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Andaman Islands, India
Mumbai's style set flocks to this archipelago in the Bay of Bengal. The Barefoot at Havelock has 18 thatched-roof cottages that are hidden in a lush rain forest. Doubles from $90.
Zapallar, Chile
Wealthy Chileans spend summer weekends at this elite resort town two hours from Santiago. The affordable option? Hotel Isla Seca-Zapallar, set high on a bluff above the Pacific. Doubles from $155.
Lamu, Kenya
Outfitters such as Micato Safaris are now including Lamu, a tranquil white-sand island off the Kenyan coast, in custom-tailored tours. If you're on your own, check into one of the six Swahili-chic suites at the Banana House. Doubles from $139.
Alaçati, Turkey
Windsurfers have long known about this fishing village on the Cesme Peninsula. And thanks to the addition of the Port Alaçati marina (lined with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants), its reputation is fanning out beyond adventure aficionados. Stay at the 17-room Port Hotel Alaçati. Doubles from $152.
Borneo, Malaysia
Eco-conscious travelers are flocking here for the region's extraordinary biodiversity, found in the 130 million-year-old prehistoric forest. The just-opened Gayana Eco Resort in Sabah has 44 overwater bungalows. Doubles from $200.
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, this island gem is stealing the spotlight from its Caribbean neighbors, thanks to dune-studded beaches and blue-green waters. Stay in one of the 12 villas at Club Seabourne, on Fulladoza Bay. Doubles from $195.
Boracay, Philippines
Known to insiders as one of the world's great diving spots, the nearly four-square-mile island is poised to enter the international spotlight with the opening of the Shangri-La Boracay Resort & Spa this December. For now, check in to Boracay Beach Club. Many of the 30 rooms overlook the sea. Doubles from $110.
Larache, Morocco
European expats are converting groups of Andalusian-style villas in this quiet coastal town into boutique hotels, including the Spanish-Moroccan La Maison Haute, near the bustling souk. Doubles from $78.
Big Corn Island, Nicaragua
A laid-back tropical spit dotted with thatched-roof hotels, known for its lush forests and a smooth shoreline. At Casa Canada, 20 cabanas overlook an infinity pool. Doubles from $85.
Porta Vila, Vanuatu
Tucked between Australia and Fiji, this island has the best of both worlds: traditional Melanesian tribal culture and a modern hotel called the Breakas Beach Resort and Villas. Fronted by a palm-studded private beach, the 36 bungalows are decorated with dark-wood furniture and neutral tones. Doubles from $220.
Sozopol, Bulgaria
The Black Sea's answer to St.-Tropez (with the yachts to back it up) is attracting celebrity visitors like Brangelina. Hotel Logatero's 11 rooms are outfitted with sleek natural-wood furnishings. Doubles from $140.
Isabela Island, Galapagos
Tranquil beaches, five volcanoes, and diverse fauna make up the seahorse-shaped island. Wildlife viewing is unparalleled from the private seaview balconies at La Casa de Marita. Doubles from $70.
Sumbawa Island, Indonesia
An alternative to overtouristed Bali, the laid-back pace of this surfer's mecca is now drawing international crowds. With only one hotel on the island — the beachside Aman Gati Hotel (not part of Amanresorts) — you're guaranteed a stretch of sand to yourself. Doubles from $38.
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
The white-sand beaches and olive groves on this windswept isle off the North Island are a welcome respite from the bustling pace of Auckland — just a 40-minute ferry ride across the Hauraki Gulf. Check in at the Onetangi Beach Apartments for private patios with views of the Coromandel Peninsula. Doubles from $120.
Caye Caulker, Belize
Just a half-hour boat ride from the mainland, the five-mile coral strip has stunning barrier reefs and two nature preserves. The huts at the oceanfront Seaside Cabanas have a cheery orange-and-red palette. Doubles from $105.
Con Dao, Vietnam
This pristine chain of volcanic islands is only 140 miles southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon Con Dao Resort offers simple, light-filled rooms set in a tropical garden. Doubles from $100.
Musandam Peninsula, Oman
This sandy spit is known for its arid landscape and secluded, mountain-backed beaches, just a two- to three-hour bus ride from Dubai. Book a room at the 60-room Golden Tulip Resort, Khasab for mesmerizing Persian Gulf views. It has an on-site dive center. Doubles from $209.
Campeche, Mexico
With cobblestoned streets and stylish new restaurants and boutiques, the classic colonial city on the western coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is slated to become the next Merida. Our favorite place to stay: the 19th-century Castelmar Hotel, in the city's historic center. Doubles from $85.
Port Willunga, South Australia
A recent influx of farm-to-table restaurants and small-scale wineries has turned this Fleurieu Peninsula town 30 miles south of Adelaide into a choice summer retreat. Willunga House is a 160-year-old Georgian mansion with five simple, light-filled guest rooms. Doubles from $215.
Gozo, Malta
The main island's hilly little sister, just four miles north on the Mediterranean, was proposed as the site for the Malta International Fashion Show. There are 13 terraced rooms at the family-run San Antonio Guesthouse in Xlendi, a small fishing town. Doubles from $44.
By Katie Bowman, Lisa Cheng, Tanvi Chheda, Caroline Davis, Angela Fleury, Jennifer Flowers, Serra Guercay, Kendall Hill, Catesby Holmes, David Kaufman, Rosamaria Mancini, Ian Mount, Bree Sposato, Jeff Spurrier and Stephanie Stephens. Visit travelandleisure.com for contact details on the properties mentioned in this article.
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