Has staying indoors given you a case of wanderlust? With summer heating up, it’s time to dig out that suitcase from the back of your closet and start planning your next big adventure. And, in case you need inspiration, here’s a list of six of our favorite destinations for luxury travel, wellness, partying, and overall relaxation.
Bali, Indonesia
Desa Potato Head
Indulge the senses with the ultimate sensory experience beachside at Desa Potato Head in Petitenget Beach, Seminyak, Bali. Designed to “inspire creativity, balance, and progress for the future,” the Potato Head Beach Club and Potato Head Studios will quickly become a favorite creative retreat. Designed for artists, creatives, and thinkers, the resort offers a plethora of wellness, music, and regenerative experiences. Sustainability is woven into the fabric of the resort through art installations, inspired cuisine, and music spaces. For the complete wellness experience, book for Hedonism, a monthly “weekend of pure, multi-sensory indulgence.”
Be sure to check out 5,000 Lost Soles, a visually breathtaking installation by award-winning German art activist Liina Klauss. The exhibit demonstrates the reality of marine pollution and is made from more than 5,000 plastic flip-flops collected by the artist over six visits to Bali’s west coast.
The resort prides itself in being home to restaurants with locally sourced, organic ingredients and generational recipes rarely shared outside of the islands.
Relax at Sanctuary, Potato Head’s immersive wellness experience offering vibroacoustic audio-visual therapy, energy medicine, sound healing, and ice bath therapy. Further, focus your intentions through guided morning and evening meditations.
The crown jewel of Seminyak for music, the Potato Head Beach Club features the best local DJs and a vibrant party atmosphere. Let the music take you away at Studio Eksotika, and set up for the ultimate audiophile. Then, dance the night away at the local Seminyak nightclubs, which are less than a 20-minute cab ride from the resort.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa
Looking to vacation and party like an A-lister? Look no further than the Dreams Los Cabos Suites Golf Resort & Spa in dreamy Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This AAA Four Diamond Resort boasts dazzling suites with breathtaking views, seven restaurants, four bars, two heated pools, and more. Relax poolside with a cocktail of your choice, or take a dip for a drink from the swim-up bar.
Spend your days soaking up the sun on the beach, at the pool, or playing the green at nearby championship golf courses. For the more adventurous, the local beaches and excursions offer parasailing, swimming with dolphins, ziplining, snorkeling, jet-skiing, ATV tours, and more.
At night, the party at el Squid Roe, Crush Nightspot, Mandala, and the other nightclubs is only a 30-minute cab ride away. We’re partial to el Squid Roe on the strip, but hey, we love a good dance club that allows champagne spraying, encourages dancing on tables and offers Jell-O shots. And, if you’re a decent dancer, the staff just might save you a table to dance on the next night.
Playa Conchal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
The Westin Reserva Conchal
Three words: wellness, rainforest, and golf. This 2,400-acre all-inclusive golf resort and spa showcases the beauty of nature through its bordering luxurious beaches and exotic forests. A nature-enveloped lagoon-style pool will let you live out your tropical fantasies, while the premium golf course has 18 holes of bliss to play. Dine at any of the nine restaurants, each offering a unique cuisine, such as Mexican, Italian, BBQ, Asian, and a steakhouse. Relax in either pool with drinks from the swim-up and poolside bars, or take a stroll down to the beach for yoga or our personal favorite, a beach massage. For offsite adventure, explore the surrounding paradise of the rainforest sanctuary. The sanctuary features waterfalls and hot springs on the Atlantic slope of Rincón de la Vieja volcano. At night, discover the Bar Imperial for drinks and dancing with a live DJ. And, if you’re looking to sample creations from a real chocolatier, The Beach Chocolate Factory is a short cab ride from the resort. With stunning serene beaches, tropical palm trees, and vibrant, exotic animals serving as a beautiful backdrop, the Westin Reserva Conchal is perfect for wellness retreats, birthday trips, destination weddings, and honeymoons.
Paros, Greece
Cosme, A Luxury Collection Resort
Nestled in the Cyclades island group in the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, the island of Paros hosts Cosme, a Luxury Collection Resort as part of Marriott’s Bonvoy portfolio. Newly opened in June 2022, this resort features the culinary creations and leadership of Yiannis Kioroglou and his passion for ‘Medite-grecian’ cuisine.
Pulled from the creative minds at ID Laboratorium, finding gorgeous views has never been easier with a private beach club, half-moon-shaped pool designed to mirror the bay of Naoussa, infinity pool, and beachfront restaurant. A jewel of the Aegean, Cosme also offers private plunge pools, awe-inspiring sea views, and whitewashed meandering walkways to help create a holistic wellness experience. The experience culminates in Elios, the spa and wellness center, with a star gazing area atop the highest point of the hotel. Here you can embark on a transformative journey as you meditate and flow to yoga under the stars.
Santorini, Greece
Mystique Hotel
Take in the picturesque sapphire waters of the Southern Aegean Sea as you stay at the five-star Mystique Hotel. Carved into the Caldera cliffs, the resort offers panoramic views of the sea and an active volcano. Mystique has partnered with OPO (founded by Chris Connors) to create an immersive experience “blending guided meditation with science-supported soundscapes and real-life views; helping us find a deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us.” These bespoke meditation sessions are paired with a specially crafted menu onsite at Lure from the visionary brains of Mystique’s Head Chef, Olivier Campanha, and Nutritional Therapist and best-selling author, Eve Kalink. Example dishes include Beetroots, apple and courgette carpaccio, almonds, chives, caramelized cherry tomatoes, tomatoes confit rouille and Grilled, seaweed salad, custard, burnt red oil, pickled onions, samphire, tartare, Thesauri Greek caviar, watercress, and green apples.
Offering open-air dining, a 150-year-old wine cellar known as the Wine Cave, and private indoor Jacuzzis, this resort is a favorite of travelers looking for romantic getaways, serene views, and pure relaxation. Feel like you’re living in a movie as you explore the ancient ruins, sunbathe on a catamaran, take a donkey ride, or go horseback riding. And, for the daredevil traveler, there’s Amoudi Bay close to the resort with a platform built for jumping into the azure water.
Khuk Khak, Thailand
The Haven Khao Lak
If you’re seeking five stars, yummy seafood, tantalizing spices, spectacular views, and a childfree atmosphere (guests must be older than 12 years old), then look no further than The Haven Khao Lak resort in Thailand. Bordering the Andaman Sea, the resort features enchanting sunsets and white sandy beaches to the west and a tropical lagoon to the east, giving every room a unique view. Designed with water lovers in mind, the resort-length saltwater infinity pool curves to the resort and offers poolside access rooms and oceanfront Jacuzzi villas. From the main pool outside, swim up to the Scallop Bar for a refreshing drink or relax from a dry seat indoors at the bar.
With two bars and two restaurants, locally sourced fresh seafood from the Andaman Sea is showcased in the resort’s truly inspired Thai and Italian cuisine. If you’re feeling creative and adventurous, we recommend the Thai Cooking activity taught by Chef “Nhong” and his expert team. For nighttime fun at local bars, clubs, and cabaret acts, look no further than Bang Niang, accessible by a short taxi or motorbike ride.
Rejuvenate after a night out at the resort’s own Aqua spa with individual and couple’s treatments. The mango body scrub treatment is absolutely divine.
Not available to take a vacation until 2023? Consider visiting the resort during the Thai New Year celebrations in April during Songkran. Also known as the Thailand Water Festival, for three days, locals take to the street with buckets and handheld water cannons of ice water for a massive water fight. Escape the heat and get wet and wild with this fun festival.
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