One way to up the ante for your next vacation? Pick an uber-remote destination. A remote locale of course means some extra time spent traveling, but when that translates into an extra peaceful setting that not only feels, but is, miles away from home, it makes it well worth the journey. We've logged hundreds of hours in our efforts to find some of the world's coolest, most secluded hotels. So here we bring you ten of the world's most remote resorts in gorgeous, virtually untouched, and totally tranquil settings.
This 12-acre hilltop property not only sits on beautiful, uber-remote grounds – with unobstructed views of the Arenal Volcano – but even the rooms have an ultra-private vibe, with each being a separate bungalow tucked into the lush surroundings. Special touches include outdoor garden showers and decks with whirlpools and hammocks.
The Travaasa Hana, overlooking Hana Bay, delivers rustic luxury in the middle of Maui‘s secluded east coast. Incredible service, a top spa, excellent food, a long list of things to do, and only 70 rooms on acres of un-crowded property make it a great retreat. The rooms are large, clean, sleekly furnished and stripped of TVs, clocks, and radios, for a totally tranquil getaway.
With its warm, urban-chic vibe, Amee Farm isn’t a typical B&B. Rooms look straight out of an interior design magazine, with a near-perfect combination of rustic, warm, quaint, and stylish touches. Wide-planked hardwood floors, comfortable beds with white, soft linens, and interesting antiques are found in them all. And the farm’s remote location – set on 40 acres in sleepy Pittsfield, surrounded by mountains and forest – adds to its cozy vibe.
This former coffee plantation nestled among the steep and winding hills of Jamaica’s famous Blue Mountain is a little oasis above Kingston. The resort offers plenty of intimacy and privacy, with just 12 cottages on more than 26 acres. It also has the features of a larger property: an expansive spa, a breezy restaurant and bar, a hilltop pool with panoramic vistas, lush gardens, and ample relaxation space.
Owners Jan and Sandra opened this romantic hideaway in 2001, and today it has 16 rooms (many cabana-style units with thatched roofs) and one massive villa for families and groups. The room decor is a mix of Belize and Guatemalan textiles and furnishings, and the ambiance is unpretentious. The property is surrounded by palms and located six miles north of San Pedro, so guests will need to take boats to and from town. Fortunately, this makes for quiet nights and a peaceful vacation.
The 39-room Horned Dorset Primavera feels romantic and exclusive, with a remote location in Rincon and white buildings dotting the lush eight-acre grounds. The suites are adorned with Spanish-Colonial-style décor such as dark canopy beds draped with sheer white fabric, lots of marble, big freestanding soaking tubs, and exotic Moroccan touches, like intricate glass-and-bronze light fixtures. The beach is narrow, but perfectly tranquil.
Jade Mountain is, not surprisingly considering its name, built into a mountain on a remote section of St. Lucia’s coast. Through an innovative, open fourth wall design, each of Jade’s 29 enormous suites overlooks the sea from its chromatherapy-lit whirlpool tub, canopied bed, and private infinity pool. Getting to the resort can be tedious, but its organic cuisine, doting service, and unwavering silence (no TVs, radios, or children), make the long journey worthwhile.
The 176-room Sanctuary Cap Cana looks like a small, secluded Spanish village. Perches on a cliff by the ocean in Punta Cana, it offers breathtaking views and boasts access to one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic. Its beautifully decorated pools, spa, golf course, and restaurants add to the sexy, upscale vibe.
The Selinda Canoe Trail is a four-day, three-night trip, offered from May to October ,that takes place along the Selinda Spillway. Camp is set up each night in secluded spots along the water — far from modern conveniences such as electricity and flushing toilets, but as luxe as camping can get, with great meals and an attentive staff that does all of the setting up and packing up for you. A safari-on-water, the trip’s highlight comes during the day, when wildlife such as elephants, hippos, and giraffes can be spotted.
Accessed via a 30-minute boat ride from Providenciales, this 1,000-acre resort on a private island is the definition of tranquility. With an incredible infinity-edge pool, a world-renowned spa, waterfront Balinese-style villas, doting service, and more than three miles of pristine beaches, it’s easily one of the most luxurious and romantic — and secluded — options in the Caribbean.
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