Growing up, my family never went on beach vacations. The world is big and there’s a lot to see, so our trips always revolved around Segway tours and museum visits rather than piña coladas and chaise lounges. But as we’ve all grown older—and subsequently, more exhausted—the concept of actually relaxing while using our PTO has become increasingly appealing. Which is how we found ourselves at La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel, in St. Martin this past April, sunburnt and waterlogged in one of the property’s wow-worthy villas overlooking Baie Longue, known for being one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.

We surprised my dad with the trip for his 60th birthday, and considering there was snow on the ground in Ontario, where my brother and parents live, when they boarded their flight in Toronto, I don’t think we could have picked a better destination. The temperature was in the 80s the entire time we were on the island (a UV index of 11 was, in fact, a shock to Canadian skin), and our accommodations were certainly up to snuff for such a special celebration.

An overhead view of La Samanna’s smattering of villas from their perch along Baie Longue

La Samanna Villa

We stayed in one of La Samanna’s four-bedroom villas (there are also a couple of three-bedroom villas, and 76 other rooms and suites spread out along the property), which was pretty much one giant two-story mansion with everything a group could need to vacation in style. I’m talking a full staff, soaking tubs in the en suite bathrooms, a stocked kitchen (and fridge) with top-of-the-line appliances and fixtures, a backyard pool with a higher square footage than my Manhattan apartment, a laundry room, and two offices. When we first stepped through the front door and into the gloriously airy foyer, the pool peeking through the arched windows and the marble spiral staircase to our right, I felt a simple “holy [redacted]” slip through my lips. It was all uphill from there as we explored further, the interiors a perfect blend of high design and cozy cool, with Caribbean artwork decorating the walls and more outdoor lounge spaces than we knew what to do with.

We could have stayed inside for days, but we did leave, eventually. Our first full day was a deep dive into the medina: hours in the souks, getting lost among the streets, motorbikes threading through roads that barely fit two people walking side by side. By the time we got back, all six of us had clocked 14,000 steps each, and nobody wanted to make a single decision. Walking into that villa, into the quiet, into actual space to decompress, felt like something I didn’t know I needed until I had it.

The second day, we went further: a hike in the High Atlas with a guide booked through luxury travel agency Scott Dunn. Thanks to expert guidance, the trails were manageable for both kids, which I’d been quietly anxious about. Our guide arranged lunch at a local family’s house, where we watched them make bread, drank an unreasonable amount of mint tea, and had a tagine with a preserved lemon situation so tasty I still haven’t been able to find the words to describe it.

Speaking of delicious meals, the villa’s live-in chef is reason enough to book the place. She has clearly been making this delicious food her whole life. Mornings were msemen, eggs, and pastries that somehow kept replenishing themselves; evenings were tagine and zaalouk, all of it rivaling the best restaurants in the city. When the kids hit their Moroccan food wall one night, she made pasta with the freshest tomato sauce. And during a movie night in the cinema room, freshly popped popcorn appeared out of nowhere.

The owner operated the same way, quietly and two steps ahead, preparing things before you’d even thought to ask for them. She’d stocked the fridge before we arrived, left us a trusted driver’s number, and, on the last day, arranged in-villa spa services, including a hammam scrub and massage, that I have thought about at least once a week since coming home.

Worth knowing before you book: the remote location means you won’t be stepping out for a spontaneous coffee, so stock up when you arrive. The heated pool may incur a small extra charge depending on the season, and the live-in staff will come through regularly to clean and prepare meals, which is seamless once you know to expect it, but slightly surprising if you don’t.

When my husband and I decided to honeymoon in Japan and South Korea, I had one requirement for the itinerary: to visit an island, either Okinawa (Japan) or Jeju (Korea). With just two weeks of travel time and many other plans packed into our itinerary, Jeju quickly became the frontrunner given its ease of access. Only a one-hour flight from the South Korean city of Busan, Jeju is often described as the “Hawaii of Korea” (much like Okinawa is shorthanded as the “Hawaii of Japan”—though that island requires a three-hour flight from cities like Osaka to access). I quickly became enamored by photos of the island’s highlights, from the lush volcanic mountains to the famous haenyeo (women free divers) to the little seaside villages with homes built of dark volcanic stone. I also started watching a K-drama called “Our Blues,” set in one such village, with an ensemble cast that gave me a peek into the daily lives of island locals. I was smitten.

