Summer, Unfiltered
It’s finally here. After months of early sunsets, puffer coats, and soup that somehow lasted three nights in a row, we’ve made it to the good part—where time slows down and meals are best served al fresco.
If you ask us, summer isn’t just a season—it’s a state of mind. It’s that laid-back blur when lunch turns into dinner. It’s ordering a second glass of wine, booking the 10:30 reservation, and not checking your email until Tuesday (maybe).
Our favorite summer spots just get it. They’re less “group tour” and more “guess we live here now.” The kind of places where your shoulders drop two inches and you actually remember how to relax.
They don’t do summer—they are summer.
Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand
Remote, raw, and ridiculously good-looking. Cape Kidnappers isn’t trying to be your next screensaver—it just naturally is. No crowds, no schedule, just dramatic cliffs and long views that make your inbox feel very far away.
Stay at: The Farm at Cape Kidnappers — It’s got that quiet, collected kind of luxury. Think country estate meets oceanfront cool.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
A little preppy, a little salty, and still completely irresistible. Nantucket is the summer crush that keeps calling you back. You’ll ride bikes, eat too many oysters, and consider owning boat shoes (ironically, of course).
Stay at: White Elephant Hotel — Waterfront charm with actual charm. Walk to town. Walk to the beach. Don’t walk past the lobster rolls.
Crete, Greece
Crete is vast, soulful, and wonderfully unscripted. Big beaches. Bigger meals. Zero need to “do it all.” You’ll start planning a second trip before the first one ends.
Stay at: Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort — Terraced into the hillside with those blue-on-blue views. Zero expectations, just good living.
Maui, Hawaii
Maui is laid-back with a capital L. Mornings move slow, afternoons are sun-drenched, and nobody’s asking what your five-year plan is. You’re here to float, sip, nap, repeat.
Stay at: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea — A classic, not because it’s old—but because it just nails it. Every. Single. Time.
Tulum, Mexico
Less about “doing things,” more about not wearing shoes. Tulum is for sun-chasers, smoothie drinkers, and anyone who thinks hammocks are a personality trait (they are). Time doesn’t exist here—and neither does urgency.
Stay at: Hotel Esencia — Beachfront, breezy, and as barefoot-luxury as it gets. You’ll do nothing. And love it.
Puglia, Italy
Puglia is rustic Italy with better lighting. Whitewashed towns, olive groves, and pasta that ruins you for all other pasta. It’s not trying to impress you—and that’s exactly why it does.
Stay at: Borgo Egnazia — Designed to look like a village, feels like a dream. Every detail is intentional, but somehow nothing feels fussy.
Kennebunkport, Maine
Maine, but make it summer-cottage chic. Kennebunkport is foggy mornings, fresh seafood, and a charming lack of pretense. It’s a place where porch swings count as plans.
Stay at: White Barn Inn, Auberge Resorts Collection — A little old-school, a lot elegant. Come for the coastal vibes, stay for the lobster thermidor.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel is what happens when coastal California decides to go a little European. Cobblestone courtyards, storybook cottages, and a salt-tinged breeze that makes you forget how many emails you’re ignoring. It’s moody in the most charming way.
Stay at: Carmel Valley Ranch – for hillside suites and lavender fields that smell like a vacation should.
Phuket, Thailand
Tropical, a touch wild, and surprisingly low-key if you know where to look. Phuket is the move when you want postcard beaches without the chaos. You can disappear here—in the best way possible.
Stay at: Amanpuri — Understated and unforgettable. A place that makes “private villa” feel like a lifestyle.
Menorca, Spain
The quiet sister in the Balearics who doesn’t need attention to be fabulous. Menorca is all secret coves, slow lunches, and crystal-clear water. No party scene, no pressure—just Mediterranean magic.
Stay at: Vestige Son Vell — A restored estate that whispers elegance. You’ll forget what day it is by day two.
When you’re ready to trade your calendar for long lunches and conversations that last past sunset, these are the places that get it.
Because real summer doesn’t come with reminders. It just shows up—and stays a little longer than expected.
