Paul De Vence, France
Picasso. Matisse. Chagall. Calder. Braque. Léger. These are just a handful of notables who took up artistic residency at La Colombe d’Or well before the term existed. In fact, the fabled family-owned cafe-bar-turned-auberge very well may be the genesis for such a thing. Modernists and literati like James Baldwin and Jacques Prévert fled Paris during World War II, finding creative refuge here in the hills of the French Riviera, between Nice and the Maritime Alps. Struggling artists exchanged work for accommodations, and as a byproduct, their legacy lives on the walls—inspiration lingering and waiting to be caught (perhaps while you dream) in the very rooms where they slept. But the vintage hospitable charm extends beyond the masterpieces scattered throughout the rustic inn to each one of its 25 quaint rooms. There’s also a heated outdoor pool (complete with a monumental Calder mobile for colorful measure). And should you want to dissect the meaning of great 20th century art, The Fondation Maeght is a 10-minute walk away and boasts one of the largest collections in Europe. Plan accordingly, as La Colombe d’Or accepts bookings only via snail mail or phone, and is on holiday every October through Christmas. Rates $273-$470 per night, la-colombe-dor.com
Fogo Island, Newfoundland
Whoever said life is about the journey and not the destination has obviously never been to Fogo Island Inn. Perched above what feels like the end of the world—actually the easternmost edge of North America—on an island off an island on the northeast coast of Newfoundland (still following?), the epitome of 21st century contemporary architecture is something of an anomaly. At the inn, starkly out of place and floating above a seemingly treacherous patch of rock overlooking nothing but miles of wild North Atlantic Ocean, it feels as though you’ve stepped into an abstract painting. Inside, however, you feel right at home. Forget the fact that you’ve taken three planes and a ferry to get here. Or that this place has its own time zone, running half an hour later than anywhere in the United States. Linear design in each of the 29 unique guest rooms is accentuated by bold, whimsical decor. There’s an award-winning restaurant, plus a 37-seat cinema, a tea room, an art gallery and rooftop hot tubs—and, depending on the time of year, iceberg and whale watching, wild berry picking and 125 miles of paths to explore. You know, in case you’re all about the journey. Rates from $1,485 per night, fogoislandinn.ca
Ischia, Italy
It's one thing to see the Almafi Coast of Italy on the ’gram (#wanderlust); it’s another entirely to be awestruck with your own eyes, Aperol spritz in hand while taking in the sparkling Gulf of Naples from your own private harbor. Welcome to Mezzatorre Hotel, a once-upon-a-time (we’re talking the 16th and 17th centuries) Aragonese watchtower sitting pretty atop a rock promontory of Ischia, Capri’s overlooked, underhyped darling sister. If you want to go where the Italians go (and where the Romans went for healing ailments), look no further than this 17-square-mile volcanic island. Maybe it’s the cascading bougainvillea or the contrasting parched tufa enveloping pools of healing thermal springs and turquoise sea. Anywhere you look, you’d swear you’re in a wellness fairy-tale hourglass. With more than 56 streams of mineral springs and 150 spa options, Ischia beckons you into nirvana. Case in point: Legend has it that Fonte delle Ninfe Nitrodi is the oldest spa in the world and a gift from the nymphs and the god Apollo himself. Soak in the timeless tranquility and get lost in Nitrodi Nymph Park’s geomorphological structure. Fountains of youth can be hard on the body; remember to stay hydrated with something other than wine and limoncello. Grand Suite rates from $1,900 per night, mezzatorre.com
Koh Samui, Thailand
You can't experience unconditional love in a place born out of love. An undeniable connection deepened by a reverence for the island brought founders Karina and John Stewart together and led them to open Kamalaya Koh Samui in 2005. Aside from an ancient meditation cave frequented by Buddhist monks seeking enlightenment, the beachside holistic shrine offers steam caverns, infrared saunas, plunge pools and fresh coconuts at every turn. But the mystical energy of the island itself is the foundation for countless extensive wellness programs, fitness and health regimens, healing modalities and individually tailored packages. Back pain, posture problems, disturbed sleep and burnout are addressed at Kamalaya, ensuring you won’t be the same person who checked in physically, mentally or emotionally when you leave. It’s why Fortune 500 CEOs and age-defying celebs like Elle Macpherson come to Kamalaya searching for inner peace and soul rejuvenation under the Thai sun. Rates from $250 per night, kamalaya.com
Cusco, Peru
When travelling to Peru, Specifically Cusco, of course you should stay in an intimate 55-suite Incan palace—Belmond Palacio Nazarenas, featuring Cusco’s first outdoor pool. And you must voyage to the legendary sacred valley of the Incas (looking at you, Machu Picchu) aboard the panoramic IncaRail, which boasts 360-degree views of ineffable magic, plus an alfresco carriage to breathe in the changing landscape. Pro tip: For a birdseye view of Machu Picchu’s ruins, the formidable Huayna Picchu (only 400 visitors allowed daily) is a walk through the clouds to the uppermost peak. Don’t want to leave? Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel conveniently next to the citadel (it lets you beat the crowds). Of course, no visit to one of the most talked about destinations in the world would be complete without catching sight of the mesmerizing Rainbow Mountain. The spellbinding “mountain of seven colors” was just another ice-covered range of the Peruvian Andes for centuries until it started to melt in 2015, the alchemy of water and minerals unearthing a marvelous spectrum of uncharted land. At an elevation of 17,000 feet, it’s essential to acclimate to the altitude before attempting a several-day hike to the notoriously hard-to-find peak. Make it, though, and you’re guaranteed to feel like a god. Rates from $545 per night, belmond.com
