5 Destinations To Discover Before Everyone Else Does

It is not a particularly easy feat to find a relatively under-radar Greek island – they tend to catch on pretty quickly – and even more so one with a spectacular accommodation option. The small, unspoiled and wild Folegandros, however, is a real Cyclades gem. Far less crowded than its honeymoon-favorite neighbor, Santorini, it has a few lovely villages to explore, scattered across its ruggedly attractive landscape. Maximizing the Aegean vistas, Gundari is a new boutique all-suite hotel, sitting amid 80 acres of raw clifftop nature. The show-stopping swimming pool – with a swim-up cocktail bar – appears to meld into the blues of the sky and sea beyond. There is also an organic farm with a wine bar (this year, the menu will be developed by Line Athens, ranked sixth in the World’s 50 Best Bars) and farm-to-plate restaurant. Better yet, each of the 25 stylishly minimalist suites (with new villa offerings launching in 2025) has its own infinity pool.

Alluringly known as the ‘City of Diamonds’ (and also the ‘second capital of Belgium’), Antwerp isn’t an obvious choice as a stellar city-break destination, but its blossoming scene of luxurious hotels, eminent restaurant offering, cultural delights and beautiful medieval architecture means it’s certainly deserving of the spotlight. The picturesque port city boasts no fewer than 17 Michelin-starred restaurants and four of these are found at the recently opened Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp, a magnificent hotel that was once a 13th-century monastery beside the city’s Botanic Gardens. The historic walls are home to enticing gastronomic experiences, thanks to the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurants, Fine Fleur, Het Gebaar and Hertog Jan. The latter of which serves a three-hour Omakase experience that combines Japanese delicacies with local Flemish ingredients (grown onsite in the monastery’s greenhouse and garden). But it is the sublime spa, with its glittering glasshouse swimming pool, that highlights why the city is so deserving of its bejeweled nickname.

Japan sits at the top of many travel wish lists and, while most itineraries will include at least a couple of its famous and widely varying cities (all brimming with brilliant food, cultural hot spots and historical wonders), it is well worth going a little farther to explore the country’s idyllic islands, too. In the subtropical Okinawan archipelago, Miyako boasts picture-perfect beaches and rich coral reefs that are teeming with sea turtles and colorful fish. It is on Miyako Island that Rosewood makes its Japanese debut, unveiling an ultra-luxury resort where turquoise waves lap at miles of pristine sand. The 55 villas all have their own private pools, landscaped gardens and dreamy ocean outlooks; while the hotel’s dining options keep to the natural wonder of the hotel’s setting, celebrating laid-back, beachfront vibes.

St Lucia and Antigua take the main headlines when it comes to Caribbean popularity, but the West Indies island of Grenada is a glorious destination, where lofty mountains, sparkling reefs and silk-sand coastlines meet, backdropping the warm, pulsating rhythm of island life. The recently debuted Six Senses La Sagesse is situated to the south, between two beaches with very different offerings: one, a secluded, protected cove; the other, a sweeping stretch with ocean rollers. The experiences here are widely varied and rooted in embracing the natural wonders – from hiking verdant rainforest and waterfalls to activities in the water. Back at the hotel, the suites and villas take in the incredible, postcard-worthy surroundings from the comfort of expansive terraces and paradisal infinity pools.

Oman makes for an utterly majestic visit, with its rich heritage and history, stunning architecture, vibrant towns, welcoming hospitality and sublime natural beauty. Later this year, The Malkai will open as a first-of-its-kind experience – a family dream that has been decades in the making, with three locations that immerse guests in different sides of the Sultanate of Oman: the coastal plains of Barkaa near Muscat, the towering Al Hajar Mountains and the vast Sharqiyah Sands. Guests are able to visit each of these spectacular sites, which respectively boast 14 tented, capacious pavilions, delectable dining options, infinity pools and sublime spa spaces.

5 dream travel destinations for 2025, chosen by the PORTER editors

9 spectacular hotels for a romantic getaway