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Forbes
18-05-2025
- Forbes
18 Undiscovered Beach Getaways
As summer approaches, the dream of a peaceful beach escape can quickly devolve into the reality of battling over limited parking spots, securing the last beach umbrella and wrangling the best lunch reservations. This year, leave all that stress behind. Instead of elbowing through throngs on South Beach, it may be time to try that secluded stretch along Florida's 30A highway. Rather than following the crowds to Waikiki Beach, consider a quiet Malaysian retreat. For those seeking a summertime trip beyond the bustling tourist trails, Forbes Travel Guide's editors recommend 18 under-the-radar beach havens. But don't wait on booking a summer beach getaway—these destinations won't stay a secret for long. One&Only Aesthesis Santorini and Mykonos may attract most of the summer hordes but missing out on other islands and Greek beach destinations would be a tragedy. One&Only Aesthesis' golden sands are impossibly serene, even though the beach sits just 20 minutes from the city center. The Athenian Riviera property wisely orients its recreation, restaurants and remarkable views around the water. For even more privacy, the adults-only Mystiko Beach offers a secluded cove nearby. Mandarin Oriental, Canouan In 2024, the small Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines had roughly 227,000 visitors, compared to 11 million for the Bahamas. Those in the know come to the world-class Mandarin Oriental, Canouan. It sits on Godahl Beach, the white-powdered playground that's blanketed with the Five-Star resort's colonial-style suites, Italian-designed villas and a spa with hillside palapas. D Maris Bay The Aegean and Mediterranean seas meet at this Turkish resort. D Maris Bay features six distinct beaches—ranging from a club scene with DJs and late-night parties to a family-friendly option with a kids' club—and a yacht for water adventures. After hitting the beach, choose from seven bars and six restaurants and then retire to one of the 195 bright, contemporary rooms overlooking the water or mountains. The Datai Langkawi A 10-million-year-old rainforest borders Datai Bay, shielding the mile-long crescent of white sand along the Andaman Sea. The lush landscape also hides the 121 wood-filled rooms, whose terraces might offer a glimpse of the rainforest's resident langurs and Sunda flying lemurs. Learn more about the native fauna and flora on one of the nature walks or enjoy the tropical surroundings from the spa's open-air treatment villas. The St. Regis Longboat Key A Sarasota-area getaway that debuted in October 2024, The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort was instantly praised for its 168 sophisticated rooms and 20,000-square-foot spa. But the real draw here is the 11-mile barrier island on which the resort sits. Vacationers can bask at how well the natural world and hospitality world harmonize here during a morning walk along the shore, an afternoon lagoon excursion or a candlelit dinner at the waterfront Riva Italian restaurant. The Chedi Lustica Bay Similar to its buzzy neighbor Croatia, Montenegro offers lush landscapes and walled Game of Thrones-worthy towers. But unlike the former, images of Montenegro resorts such as The Chedi Luštica Bay, a Mediterranean marvel of stone facades and terra cotta roofs, haven't been overshared on Instagram yet. While guests may want to post from the year-round private beach, the 111-room hotel's four restaurants and bars, Asian-inspired spa and outdoor infinity pool are also ready for their close-up. Baoase Luxury The private beach at this island hideaway is a launching point for snorkel expeditions to a submerged tugboat and teeming reefs, jet-ski adventures and charters of a 42-foot Boston Whaler for a sunset outing. The family-run, Balinese-influenced hotel keeps the experience intimate with just 23 rooms, including a lavish villa on its own private island. 