The Places to Stay Now
From colonial style haciendas in Puerto Rico to luxurious hotels in South Patagonia, if you’re looking for a new vacation spot here are a few of our favorites.
Su Casa, Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico
This Caribbean jewel is nestled in the crown of the new Dorado Beach, Laurance Rockefeller’s visionary resort and now a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Su Casa, a colonial-style hacienda in Puerto Rico has been visited by everyone from J.F.K. to Amelia Earhart, this Caribbean destination should be on your radar because it is once again the place to escape to for a week. After its $342 million redo the place is the epitome of sophisticated glamour. The place has impeccable decor, a well polished staff awesome golf courses and Slim Aarons pools.
Su Casa starts at $30,000; 100 Dorado Beach Dr.; 800-836-3124;doradobeachreserve.com.
Hoshinoya, Japan
Hidden in the hills along the quiet Hozu River, about a 40-minute drive from Kyoto, lies Hoshinoya, a charming ryokan that embodies the Japan of travelers’ imaginations. Getting to the three-year-old inn requires a ten-minute ride on the property’s riverboat. Once you’re there, the 19th-century wood-framed buildings house 25 minimalist rooms as well as two idyllic gardens, a library and a culture space full of Japanese games. Many of the rooms feature living areas with tatami mats and low tables. There are plenty of modern touches, too: This being the country of bidets, the ultrasmart Toto toilets open as you walk into the bathrooms. In the kitchen, executive chef Ichiro Kubota turns out a seasonal kaisekimenu—he was awarded a Michelin star in October—of, say, homemade soba noodles and charcoal-grilled fish with white-sesame-coveredkoutake mushrooms. Rooms start at $670; 11-2 Arashiyama Genrokuzancho, Nishikyo-ku; 81-50/3786-0066;global.hoshinoresort.com.
Nihiwatu, Indonesia
If you are looking for a luxurious place to stay just steps away from one of the world’s best surf breaks, then Nihiwatu on Sumba, Indonesia is the place for you. With three new Africa-style, four-suite villas and amazing pools this is one of the best beach hotels on the planet. Villas start at $595 a person; Desa Hobawawi, Sumba; 62-361/757-149;nihiwatu.com.
Laucala Island, Fiji
Laucala Island in Fiji is a former coconut plantation that has been transformed into a private island resort, with a six-to-one staff-to-guest ratio. Perched on the end of a peninsula, the one-bedroom Peninsula Residence has an infinity pool overlooking the South Seas and a bathroom with a tub carved out of rock. The beach below the bedroom is private; the chef and the boat are always on call. The Peninsula Residence starts at $5,500; 679/888-0077;laucala.com.
Hotel Refugia, Castro, Chile
Equal parts glass and indigenous wood, this 12-room modern hotel overlooks a pristine inland sea, and the snow-capped Andes Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop and ideal terrain for excursions by foot, bike and horseback. Those seeking a less strenuous way to explore the region can do so at the restaurant, which serves freshly caught seafood and a wide selection of the best Chilean wines. —Melissa Biggs Bradley, founder and CEO of the luxury travel outfitter Indagare
Until last year, travelers looking to explore the undeveloped archipelago of Chiloé had to sail across the South Pacific Ocean. The opening of Hotel Refugia (rooms, from $530 a person; San José Playa, Castro; 56-65/772-080; refugia.cl), has brought modern luxury to the wilderness and has led to the creation of the island’s first regular airline service, making it easier to travel there then ever before.