Jeju has some busier hubs, like its namesake Jeju City and Seogwipo City, but we decided to stay in one of those aforementioned villages for a quieter experience. Our time in Jeju would fall at the end of our honeymoon, when we knew we’d crave an excuse to sleep in, or spend quiet nights in the backyard after a few too many activities in Osaka and Seoul.

When we found this Jeju Airbnb—charmingly labeled as an “Emotional accommodation with a view of Seongsan Ilchulbong”—we knew it was the spot. Despite the fact that “emotional” gets a bit lost in translation in the title, I was emotional thinking about the moment when we’d be wrapping up our honeymoon and wanting to stretch those final days.

The Airbnb is built into the shell of a 50-year-old house, partially made with iconic volcanic stones, but the interiors have been totally redone with soothing neutral linens, warm brunette wood, and modern amenities like A/C and a projector screen for watching movies. The star of the show? A round window right at the foot of the bed, which looks straight out upon Seongsan Ichulbong, a volcano rising out of the windswept sea and full of lore (the base of it is where working haenyeo famously do a short performance before entering the water to harvest abalone, urchin, and seaweed each day).

We arrived on a rainy night, when we could barely see a thing as we walked through the courtyard and used the lockbox to enter our cozy little stay. Like other traditional homes on Jeju, the doors are low (my husband, who is around six feet tall, learned quickly to duck on his way in and out). But the warm glow of the room, its plush linens, and a little basket filled with Jeju’s famous tangerine juice, gummy bears, and coffee welcomed us in. We couldn’t see through the picture-frame window that night, but we remembered something even better. The projector installed right above the bed was perfect for our first (and much-needed) movie night of the trip. We hit the button to unfurl the screen in front of the window and cozied up. (And in the truest of luxuries, the Netflix account was already logged in, so we didn’t have to deal with the hassle of plugging in and verifying our own. It’s the little victories sometimes.)

I had the chance to preview the experience (sans Cynthia, unfortunately), and as a Wicked fan myself, I couldn’t help but geek out at this seriously well-crafted slice of Oz. As I, and the rest of the world, wait eagerly for Wicked: For Good, it felt extra exciting to prance around this excellent recreation and imagine how Elphaba spent her time in between the two movies.

The retreat is located in Thousand Oaks, California, just past the celebrity-filled areas of Calabasas and Hidden Hills. Tucked away on an acres-large farm, Elphaba’s retreat is a bit difficult to find (as we imagine it would have been in Oz)—so beware of getting lost on Google Maps—but once you’re inside the farm gates, the journey’s final 10-minute drive up an all-terrain path seems as if it were pulled right from your Wicked imaginations. When you finally arrive, a small stack of yellow bricks marks the entrance, an unmistakable nod to the franchise’s most famous road.

Follow the path to a massive nest-like structure—the heart of Elphaba’s Retreat. Inside, it feels as if Elphaba has just stepped out for a moment: her black pointy hat (an actual prop from the movie) hangs by the entryway, an FBI-style corkboard with pamphlets and newspapers is slung chaotically on the wall, and her signature glasses rest casually on the table. Turn left and you’ll find the real Grimmerie used in the movie, which guests are invited to pick up and flip around themselves. And just a few steps away, her actual broomstick is hung up on display, surrounded by mystical dried flowers.

Continue forward and you’ll find a canopy-style bed, built from twisted tree branches that feels straight out of a storybook. From here and the central “living room” area, there’s a vast lookout point that allows guests to pause and sink even deeper into the experience, surrounded by excellent views. You could easily spend hours here wandering, touching, and taking in every little detail, but the true magic unfolds during the two interactive experiences that Cynthia will share with guests.

The first: tea time around the campfire with Michael Graney, co-founder of LA-based company Teawaves, where guests can pick a tea blend “foraged from the forest” that pairs with encouragements they (and their favorite Wicked character) need—power, courage, romance, friendship, or wanderlust. Afterwards, you’ll be immersed in a broom weaving workshop with LA-based D’Ara Nazaryan of Aris Floral, where guests will be invited to grab individual baskets and “forage” for dried flowers from around Elphaba’s lair. D’Ara will help you weave the florals into your brooms with two assistants.

