From secluded villas over the ocean to private infinity pools overlooking the islands of Greece, each one of these luxury dream vacations deserves to be printed out and glued to your inspiration mood board. Care to dream? These are 25 of the best dream vacation spots that maybe one day we’ll get to take.
25 Dream Vacation Spots
1. Amanzoe in the Peloponnese peninsula, Greece
Tucked away in the Peloponnese peninsula of southern Greece, each Amanzoe villa, cabana, or pavilion features a private outdoor pool, unparalleled views of the surrounding Aegean Sea, and contemporary architecture inspired by the county’s ancient Greek temples. Prices appear to start at €1,250 a night but can range up to €8,900 a night.
2. Blanket Bay in Glenorchy, New Zealand
Staying at the luxury lodge Blanket Bay in New Zealand is a vacationing experience unlike any other. Nestled in the Southern Alps, the Blanket Bay lodge is set between the snow-capped mountains and the clear blue waters of Lake Wakatipu. For the adventurous, nearby activities like fishing, heli-skiing, and hiking are a unique option; but if you prefer to stay indoors and revel at the luxury of it all, your suite will undoubtedly include a gorgeous view of Lake Wakatipu or a terrace fireplace to curl up by.
3. Resort Iniala Beach House in Natai Beach, Thailand
Near Phuket, Thailand, we can all vacation like a Kardashian. Years ago, the famed family stayed on vacation in Natai Beach at the Iniala Beach House. With clear, sprawling views of the Andaman Sea and a team of service members for each individual villa—a driver, spa therapist, manager, housekeeper, and a private chef—villas feature futuristic and minimalist designs, private indoor-and-outdoor pools that even protrude into the villa, and outdoor terraces.
4. Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town, South Africa
If it’s an over-the-top luxury spa getaway you seek, there’s no spa you can do better than the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town. Located high above the Atlantic Ocean and book-ended by the Twelve Apostles and Table Mountains, Twelve Apostles has a pretty outstanding track record. Continuously rated one of the top 20 hotels in South Africa, the luxury getaway definitely costs a pretty penny per night—but if unparalleled service and godlike massages are what you’re looking for, it may just be well-worth it.
5. Hotel Brunellesch in Florence, Italy
Live like the Italians do—at least for a day or two. At Hotel Brunellesch in Florence, you’ll stay in a 6th century church and tower that has been converted into a luxe 4-star hotel. There are plenty of high-end suites to choose from—including the Penthouse Apartment and the Pool Suite, which features an outdoor terrace over Florence and an in-suite jacuzzi equipped with chromotherapy. Prices start around $603 a night.
6. Volcano View Hotel in Santorini, Greece
No resort in all of Greece is without breathtaking panoramic views of the islands and the surrounding crystal-blue waters of the Aegean Sea, but at Volcano View Hotel in Santorini, your Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants dreams will undoubtedly come true. Located not too far away from Fira, this luxury 5-star hotel and 5-star villas hotel stands 400 meters high on the Caldera Cliffs, gifting you prime seats to each nights’ sunsets and a luxe experience that feels like something out of a storybook.
7. The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort in Bora Bora, French Polynesia
One ticket to paradise please! It’s the only way to describe Bora Bora in French Polynesia—absolute paradise. The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort is the largest overwater villa stretch in the South Pacific and features glass panels on the floors so guests can peer through to the turquoise waters below. Other options include more secluded villas, isolated by palm trees. There’s a spa on-site, butlers at the ready, and of course, a swim-up bar.
8. Qualia Villages on Hamilton Island, Australia
Qualia’s 60 luxury private pavilions overlook the Coral Sea and Whitsunday Islands of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, but aside from the views, it’s Qualia’s luxury spa packages that set it apart. With spa treatments ranging from solo and couples’ treatments to holistic and wellbeing therapies, it’s a pampering dream. All rates include at least one meal (either breakfast only or dinner and breakfast) and start at $1,400 per night.
9. Hyatt Regency Maui in Maui, Hawa’ii
Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Hyatt Regency Maui in Maui, Hawa’ii is now offering Hyatt Regency Maui to Yourself and Hyatt Regency Maui (Almost) to Yourself packages inclusive of all food and beverages and includes a three-night stay in which you’re the only guests at the resort. Take a Hawaiian-inspired cooking class or a hula dance lesson or sign up for a guided rooftop tour of the 88 visible constellations up in the nighttime sky. The To Yourself package starts at $1,500,000 (and books the total 810 rooms) and the (Almost) to Yourself package starts at $525,000 (and books 232 rooms).
10. The Romanos a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Navarino in Greece
All of the suites at The Romanos a Luxury Collection Resort in Costa Navarino feature private infinity pools with a gorgeous view overlooking the Ionian Sea, or you can book an extra-private villa located on Dunes Beach, which only you and your guests would have access to.
11. Casa de Campo in Dominican Republic
At Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, you’ll have the full-on luxury experience with three championship golf courses on site, a cart for every resort guest for easy transportation, and daily breakfasts prepared at the private villa each morning.
12. Pikaia Lodge, Galapagos
The Galapagos are heralded by many as the one last true paradise on Earth and with a plethora of unique landscapes and wildlife, it’s not hard to see why. With terrace, balcony rooms, and garden suite accommodations options at the Pikai Lodge, this luxury eco-lodge boasts spacious suites, plunge pols, and of course, nearby access to the island’s most stunning beaches and tropical forests.
13. Grand Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya, Mexico
The best part about Grand Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya is that it’s all-inclusive! Flanked by the Yucatan Jungle and the Caribbean Sea, resort-goers will be met with beauty at every angle. Each room features a private plunge pool, and private terrace and there’s also a spa and gourmet cuisine to look forward to.
