If 2025 was the year of over-crowded hot spots, 2026 is shaping up to be about discovery – destinations that are delivering standout experiences without the crush. From a quiet corner of the Dalmatian Coast to a Norwegian fjord-side food capital, here are eight places flying just below the radar that travelers may want to get ahead of now.
Sri Lanka’ East Coast Sri Lanka’s east coast remains overlooked in favor of the south. Sun Siyam Pasikudah offers beachfront serenity, Ayurvedic-inspired wellness and uncrowded coral-rich waters, an entirely different side of the island, poised to be one of Asia’s most compelling luxury beach stories of 2026.
Stavanger, Norway Overshadowed by Oslo and Bergen, Stavanger is Norway’s coastal food and culture capital, a gateway to the Lysefjord, Preikestolen, and emerging Nordic culinary talent. Through bespoke itineraries by Up Norway, travelers experience the region through private fjord cruises, farm-to-table dining, artisan workshops and off-season adventures that feel worlds away from mass tourism.
Cavtat, Croatia Just 20 minutes south of Dubrovnik, Cavtat offers the same Adriatic romance without the cruise-ship crowds. Hotel Supetar Cavtat, a boutique property in a restored historic residence, is quietly redefining slow luxury with harbor-view terraces, local wine rituals and an authentic sense of place in one of Croatia’s prettiest seaside towns.
Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza’s wine scene is no secret, but staying at a female-founded, design-forward estate like SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites is. With spa suites, immersive wine-and-wellness rituals and bespoke experiences tied to the elements, this is Argentina’s next great boutique hotel story.
Riviera Nayarit, Mexico Riviera Nayarit remains a refined alternative, especially around Nuevo Vallarta. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit continues to set the bar for what an all-inclusive can be, with destination-worthy dining, culturally immersive experiences like Mexology Fest, and a wellness-forward approach that quietly rivals the buzziest spa resorts in Mexico.
South Caicos Turks & Caicos has a quieter sibling. South Caicos remains blissfully undeveloped, and Sailrock South Caicos is its anchor, a luxury hideaway perched above untouched beaches offering bonefishing, sailing, and serious barefoot elegance. It’s the Caribbean before it was commercial.
Brittany, France Paris and Provence dominate headlines, but Brittany is France’s great undiscovered region for 2026. Set within a medieval estate near the Atlantic coast, Domaine de la Bretesche combines château romance, a Michelin-recognized dining scene, and access to wild coastal landscapes that feel refreshingly untouched.
Machu Picchu, Peru The destination is a tried and true but thanks to daily visitor limits enacted in 2024, travelers no longer have to fight peak crowds in the area. At the base of the ruins, Sumaq Machu Picchu elevates the journey with indigenous-led cultural programming, Andean culinary rituals, and intimate access to sacred traditions that most travelers never encounter.
