As relaxing beach destinations continue to top vacation wish lists—whether for a quick family getaway or a long-dreamed-of romantic escape—recently opened and newly renovated resorts are offering fresh surroundings for sun-seekers. As you begin to plan your fall and winter travels, here’s a look at eight island and coastal properties offering a wide array of experiences. 

Most have debuted within the past nine months, and a few are set to open later this year and early in 2023.

La Casa de la Playa, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Dreaming of being immersed in Mexican heritage and cuisine in an ultra-luxurious setting—including floating in an Instagram-worthy infinity pool above the vibrant aquamarine Caribbean? Set on the sands of Mexico’s Riviera Maya, where the Yucatan jungle meets the sea, La Casa de la Playa began fulfilling that fantasy when it opened in December 2021. 

This Preferred Hotels & Resorts property, located just south of Playa Del Carmen, offers 63 suites in sustainably designed buildings with stone exteriors constructed to resemble Mayan temples and pyramids and rooms featuring colorful, nature-inspired interior decor that reflects the region’s rich culture. Suites, from garden view to beachfront, are a spacious 1,065 sq. ft., while Master Suites are 2,723 sq. ft., and the Presidential Suite is a sprawling 4,630 sq. ft. 

Four restaurants overseen by celebrity chefs Martha Ortiz, Virgilio Martinez and others offer menus that reflect regional cuisines from Mexico as well as Peru, the Maluk Spa combines local ancestral rituals with contemporary amenities and the 130-ft. suspended infinity pool is the definition of dreamy. 

Room rates start at $1,646 per night, all-inclusive.

Margaritaville Island Reserve, Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

The sparkling sands of Playa Juanillo in Cap Cana, the elegant gated resort area near Punta Cana, beckon at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana, the first all-inclusive Margaritaville resort. It’s a joint venture with Karisma Hotels & Resorts and features 228 suites and 40 luxury villas along with 10 food and beverage venues—including the legendary 5 o’clock Somewhere Bar and the Land Shark Brewery & Grill. 

The property, which opened in November 2021, offers 13 room categories, including swim-up and honeymoon suites, each decorated in vibrant beachy hues representing sun, sea and sand. Ideal for couples or families, the property has two pools, a spa and a supervised kids club (ages 4-12). 

Room rates start at $596 per night, all-inclusive.

Saba Rock, Virgin Gorda, BVI

Reopened in November 2021 following a complete redesign and rebuild (the resort was severely damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017), Saba Rock now offers nine rooms and suites that celebrate the resort’s 50-plus-year history and the Caribbean’s vibrant culture. Located on Virgin Gorda’s serene North Sound, this intimate resort, surrounded on all sides by turquoise water, celebrates the nautical lifestyle and is popular with yachties, divers and kiteboarders. 

Onsite activities also include snorkeling and scenic boat tours and there’s a restaurant serving a Caribbean-infused menu and two bars as well as a small spa offering massages, body treatments and yoga classes. 

Room rates start at $550 per night.

Hilton Hotel Tahiti, Papeete, French Polynesia

Whether you’re spending one night before boarding a cruise through French Polynesia or just beginning your island-hopping experience in this romantic South Pacific playground, the Hilton Hotel Tahiti, which debuted in December 2021 after an extensive refurbishment (the property originally opened in 1960 at Hotel Tahiti), is a convenient and elegant option that offers views of neighboring Moorea. 

Located just two miles from Papeete’s international airport and a short distance from downtown, the 200-room resort is home to the island’s largest swimming pool and features an open-air lobby offering a modern take on Tahitian artistry, contemporary room décor showcasing natural woods and three onsite restaurants. 

Room rates start at $293 per night.

Corazon Cabo Resort & Spa, Los Cabos, Mexico

Since its $100 million debut earlier this year, Corazon Cabo Resort & Spa, located on swimmable Medano Beach close the marina in Cabo San Lucas, has provided guests with a panoramic spot to enjoy sunset cocktails: Rooftop 360, the highest rooftop bar (it’s on the 9^th floor) in this this popular Mexican resort area. 

Featuring 310 rooms and suites designed with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, two infinity edge pools with views of Cabo’s landmark El Arco, a full-service spa and even an onsite brewery, this Noble House Hotels property is couple-friendly, family-friendly and pet-friendly (dogs under 25 pounds are welcome at an extra fee). 

The restaurant options include Aleta for casual seafood, Corazon Beach Club for feet-in-the sand dining and Rooftop 360 for tapas-style bites. 