14. Royal Davui Island Resort in Beqa Island, Fiji
The private villas at the Royal Davui Island Resort in Fiji feature private heated plunge pools, a spa tub, and a lounge deck. But that’s not all that’s private about staying here—the resort is literally located on a remote, private island—Beqa Island—for the most exclusive of experiences. While you’re there, you might as well go all-out in luxury and book a massage at the resort’s spa or go snorkeling just off the private beach.
15. Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico
Las Ventanas alParaiso is the ultimate couples’ destination. Apart from the “usual” luxury fare—you know, a private villa, infinity pool, and gorgeous ocean views—Las Ventanas also goes above and beyond by providing loads of romantic amenities for traveling duos. Think private cabanas with secluded jacuzzis, one-on-one tequila tastings with a master distiller, and beach movie screenings for two.
16. Island Getaway at Hyatt Regency Aruba in Noord, Aruba
The only way to upgrade your luxury stay at the Hyatt Regency Aruba is to book the Island Getaway package in partnership with Advent Jets. That’s right—a private jet luxury experience drops you off for a five-night stay in Hyatt Regency Aruba’s Governor’s Suite, a three-course dinner for two presented by the chef in your own suite!, and a private cabana at the adults-only Trankilo Pool. This whole luxury private jet and stay experience starts at $27,000.
17. LUX South Ari Atoll in Dhidhoofinolhu, Maldives
As if vacationing in the Maldives wasn’t divine enough a location on its own, there’s the LUX South Ari Atoll villas to kick things up a notch. Choose from water villas and beach pavilions with their own private access to pools and the white-sand coast of the island of Dhidhoofinolhu in the South Ari Atoll. Rates start at about $270 per night per person.
18. NH Collection Grand Hotel in Amalfi Coast, Italy
Just when you thought the Amalfi Coast couldn’t get more extravagant: Enter the NH Collection Grand Hotel. Once a 13th-century monastery, this converted 5-star hotel still features the original cloister and church, boasts cliff-top views of the sea below, and elegant suites featuring private terraces and a jacuzzi. Take things up a notch by booking the Presidential Suite DBell’Eremita," which is located right on the cliff
19. Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena in Cartagena, Colombia
Cartagena has become quite a travel hot-spot lately and it’s not hard to see why—gorgeous Caribbean views make it an obvious choice. If you find yourself planning a Caribbean vacay, be sure to check out Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena—a converted convent that has transformed into a high-end hotel featuring a poolside bar and of course, French-Caribbean cuisine. Dine under the stars at night, take a dip in the private pools in one of the hotel’s two private villas, and enjoy the luxury that is butler service.
20. Regent Phu Quoc, Phu Quoc in Vietnam
Regent Phu Quoc is an all-villa and -suite beachfront designed to be a serene sanctuary near the National Park of Phu Quoc in Vietnam. You’ll find private infinity pools, secluded beaches, and rooftop bars, but in terms of ultra-lux accommodations, room options range from one-room vistas to seven-bedroom ultra-villas that feature oasis-style bathrooms that feel more like spas than they do lavatories!
21. Ahau in Tulum, Mexico
In Ahau, Tulum, you’ll find an eco-friendly, beachfront resort perched just between the ancient Mayan ruins of the Mexican jungle and the white sand and blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Resort-goers can take daily yoga classes and engage in a sunrise meditation if sleeping in on vacation isn’t their thing. Rustic yet luxurious—with private decks featuring daybeds, a swing hammock, and an outdoor eating area, the Bali Huts at Ahau Tulum can be booked for as little as $219 per night.
22. NIHI Sumba Island in Bali, Indonesia
The NIHI Subma Island resort says it best on their website: “This is not an escape from everyday life. It is the return to a live well lived.” While that might mean something different for everyone, we all can agree that NIHI Sumba Island is beyond luxe. Voted Best Hotel in the World for two consecutive years, the resort is located on a secluded island just off of Bali and has unique opportunities to horseback ride along the shore during sunset, go surfing, and enjoy a day of pampering on the on-site spa. But it’s the private villas that are the resort’s real showstoppers. Twenty-eight total villas on site feature private pools, panoramic views of the Indian Ocean, and luxurious canopy beds that make you feel like you’re vacationing in paradise.
23. Birkenhead House in Hermanus, South Africa
A fan-favorite luxury vacation amongst traveling couples, the Birkenhead House in Hermanus, South Africa is the beach house of everyone’s dreams! The location is close to the Cape Winelands region as well as safari options, too. But believe it or not, you don’t even have to leave your clifftop room to catch a glimpse of Africa’s wildlife. The Birkenhead House is nestled atop the perfect whale-watching spot above Walker Bay. Accommodations start at $296 per person per night.
24. Hotel Las Brisas in Acapulco, Mexico
The stunning views of Mexico’s Acapulco Bay are just one of the reasons to plan a dream vacation at the luxury resort Hotel Las Brisas. Here are a few more: A secluded oasis, the resort offers stand-alone casitas with either private or shared pool access and large outdoor patio areas. Rates are pretty reasonable—starting at about $175 a night for the Private Pool Casita—but there’s no on-site spa, so you’ll have to either book your own appointments off-site or perhaps the resort itself will feel spa-like enough.
25. The Brando in Tetiaroa, Tahiti
About 30 miles northeast of Tahiti, a luxury resort on the French Polynesia private island of Tetiaroa can only be accessed by private plane. The Brando features 35 private villas (with secluded pools!) perched on the white beaches of Tahiti. Here, it’s not only luxurious, but it’s also common to spot sea turtles, manta rays, and exotic birds of all colors and sizes nearby. Next up, check out the best beach vacations of all-time.