If there’s one home in the Nancy Myers filmverse I’d long to live in, it’s Iris’s snow-dusted stone cottage from The Holiday. Don’t get me wrong—I wouldn’t say no to Amanda’s LA mansion, but something about this time of year has me fantasizing about being holed up in the English countryside, sipping a glass of wine by a crackling fire, delighted by the thought that, at any point, Jude Law might show up at my door.

If you, like me, had your set-jetting dreams dashed when you found out “Rosehill Cottage” never actually existed outside of the set built for the film, I have some good news: You can now stay in a replica of the cozy home, and you don’t have to travel all the way to Surrey to experience it. This month, nearly twenty years after the film’s 2006 release, home swapping platform HomeExchange unveiled the Holiday Cottage in an unlikely place—Ellijay, Georgia.

Iris’s cottage was inspired by a real-life home named Honeysuckle Cottage in the village of Holmbury St. Mary, Surrey. For the exterior shots, a set was built in a field in nearby Shere, while interior scenes were filmed on a Hollywood soundstage. There was once a time, circa 2022, when you could rent Honeysuckle Cottage on Airbnb, but it has since passed. As I’m sure Ms. Meyers would agree, whether you’re in Surrey or Georgia, it’s all about channeling the cashmere-wrapped spirit of the film.

The replica is a fitting venture for a company that was founded upon the same principles that drove characters like Iris and Amanda to cross wires (they use HomeExchange in the movie), and it’s one that comes soon after Apple TV announced a limited series adaptation of the cult-favorite rom-com. The replica project, which first began in 2022, was done in collaboration with Georgia-based design firm State and Season and recreates all those cozy, worn-in features beloved by those who identify as frazzled Englishwomen (but don’t want to actually have to cross the pond).

Instead of re-watching the movie this year, you can grab five of your closest friends to stay in this spacious rental, with kitschy decor details that look as though they’ve been plucked from the year 2006. The two-story home, adorned with wooden beams and stonework, features two upstairs bedrooms—each with a king bed and en suite bathroom—as well as a queen sofa bed downstairs. The living room, with its wood-burning fireplace, is the perfect place to gather around, book in hand, while a year-round hot tub will allow guests to enjoy the mountain air.

The North Georgia town of Ellijay—about 1.5 hours from downtown Atlanta—is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains (a place our editors are loving this season, especially while staying in this cozy farmstay). As such, it provides access to scenic hikes like the Amicalola Falls Trail, which brings you to some of Georgia’s tallest waterfalls. If you come in the fall, make sure to visit an orchard or two, as Ellijay is known as the state’s “Apple Capital.” The region is also a veritable wine destination, boasting sparkling wines at Wolf Mountain Vineyards as well as French-inspired whites and reds at Frogtown Cellars.

The cottage began hosting guests on October 1, and there are still a few slots open for November and early 2026 in time for peak holiday season. For those who can’t snag a reservation, or who simply can’t resist the pull of the English countryside, check below for a list of our favorite spots that invoke a similar aesthetic. Just imagine starting the day blasting that all-too-perfect Hans Zimmer score.

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More The Holiday–inspired vacation rentals:

If you haven’t been to the Amalfi Coast before, there’s a reason it is all over your Instagram feed every summer. One of the most recognizable and beautiful coastlines in the world, this winding stretch of Italy truly encapsulates la dolce vita. On a recent trip with friends, I was on the hunt for a vacation rental that was as much of a destination as the area itself. After plenty of research, we decided to make Sorrento our home base for six days, eager to take in the sights, laze away on beaches, and eat as much gelato as our bodies could handle.

