We all have that friend who ends up on Jeff’s boat for the summer. They’re invited to hang with Kendall in Aspen for the holidays, and get a lift to St. Mo for The ICE event put on by the oligarch of the week. They always seem to end up at hotels that oftentimes aren’t even the most exclusive or expensive, but are undoubtedly cool. These are the spots—the destination hotels to hang with the cool kids this summer.

Europe

Yazz Collective

Boat-only serenity. It’s one thing to describe this hidden gem for utmost privacy. And it’s entirely something else to actually be this. Yazz Collective is a Mediterranean beach club concept set in a private bay in the Gulf of Fethiye on Türkiye’s dazzling Turquoise Coast, with the Taurus mountains as a backdrop. 

The place is so discreetly incorporated into pine-covered landscape, that you’ll barely notice 16 stylish guest houses. The architectural philosophy ensures that everything man-made is sustainably sourced and intentionally designed to blend in with natural elements. So, be at one with yourself under an outdoor shower and on a star-gazing terrace.

In Turkish, “yaz” means “summer” and the extra “z” represents endless summer. “Collective” stands for the partnership of staff and guests that makes this sunlit place happen. Interestingly, it’s not a resort, not a hotel, not a restaurant. There are no roads, no cars, no crowds—except for those sunset parties.

Yes, for all its quiet calm, Yazz Collective does have a weekend party beat. The cool kids know about the food chef’s wood-fired oven, and the after-sundown DJ-led soirées when yachts drop anchor for a Turkish Riviera vibe. 

The sanctuary’s co-founder Mehmet Can Uzunis reflects on three pillars that guide his vision: refined atmosphere, effortless luxury, and a sincere Mediterranean soul.  

 Eriro Alpine Hide

Introducing a new kind of Alpine tourism. Alpine Hide Eriro is a special and remote project enveloped by mountains and meadows. To get there, drive about 90 minutes from Innsbruck, Austria to Ehrwald. Then, step into a gondola to complete the journey to your Tyrolean hideaway. Leave your digital world behind at an elevation of 5,000 feet. Besides, you won’t miss Wi-Fi as the natural power of the forest takes hold at the foot of Zugspitze mountain. 

Silence is pitched as the experience here. Guests embrace simplicity and the pristine nature of mountain life, while rooting themselves in nature. Ensuring there’s little distraction, everything is presented around minimalist design and handcrafted materials. 

Of course, you’ll dine well. Seasonal food is cooked over an open fire in the inn’s zero-waste restaurant, where ingredients for menu items are foraged, harvested, or raised at nearby family farms. 

In the nine screen-free suites, guests can focus on majestic Alpine views appreciated through floor-to-ceiling windows. For relaxation, play board games or vinyl records. After a yodeling lesson, a pottery class, skiing, or a hike, build your moments around Finnish and Spruce saunas in an Alpine meadow spa. The three pools are adjacent. An underground meditation pool is a 36-degree immersion; the 40-degree pool is inspired by Japanese onsen culture; the panorama pool provides privacy surrounded by impressive Alpine peaks. Move on to the sound room, have a massage based on traditional mountain herbs, contemplate the carefree way of life.  

Relais La Foleia

Aspire to quiet lakefront living, Italian-style. La Foleia is nothing, if not utterly whimsical and romantic. Resembling floating pagodas reflected on the water, there are only two villas, each accommodating up to four guests.

Elegantly furnished, one is an octagonal house and the other is neoclassical. Both with verandas and frescoed walls, they’re pretty in pastels. Set in lush botanical gardens with two natural rock pools, the villas face across a small, private lake complete with a painted rowboat and lily pads. Add Japanese maple, giant bamboo, lofty cypresses, wild wisteria, and chirping frogs…it’s like living inside a Monet oil painting.  

During the day, opt into rituals of touch. Will you choose to engage in painting, pasta making, primitive movement, floral arranging, or a ceramic lab? La Foleia’s private chef runs a country kitchen benefiting from seasonal produce and local Piedmontese cuisine. Meals are a moveable feast served in your villa’s dining room, on the veranda, or picnic-style on a blanket. 