Room rates start at $419 per night.

Regent Phu Quoc, Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Luxury hotel brand Regent opened its first property in Vietnam in April with the debut of Regent Phu Quoc, a beachfront retreat located on the country’s southwest coast near a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and featuring 176 suites and 126 villas. Spacious accommodations range from 839-sq. ft. suites to one-to-four-bedroom villas and are inspired by traditional Vietnamese design. They feature expansive windows and verandas, some with private infinity pools. 

Dining wise, guests can choose from three restaurants specializing in Vietnamese/Chinese, Mediterranean and Franco-Japanese (with a focus on beef) cuisines and three bar lounges, including Fu Bar, which is located on the Sky Terrace and specializes in gin cocktails and craft beer. For more relaxation, the resort’s spa is grounded in holistic practices designed to enhance self-care. 

Room rates start at $370 per night.

Kimpton Naranta Bali, Nusa Dua, Bali

If “barefoot luxury” with a soulful ambience and access to the world-class Bali National Golf Club sounds like vacation heaven, the soon-to-open Kimpton Naranta Bali delivers it all—although you’ll have to travel halfway around the world to experience it. But that’s the point of an escape, right? 

Located in the Nusa Dua resort region of Bali, the boutique property slated to open during the first quarter of 2023 features 50 sanctuary-like villas—ranging from 1,238 to 1,722 sq. ft.—each with a Balinese-style private garden with a saltwater plunge pool (available in 45 of 50 villas) and outdoor rainforest shower. 

The Wellness by Samskara spa offers a holistic experience based on Balinese wellness rituals while five dining venues and bars feature Indonesian, Japanese and international cuisine and libations.

Room rates start at $696 per night.

Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences, Singer Island, Florida

Set on seven oceanfront acres, Amrit Ocean Resort & Residences is about to bring wellness-focused luxury to Singer Island in Palm Beach County. When it opens in early 2023, this Preferred Hotels & Resorts property will feature 155 guestrooms, including 34 suites, and 100,000 square feet of spa and wellness space with a focus on Eastern well-being philosophies such as Ayurveda and Western technology (including sound-and-light and infusion therapies) designed to facilitate personal journeys. 

There’s a sleek, modern look to the accommodation and public spaces, which will include a beachfront restaurant specializing in Mediterranean and Asian cuisines and AYRE, a dining venue offering a plant-based menu by celebrity chef Matthew Kenney. A lobby lounge will also serve “healing elixirs” and craft cocktails along with small plates. 

Room rates start at $1,604 per night.

The post 8 Exciting New Island and Coastal Resorts that Should be on Your Radar appeared first on Islands.

If location is truly everything, the Sri Lanka Safari Lodge is, as the kids say, all that and then some. After all, few destinations on Earth offer as much natural beauty as this South Asian nation, and there’s arguably no better host than Aggressor Adventures. Put them together and you have a 5-star property that spoils thrill seekers with luxury and access to two amazing national parks and all the majestic wildlife that calls this country home.

Located on the Kala Oya River, the Lodge boasts eight private, tented chalets, making this place as intimate as it is enthralling. It’s no surprise that Aggressor CEO Wayne Brown and his team are so thrilled to reopen the doors on October 1, and guests will be equally elated with everything from the special rates to the Aliya Bush Restaurant’s locally sourced dishes. Oh, and the adventures awaiting beyond the property, of course.

“With the largest concentration of leopards and sloth bears in Sri Lanka, and up to 5,000 elephants, an Aggressor safari offers close-up experiences not found anywhere else in the world,” Brown explains. “With our industry-leading health and safety protocols, guests will have peace of mind along with a truly unforgettable adventure.”

Specifically, Aggressor has implemented the “Clean, Refresh, Sanitize” program to keep both guests and staff members safe and healthy. The company’s common-sense approach includes increased cleaning and sanitization in public areas and twice-daily room servicing, among other elements. But with its spacious layout and focus on privacy, the Lodge is already a perfect spot for travelers who have always practiced physical distancing.

As for the deals, guests traveling between October 3 and December 26 this year can enjoy a 5-days and 4-nights back-to-back add-on adventure when booked with the Maldives Aggressor II or Red Sea Aggressor II. Or, for those who simply want to admire the surroundings, there’s a 7-days, 6-night package for exploring Sri Lanka’s glory, including Wilpattu and Minneriya National Parks.

Say hi to the purple-faced langurs for us.

The post Aggressor Safari Lodge Set to Resume Adventures on October 1 appeared first on Islands.