Rolling up the hill to this six-bedroom villa felt like we were stuck in a movie (perhaps Under the Tuscan Sun, or the Italian stretch of Normal People). Each of the six rooms was generously sized and came with its own en suite bathroom, as well as large windows, blackout shades, comfortable mattresses and linens, and places to store and hang our clothes. But it wasn’t the interiors that originally caught our eye while booking—it was the view. Perched almost on top of a hill and overlooking the village of Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, about a 25-minute drive from Sorrento, the view from Villa Orologio felt all-encompassing, from the village to the nearby mountains to the Gulf of Naples in the distance. We spent most of our time on the property enjoying breakfast, dinner, and each other’s company, seated around the large table under the awning on the terrace or on the lounge chairs around the private pool.

While the plethora of white marble inside did come across as a bit sterile in images, in person, it felt completely different, like the perfect understated, minimalist backdrop to not overshadow the exceptional terrace and views. The amenities and bathrooms were all modern, and the AC was strong (something we Americans very much appreciated). One of the six bedrooms was technically an unattached studio with a separate bedroom and bathroom located just a few feet from the main house, ideal for couples or small families that want a bit more privacy and space. The other five bedrooms were located on three different levels in the main house. We made good use of the green and marble kitchen, and were able to cook up a few meals which we happily enjoyed around the 12-seat table on the terrace with a couple of glasses of wine.

The rental itself is managed by a nearby hotel, which came in handy a few times, like when a large storm knocked out our Wi-Fi and power and the hotel staff were able to drive over and give us updates, provide complimentary umbrellas, and book us a taxi down to Sorrento when our phones weren’t working. Prior to our arrival, they stocked our kitchen with a few ingredients we requested (unfortunately, either due to the remote-ish location or the language barrier, they weren’t able to get everything).

The nearby village of Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi was about a 15-minute walk downhill, and was a great spot that was a bit removed from the throngs of tourists in Sorrento. You could also catch a bus down to Sorrento here if desired. In the village, we found delicious gelato, a Michelin-recognized restaurant, a grocery store for light ingredients, and a few adorable shops.

One thing to keep in mind is that public transportation here can be rather lackadaisical. Buses arrive when they want, not necessarily on schedule, and coast to a stop sometimes here, sometimes there, depending on the day. If you plan to stay at this villa, either bake in plenty of time to get to and from your destination, rent a car (if you’re willing to brave the winding cliffs and steep drop-offs), or simply stay on site and enjoy the views. Another thing to note was that one of the bathrooms got a sudden infestation of ants on the last day, which I’m sure would have been quickly eradicated by the staff if requested, but as it was the last day and we were gone for most of it, we simply left.

After a long day exploring Pompeii, hanging around Positano, or traversing the streets of Amalfi, this large, comfortable spot and its remarkable outdoor space beckoned us home like a lighthouse. We’d race up the hill from the bus stop to catch the last dregs of the sunset from our villa with our feet in the pool and gelato in hand.

We arrived in Amsterdam from New York City on little sleep, early and subdued after a red-eye flight. It was my partner’s first time in the city, and my second—but I’d decided this trip would have a different pace. Disinterested in ticking off Red District landmarks or retracing old café steps—what I wanted for our long weekend away (from a Friday morning to Monday afternoon in mid-August), was a quieter kind of introduction for myself and for him: one that allowed space for the charming Dutch capital to unfold on its own terms.

The only car ride of our trip was an Uber from the airport to our highly anticipated Airbnb. Upon our arrival, the warm and friendly host named Jantine (who lives in the apartment upstairs) welcomed us to the ground-floor flat in one of Jordaan’s historic 19th-century buildings with a brown-hued facade. The flat itself (dubbed by Jantine as “Studio Kool”) used to be a local shop, and you can still see traces of its past in the old terrazzo flooring in the bathroom, worn smooth with time. Now a small, self-contained studio, it boasts just enough room for two people (or any solo traveler) to linger in for a while.

Inside, we were greeted by a soft, clean palette: muted neutrals, pale woods, and whites that gave way to texture rather than color. A large, street-facing window (with curtains and shades for privacy when needed) anchors the seating area with two modern, understated chairs placed just beneath it. These became our unofficial staging ground—light jackets tossed over the backs, coffee cups balanced on our knees as we watched the neighborhood hum outside. The window, marked by a distinctive circular hanging design, also offered a charming view from the street—our hint that we’d returned to our little hideaway.