And talk about location…it’s a wow for those that love Italy. A few minutes from Lake Maggiore and less than one hour from Lake Como, guests can undertake bigger adventures like mountain hikes, vineyard visits, and boat trips on the legendary larger lakes.  

Africa

Kisawa Sanctuary

Beach, forest, and sand dunes are on 750 acres along a private beach on Benguerra island off Mozambique. Basically, everything about Kisawa Sanctuary feels undiscovered.

Nine miles from the mainland in Southeast Africa, the island is part of the Indian Ocean’s Bazaruto Archipelago, saturated with sandbar beaches and prolific sea life. For those in the know, Benguerra has remarkable diving, vibrant reefs, snorkeling, and fishing. Virtually untouched and certainly underrated, some say these offshore beaches share the beauty of the Maldives, but without the popularity factor. After all, the island is only 5.5 by 3 miles.

“Kisawa” means “unbreakable,” and the bond to eco-credentials runs strong. Guests reach Kisawa exclusively by boat or helicopter. And seclusion is built in, too. You could stay for several days and nights and think the island’s all yours, without seeing another guest. There’s personal butler service at all eight oversized residences and an acre is dedicated to each house, so privacy is ensured. 

At meal times, it’s whatever you wish, whenever you wish it. Mix it up at meal times by dining at various beach locations, in different restaurants, in the resort’s garden, by the pool, at the pizza tuk tuk, or “at home” in your own villa. Just let your butler know. 

Speaking of helicopters, Blue Watching Expedition is the latest heli-adventure out of Kisawa. It’s operated in partnership with Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies, an Ocean Observatory and Bazaruto National Marine Park. In the archipelago, humpback whale season runs from July to October, so it happily coincides with great weather.

Asia

Maison Mystique 

It’s beyond cool when you’re invited to a soft opening. Management is getting ready to lift a velevety curtain on its magical reveal.

For sure, the cool crowd will be among the first to experience this boutique house behind a statuesque white façade, the imaginative Maison Mystique. However, they may not share too many details about the enigmatic retreat in Khao Yai, Thailand so as not to spoil the narrative. Indeed, a description of the soft opening reads as follows: “This is a unique chance to be part of our journey, experiencing the heart of our hotel before the world does.” 

Vivarium is the flower-strewn, conservatory-style dining room. It’s backed up by a velvety blue Botanist’s Bible as salon de thé, Bar Mystére for signature cocktails and Le Bijou for an emerald library bar. There’s also Hidden Adam for je ne sais quoi in a sophisticated members-only space.

What we do know: a sense of wonder is baked into the experience. And, clues are being dropped as well. This is no place for uninspired room numbers such as 2-A or 3-B. Check out Maison Mystique’s intriguing guest suite names like Rosey’s Curiosities, Moonwatcher’s Companion, and Eden’s Gardenia. Expect symbolism, the allure of a hidden garden, the realm of serene enchantment throughout the interiors. Each room promises to tell its own story. And together, it’s an anthology.      

Other Articles You’ll Like

Kisawa Sanctuary: A Luxury Hotel in Mozambique
Hotels at the Ends of the Earth
Insane Villas for All Seasons and Reasons

FAQs

Q: Is Mozambique a year-round destination?

A: Yes. Kisawa Sanctuary is open year-round. The optimal time to visit for marine visibility and great weather is May through October.

Q: Where is Khao Yai, Thailand?

A: Khao Yai is central/northeast Thailand, about 115 miles from Bangkok. Known for its UNESCO World Heritage Site, this dense jungle is one of the country’s most visited national parks. An experienced guide with transportation is a must.

Q: How should I travel to Yazz Collective from Istanbul?

A: The Gulf of Fethiye is a one hour flight from Istanbul International Airport to Dalaman Airport, followed by a 45 to 60 minute transfer. Access to Yazz Collective is by boat.