5 Stunning Destinations Swaps To Make In 2026
When looking ahead to next year’s vacations, you could opt for long-loved, well-trodden destinations, or you could consider swapping to a nearby alternative for something a little different. KATIE BERRINGTON chooses five of the best to discover
The Okinawa Islands, Japan
The love of Japan has reached feverish heights in recent years, with hotspot cities like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka filling most first-timers’ itineraries. But it isn’t just the big-city bustle that Japan’s varied landscape has to offer. In the country’s southernmost region, Okinawa is a breathtaking tropical prefecture comprising over 160 inhabited and uninhabited islands, wrapped in white-sand, cerulean-water beaches and a subtropical climate. The islands vary in size and tourist appeal (some are particularly popular with surf-seekers, others are virtually untouched), but as well as the stunning scenery, a laidback pace of life, a rich culture and, of course, a phenomenal culinary focus are all at the heart of this spectacular part of the world. Taketomi is a tiny island with just three villages and a few hundred residents, as well as a strong Ryukyu heritage that has survived centuries. On this beguilingly tranquil islet, the luxury resort of Hoshinoya celebrates these traditions, with beautiful guest pavilions and the hotel’s restaurant serving indigenous ingredients grown in the kitchen garden.
Costa Verde, Sardinia, Italy
The second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily), Sardinia is best known for the high-octane, glamorous resorts of Costa Smeralda. However, down on its southwest coast, Costa Verde reveals a wilder and more rugged side. The Unesco-recognized, cinematically sculpted sand dunes (some of the tallest in Europe) are swathed in thick vegetation of mastic and strawberry trees, gorse and ancient junipers, home to deer and – in the summer months – nesting sea turtles. Enveloped in this expanse of golden sand and on the edge of the Tyrrhenian Sea, Le Dune Piscinas is a sublime oasis of a hotel on a quiet stretch. Serenely minimalist rooms enjoy beautiful vistas (the top suites have their own private terraces and pools), restaurants right on the beach (including one with only three tables for the most romantic of starlit evenings) serve up authentic Sicilian specialties, and there are ample opportunities to explore the surrounds via boat, e-bike and quad bike, arranged by the hotel.
Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
The Adriatic coastline of the Balkan peninsula features go-to destinations like Dubrovnik, Split and Hvar, but away from the popular Croatian resorts, there is much more to explore. Montenegro’s incredible fjord-like Bay of Kotor, or Boka Bay, boasts dramatic scenery backdropped by towering mountains and dotted with charming, waterfront medieval towns to rival the architectural beauty of some of Europe’s most renowned cities – and with far fewer tourists. At the entrance of the Bay, the unique Mamula Island by Banyan Tree will unveil its full reimagining next year. An impressive 19th-century fortress turned Unesco World Heritage Site and luxury hotel, it has 360-degrees vistas of the Adriatic sea – with the drama of the surrounding scenery mirrored within the fort’s walls. Sky suites are carved into the atrium, where curved ceilings showcase centuries-old frescoes, while the Panoramic suites offer the most far-reaching outlooks from their perch at the highest point of the circular tower.
Lombok, Indonesia
For those looking for a paradisal Indonesian getaway beyond Bali’s much-Instagrammed beaches, neighboring Lombok is, for now at least, a quieter alternative – with equally astounding scenery. On the northwest coast of the island, gazing across to the famous vista of Bali’s sacred Mount Agung, The Oberoi Beach Resort has a particularly privileged location, framed by the peaceful Medana Bay, where coral reefs teem with vivid marine life, and a vast infinity pool appears to spill over into the crystalline waters below. The resort has its own private jetty, where guests can snorkel straight into the house reef or take a traditional sailing boat to see the sights beyond the shore. Spacious thatched villas and pavilions – featuring picturesque courtyards, canopied beds, sunken marble bathtubs and exquisite local artworks – look over the ocean or the hotel’s acres of lush tropical gardens.
Antwerp, Belgium
Despite its label as the City of Diamonds, Antwerp remains under the radar as a city-break destination, compared to the Belgium capital of Brussels. But, with a glorious melding of stunning architecture, history and an enticing cultural and culinary scene, the beautiful port city is deserving of a spot high on the must-visit list. In its flourishing luxury-hotel offering, Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp is particularly special – a 13th-century monastery that sits beside the city’s Botanic Gardens. It has five restaurants, including the two Michelin-starred Hertog Jan – which serves a three-hour Omakase experience, where West Flemish ingredients meet world-class techniques – and the one Michelin-starred Fine Fleur. But the bejeweled gastronomic offering is rivaled by the dazzle of the spa, found within the Botanic Gardens, where a sublime glasshouse swimming pool awaits.