7Pines Resort Sardinia Like any Sardinian escape worth its weight in date palms, this 75-room property cradled along the island's northern coast has its share of quaint nooks. Still, 7Pines Resort Sardinia's best-kept secret may be the four coves hidden within its shrubland. Upon request, the hotel can transform these quiet corners into an open-air spa haven or a romantic picnic spot, giving guests an opportunity to make unique memories far from the island's more congested beaches. The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Spanish moss, 13 miles of dune-lined barrier island beaches and plentiful rocking chairs make this Four-Star resort ideal for a genteel getaway about 45 minutes from Jacksonville. The hotel elevates the experience with a Four-Star spa, the newly renovated Salt restaurant from former Le Bernardin chef Okan Kizilbayir and a Club Level that not only has a lounge but also extends to the beach with perks like a dedicated strip of sand and lunch delivered right to your chair. Cleopatra sidi Heneish Avoid the crowds at this little-known beach enclave tucked away along Egypt's enchanting North Coast. It's a place fit for royalty: according to the hotel, Cleopatra herself once bathed in these turquoise waters. If that's not reason enough of a lure, the 332-room oceanfront hotel also features seven pools, a kids' camp and aquatic park, a golf driving range and a rejuvenating spa. Royal Palm Beachcomber Luxury Everything revolves around the water at this remote thatched-roof paradise on the island's northwestern coast. Guests can partake in this Five-Star boutique hotel's yoga and meditation on the beach, sunset paddle yoga, weekly beachside buffet and private dining on the sand. And no matter which of the 69 suites you book, all overlook the ocean. Venture inland to visit the 12-treatment-room spa with Valmont treatments and the 18-hole Mont Choisy Le Golf course just 10 minutes away. Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai While visitors come here for the nearby UNESCO Heritage Sites, they should stay for the beach. The Five-Star all-villa hotel offers a private half-mile of white sand dotted with coconut palms and an array of watersports, including kayaking, bodyboarding, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding. There are also three pools, a spa with floating treatment pavilions and a beachfront lounge serving sherry sundowners. Salterra In the "island of white gold," salt is a precious commodity. South Caicos' rich salt-harvesting heritage inspired the design of the new beachfront property, its spa treatments and the signature restaurant, Brine. Salterra features abundant natural riches, including a stunning 3,000-foot stretch of pristine beach, and 100 sand-colored rooms with balconies that face the ocean. Nujuma, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve A private paradise awaits on the shores of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea. The first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Middle East opened in 2024 in the largely untouched Ummahat Islands with 63 seashell-shaped, solar-powered overwater villas featuring Saudi design touches. Every villa also comes with a butler who can arrange everything from snorkel trips at nearby reefs to stargazing sessions with an astronomer. The Cove Eleuthera The intimate, laid-back vibe at the 22-room boutique hotel between two sand coves ensures that guests will never have to worry about jostling for a chaise longue. It also means there won't be crowds at the infinity pool with ocean vistas, the Asian-inspired restaurant or the cliffside bar. Apart from the attentive staff, who can arrange a coral nursery snorkel tour or a sand bar excursion, you may forget there's anyone else there. The Pearl Southern hospitality shines as bright as the Florida sun at this Rosemary Beach boutique hotel with thoughtful touches such as complimentary sparkling wine upon arrival, freshly baked bedtime treats and a waterfront chaise and black-and-white umbrella waiting when it's time to get some rays. After a long day on the beach, retreat to the turreted hotel's rooftop bar or a coastal-chic room. The Sanya Edition Set along the South China Sea in Sanya—dubbed the 'Hawaii of China'—this Four-Star hotel offers its own unique 215,000-square-foot private 'ocean,' where more than 10 million gallons of water are pumped in from the sea and filtered. The 501 water-facing rooms are sleek, minimalist refuges, and a floating restaurant and two-story spa allow for more ways to unwind. Hotel Principe Forte Dei Marmi Tuscany may not be the first destination that springs to mind when dreaming up a beach getaway, but this Four-Star hotel is worthy of one. The meticulously designed property has an elegant beach club overlooking the Ligurian Sea, ample lounge chairs and a Mediterranean garden, which houses a restaurant overseen by chef Valentino Cassanelli that radiates easy European charm.
