Melissa Zimmerman

The Amalfi Coast has no shortage of beautiful hotels, and yet Borgo Santandrea stands apart. A 1960s property rebuilt with modern glamour into the cliffside just outside of Amalfi, it sits perched high above the Tyrrhenian Sea with the kind of views you carry home with you long after the trip ends. The interiors are equally gorgeous, with blue and white tiles and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the water from every room. The private beach is one of the only ones on the entire Amalfi Coast. The Michelin-starred restaurant has an incredible terrace floating above the coast, and the town of Amalfi is a short skip away by complimentary boat or car. And yet it is genuinely hard to pull yourself away.

Ischia sits in the same bay as Capri but gets a fraction of the attention. That’s the whole point. This is not the island where you see and be seen. Instead, it’s understated la dolce vita: genuinely Italian, welcoming without being touristy. We went for the hotel. We stayed for the thermal baths, the food, and the sapphire blue water.

St. Barths is hard to get to—and even harder to leave. It’s Europe meets the Caribbean: stunning beaches meets chic French vibes, a wintertime version of St. Tropez. Yes, you can spend the day lounging and swimming, but the island’s real magic lies in getting out and exploring. Slow mornings by your hotel or villa pool drift into leisurely lunches at beach clubs with DJs setting the scene. Afternoons call for discovering secluded coves and dipping in the ocean, then browsing Gustavia’s boutiques before sunset drinks that ease into fashionable dinners at world-class restaurant outposts. It’s a “see and be seen” destination, yet there is something relaxed and secretive about it. St. Barths invites you to wander, uncover its hidden corners, and make the island entirely your own.

Madrid, the polished and sophisticated Spanish capital, is home to world-class hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and some of the best art museums in Europe. Strolling through the ‘Golden Triangle of Art’ or relaxing in the lush Retiro Park feels a world away from the winding, historic alleys of La Latina or the grand shopping avenues of Salamanca. The city is elegant and full of charm, amazing food, and a rich history.

Amsterdam is full of charm with its winding canals, cobblestone streets and colorful tulips. However, it's more than just museums, flowers and the Red Light District — there are excellent hotels with world-class dining that will surprise anyone who has only traveled there during their college study abroad program. Amsterdam is a a diverse and exciting food destination that has the hits (warm stroopwafels!) and unexpected surprises in its food halls and fine-dining restaurants.