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The Underrated Summer Destinations No One’s Talking About

June 29, 2025

Everyone and their gelato-loving cousin is going to Italy this summer. And hey, I get it. Italy is classic for a reason. But if your idea of luxury involves fewer crowds, more character, and experiences that actually feel personal—then let’s talk underrated summer destinations that bring the style without the selfie sticks.

The smart money this year is on hidden gem places that are still rare, still magical, and still very much worth writing home about (or Instagramming—you do you). Think: rarified beauty, real culture, and luxury that whispers instead of shouts.

Here’s where I’d send you instead—and exactly where I’d have you stay in these summer destinations.

Slovenia’s Secret Region: A Hidden European Summer Escape

Welcome to a slice of Slovenia that still feels blissfully undiscovered: Lower Carniola. All forested hills, thermal springs, and medieval castles—including Hotel Grad Otočec, a literal castle set on its own tiny island in the Krka River. This isn’t wine country—it’s wilder than that. Think river kayaking, storybook towns, and slow-food spots run by grandmas who know their way around a dumpling.

Underrated summer destination in Slovenia: Hotel Grad Otočec castle on island in Krka River
A literal castle on a river island. Turrets, torchlight, and total fairytale energy. (Photo courtesy of Hotel Grad Otočec)

Grad Otočec isn’t just a hotel, it’s an experience—turrets, drawbridge, the whole nine yards. You’ll feast on regional cuisine in candlelit halls, sleep like royalty, and wake to birdsong and mist rising off the river. And of course, it’s all waiting for you in The Vault.

Chiang Mai, Thailand: An Off-the-Radar Retreat

While Bangkok boils and the islands bake, the northern city of Chiang Mai keeps its cool—literally and culturally. This underrated summer spot is all golden temples, misty mountains, and night markets that smell like lemongrass and charcoal smoke.

Stay at 137 Pillars House: teakwood elegance, lush gardens, and a pool you’ll want to live in. It’s an old-world escape with modern perks, and it puts you close to everything that matters—like those legendary street noodles you’ll be dreaming about for years. Talk about underrated.

Teak, tranquility, and a pool you’ll dream about forever. (Photo courtesy of 137 Pillars House)

Uruguay’s Maldonado Countryside: Underrated Coastal Cool

Set just inland from Punta del Este’s glitzy coast, the Maldonado countryside is where Uruguay trades flash for substance. Rolling hills, gaucho culture, and a breezy elegance define this region—along with Hotel Fasano Punta del Este, a sleek modernist escape that feels both grounded and glamorous.

Modernist cool in the countryside. Bungalows, birdsong, and Tannat by the pool. (Photo courtesy of Hotel Fasano Punta del Este)

Here, you’ll find private bungalows tucked into nature, horseback rides through open fields, and afternoons spent poolside with a glass of Tannat and a soundtrack of birdsong. It’s not about being seen—it’s about being somewhere that makes you feel something. Welcome to Uruguay’s quiet side.

Botswana’s Okavango Delta

This one’s for the travelers who don’t flinch at the word “adventure” but still want their sheets starched and their sundowners served on silver trays. The Okavango is pure magic: elephants wading through golden water at sunset, lions lazing under acacia trees, skies so big they make your problems look tiny.

Book a Belmond Safari Lodge and prepare to have your expectations recalibrated. These aren’t just tents – with cathedrals of canvas and craftsmanship. With service that feels telepathic. It’s the ultimate underrated summer destination, the kind of place where nature gets a standing ovation and luxury knows its place (quietly excellent).

Remote luxury safari destination: Safari lodge in Okavango Delta with elephants
Elephants at your doorstep, silver-tray sundowners in hand. Wild luxury, dialed all the way up. (Photo courtesy of Belmond Safari Lodge)

A Final Note on Good Taste

You don’t need to follow the crowds to find something beautiful. In fact, the best travel stories usually start with “we went where no one else was.” That’s the energy this summer.

And that’s exactly why we built The Vault—our hotel booking tool that lets you reserve stunning stays yourself and still unlock our Virtuoso and preferred partner perks. Room upgrades, resort credits, VIP treatment? All available without having to lift more than a finger.

Every hotel I mentioned? Bookable on The Vault. And so are thousands more.

So skip the tourist trail. Let’s plan something that feels like you.

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