To the left of the seating nook is a small, light wooden dining table. It was here that we found our welcome gifts: a bottle of wine, savory crackers, and a mini tray of thoughtfully chosen business cards—local restaurants, bakeries, art galleries, all handpicked by Jantine. A cheese knife, small cutting board, and utensils sat ready on the table, along with a curated Amsterdam guidebook from atelier Sukha, filled with neighborhood finds. Subtle hints of tasteful design complete the studio: A simple, chic light bulb fixture suspends from a secure cord above the table. Scandi-style prints hang throughout.

The layout flows from front to back in one continuous space, with no doors or dividers into the “bedroom” and “kitchen.” A small, open-faced kitchenette faces the bed—and while not ideal for cooking full meals, it worked perfectly for morning teas and afternoon snacks. Two long wooden shelves above the counter hold grey ceramic plates from Nepal, white bowls, glasses, and essentials like tea, coffee, salt, and oats. Both an electric kettle and teapot sit on the counter, next to a pour-over glass coffee carafe with a wooden collar. In the cabinet at the bottom right of the sink, there’s a mini-fridge, which we used for restaurant leftovers and our slowly-sipped, gifted wine. Beside the kitchenette—a compact hanging closet area with hangers, sized to hang a small array of wrinkle-prone items, as well as our checked suitcase and a carry-on underneath. A small candle completes the nightstand, and a locker-esque styled cabinet sits adjacent to the dining table for extra clothing storage.

The cozy double bed is topped with linen duvets and a wood-toned throw blanket. It nearly hugs the tall, floor-to-ceiling glass terrace doors, dressed with long, sheer white curtains that filter sunlight throughout the day. With just the right amount of privacy and soft light, the curtains never made the space feel dim or enclosed. (Not to mention, full blackout shades would’ve been dangerous in our sleepy, jet-lagged state.) Also bedside, a vintage-style chest held the hammock, which was stored neatly and easy to pull out whenever we wanted. The terrace—our little, lush, green nook—was overgrown in a quaint and romantic way, with plants framing the patio and softening the already-light sounds of the city. Like clockwork, this space became my afternoon spot for rest and relaxation. After our long walks, exploring, I’d hang up the hammock, lie back, read or relax, and sway with light falling on my face. From that position, I could look through the terrace doors and see my partner curled up in bed, wrapped in linen, slipping into a coziest nap. And separately, ideal for morning coffees to evening wines, a small, outdoor round table sat ready with two chairs.

The choice of booking this rental in Jordaan felt instinctive—the desirable district is said to be isolated enough from the tourist bustle while still being within walking distance to pretty much anywhere. And amidst our four-day trip, the neighborhood proved just that: It’s the kind of place where you open the door in the morning and find a café with flaky, warm croissants; where older women lock up bikes with one hand and carry a book or fresh produce in the other. The streets are narrow and cobbled—some barely wide enough for a car—with scenic brick townhouses that line the canals. That said, Jordaan is dotted with small boutiques, galleries, and independent cafés that are best explored on foot.It’s a neighborhood where you can spend hours wandering over and around the canals, browsing vintage shops, and street markets (the Northern Market—or Noordenmarkt was around the corner from the flat), or sipping coffee in one of the many cozy cafés that seem to have no end.

What puts this low-slung villa a cut above the multitudes of swoon-worthy holiday homes near St. Tropez has everything to do with art. It’s owned by a renowned European collector, so the walls and 108,000 square-foot garden area are filled with astonishing museum-quality contemporary works from Jeff Koons, Richard Serra, and Damien Hirst, rivaled only by the enchanting unbroken vistas of Pampelonne Bay. With a staff of four on hand, limo service, and a helicopter pad for quick getaways, you may still prefer to lounge on a sun bed by the heated pool or take the wooded path to the beach, a five-minute walk to Le Club 55. The sleek modern interiors of the seven bedrooms—which includes one kids’ room with three beds, plus two bedrooms in the guesthouse—are uncluttered and unpretentiously elegant. In keeping with the spirit of the place, there’s an extensive gym for toned-body maintenance and, best of all, an open-air cinema with a giant screen that springs magically from the ground.

Sleeps: 14
Price: from about $54,533 for a one-week stay, or about $3,895 per person

This gallery was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.