We picked this region for one reason: the Amangiri. A favorite couples getaway of, well, seemingly every celebrity, from the Kardashians to the Biebers—the three Michelin-key hotel is dramatically secluded. The minimalist-modern resort sits in the middle of Grand Staircase-Escalante, over one million acres of protected land that was the last area to be mapped in the contiguous United States. On the hotel’s 600 acres, you’ll find canyons and mountains, mesas, rivers, and deserts. Hiking is a must-do at the Amangiri, as is tackling it via ferrata (or, a climbing trail that you scale with cables). Then there are journeys to nearby slot canyons—fantastical sandstone formations that will take your breath away. Stay in the main property or in their luxurious tented camp, Camp Sarika.
Benguerra Island, Mozambique
Photo: Courtesy of Kisawa
Mozambique Benguerra Island—an under-the-radar alternative to the Seychelles—is home to two five-star resorts. The first is Kisawa, which embraces African modernist architecture and an adventurer’s sensibility. Upon arrival, guests are given keys to a pastel Moke and free rein to roam the property’s over 700 acres (word to the wise: always keep the resort map handy). Food is fresh, local, and seafood-based—many dishes are caught by the island’s local fishermen—and the service is impeccable. Better yet: a portion of each stay’s proceeds benefits the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies, Africa’s first permanent marine observatory. Then there’s the tranquil andBeyond, nestled in an indigenous forest that includes over 150 bird species. The beach stretches for miles, without any other structures in sight. (Just off the shores is some of the best snorkeling in the world.) Despite the expanse it’s located on, there’s a wonderful intimacy to the property, with only 13 lodging structures.
Lake Como, Italy
A view of Passalacqua, a new—but also very old—hotel set on Lake Como.