7 Up-and-Coming Travel Destinations to Visit Now . . . Before Everyone Else Does
Where sleepy, beachy towns like Montauk and Tulum once reigned, there’s a new crop of destinations that is beginning to pick up steam among savvy travelers. But fortunately, the latest spots retain the same remote, low-key vibes of some of today’s hottest escapes, just minus the throngs of visitors that come with It status (at least, for now). These places are a bit off the grid—usually requiring longer travel times and some bumps along those rugged rural roads. Embrace the journey. The reward is nothing but light crowds, tasty waves, emerald jungles, good food, eco-chic accommodations, and super-local mom-and-pop restaurants and shops. So before the bands of newbies arrive, book your tickets to these seven hushed gems where (almost) all you need is a surfboard and a bikini.
Photo: Alamy1/7Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
The only question in the rustic, boho beach town of Santa Teresa is: What time are you going to surf? To catch some z’s after hitting the waves, the secluded jungle-swathed eco-hotel Latitude 10 (with solar energy and local food) is built around five wooden casitas with open porches and ocean-breeze soundscapes. Fresh juices alongside banana and chocolate-chip muffins are found at Couleur Café, and unexpectedly, just-carved red snapper sushi and grilled octopus are served at the tin-roofed Koji’s. At dusk, the fashionable gypsy set gathers for warm bonfires and barbecues along the magnificent, starry-lit waters.
Photo: Courtesy of Goodland Hotel2/7Goleta, Santa Barbara County, California
Just off Highway 101 and already part of pop culture thanks to kitschy 1950s movies like Gidget, Goleta is all about laid-back SoCal vibes. Embodying that Cali-cool aura, the low-slung
beachy-chic Goodland Hotel is gloriously flip-flop friendly and perfect for street-style tacos and buzzy poolside margaritas. Inside, its 158 rooms and suites feature coastal wood and a record player with a vinyl collection in the lobby. Bike out to Stearns Wharf and Goleta Beach for some rays. At night, the locals’ favorite, The Imperial, a nondescript, swanky, ’70s-style cocktail den, serves drinks like marmalade sours under warm lanterns.
Photo: Alamy3/7Port Antonio, Jamaica
On Jamaica’s northern coast, this small town is having a moment thanks to its old-school glamour, island spirit, tropical jungle, and secluded beaches. Everyone from reggae stars to modern-day artists like Rihanna have stayed in the middle of the lush rain forest at the Geejam Hotel, which includes three cabins with musical themes outfitted with art by Juergen Teller and others. Delightful, no-frills roadside stands peddle fresh fruits and vegetables, while Cynthia’s lunch stand feeds hungry beachgoers leafy green callaloo and fresh fish (cooked to order). Built for a baroness, the wildly atmospheric, white-on-white eight-bedroom Trident Castle is another luxe hotel option. Later, cold Red Stripes, rum drinks, and reggae beats are enjoyed at Goblin Hill’s tin-roofed Swiss Family Robinson-esque Tree Bar.
Photo: Courtesy of Owl and the Pussycat’s4/7South Coast, Sri Lanka
The Indian Ocean’s southern stretch of Sri Lanka is a quiet repose of surf, yoga, and Ayurveda treatments. Sitting beachfront, the Reda Amalou–designed Ani Villas Sri Lanka is a cluster of geometric landscapes and verdant pathways. To the west, along the shores of Koggala Lake, the alluring hotel Tri offers 10 stylish suites finished with local jak wood, private gardens, and plunge pools. Named after Edward Lear’s quirky poem, the new stylish boutique Owl and the Pussycat’s 17 rooms are dressed in pastels with rich textiles and artwork, such as woven grass paintings. Take in the wealth of Buddhist temples and surrounding paddy fields or sign up for a blue whale excursion.
Photo: Alamy5/7Todos Santos, Mexico
On bright days in the rugged, unspoiled town of Todos Santos (“All Saints”), pop. 5,148, sun-kissed surfers paddle out for waves and back for tacos and icy cold cervezas. Away from the chaos of Cabo San Lucas, the small, eccentric expat town hosts a picturesque artists’ haven of galleries, studios, and brick colonial buildings. For embroidered dresses and leather goods, drop by Etnica. Sip a few margaritas at the dive-y Hotel California. The intimate Todos Santos Inn features four-poster beds and a small pool situated in a leafy courtyard. Fifteen minutes from town, the more modern Rancho Pescadero is outfitted with terra-cotta floors, wood furniture, and Oaxacan pottery. Embrace the Baja wellness lifestyle with an on-site yoga class or spa treatment.