Globe and Mail
16-05-2025
- Globe and Mail
Morning Update: A guide for Canadian wanderlust
Good morning. The Globe's annual Canadian travel guide hits a little closer to home this year. More on that below, plus a look at wildfires in Manitoba and movement on an Iranian nuclear deal … sort of. Good morning, I'm Catherine Dawson March, I've been working on travel stories (amongst other editing duties) at The Globe and Mail since 2010. 'Nothing is really 'hidden' anymore, why don't you change the name?' is something I hear every year in the newsroom as I prepare our annual Hidden Canada feature for publication. For starters, 'The Canada You Haven't Discovered Yet' isn't quite as punchy. But I'm also not convinced the naysayers have it right – this country is so darn big, most of us haven't explored much beyond our own province. It took me over 50 years of living in Toronto to drive through Northern Ontario – real Northern Ontario, not the two-to-three hour radius around the city considered 'cottage country.' (BTW, it's freaking gorgeous in Northern Ontario! And there's a lot fewer people.) Our eighth annual Hidden Canada feature is a collection of towns and cities across the country – some you might already know, many you won't – all are worth visiting. (Last year's and other previous years' editions have just as many great destinations). The 2025 compilation couldn't have come at a better time as many Canadians – irritated with the rhetoric and unsavoury news south of the border – are skipping those quick and easy trips to the U.S. But I knew the tide was turning long before the flight numbers and official stats came out. Never before have I heard from so many tourism reps and media relations firms about their U.S. destinations and clients. They've been working the phones and firing off a whole lot of emails to convince Canadians how much we are missed. Never before has a federal U.S. tourism executive wearing a maple-leaf pin taken me out for coffee to apologize for their government's disrespectful attitude toward my country's border. Yes, it's an interesting time to be a travel editor in Canada. And that's why Hidden Canada is really hitting home this year. Canadians were forced to explore their own backyard during the pandemic border closures – but this year, many of us just want to. Because while it may be cheaper to fly to Europe (from the East) or Asia, Australia and even, yes, Hawaii (from the West), maybe it's time to stay put. New Brunswick might be less exotic but the exchange rate is in our favour. Plus, as I learned from Barbara Balfour's piece – Moncton's St. George Street is hipper and more historic than you might think. And last summer, I discovered that just two-hours from the Manitoba border sits Ontario's biggest hidden gem: the enormous Lake of the Woods, where the summer homes and laid-back lake vibe rival anything in the much busier south. I mean, there's even a 1930s, 85-foot mahogany yacht that sails around its 14,552 islands – not to mention a floating coffee roastery. This year in Hidden Canada, writer Vanessa Chiasson features an area of Nova Scotia known as 'Little Switzerland' and Chloe Berge explores a new type of Inuit-led tourism in Northern Quebec, among many other scenic spots. Hidden Canada publishes around the May long weekend – Canada's official kick-off to summertime travel. But all year long, I keep an ear out for interesting corners of the country to consider for next year. I'm always chatting up strangers and friends about where they've been and why because I've discovered that people who love travelling love to talk about it even more. Whether it's a humblebrag, a lost luggage sob story, the thrill of pushing physical limits or a travel nightmare they've learned to laugh about – it's all fodder for a good story. When I'm lucky, they'll agree to write about it. Seizures of American guns at the Canadian border are on the rise, and during a tense time between our countries, collaboration is crucial to stop smuggling schemes. At home: RCMP are investigating the deaths of two people as Manitoba wildfires continue to burn more than 4,000 hectares near Lac du Bonnet. Abroad: President Donald Trump says the U.S. and Iran have 'sort of" agreed on the terms for a nuclear deal. Buy in: A consortium of 36 First Nations is buying a minority stake in Enbridge Inc.'s B.C. natural gas pipeline network for $715-million. Pay down: Ontario is forecasting a deficit of $14.6-billion, almost 10 times larger than it predicted last fall for the coming fiscal year, as it wrestles with U.S. tariffs.
