17 Beautiful Resort Destinations That Are Highly Underrated
Ever felt like you’re sharing your vacation with half the planet? While crowds flock to Bali and the Maldives, some of the world’s most captivating resort destinations remain under the radar.
These hidden gems offer everything you could want, beaches, great accommodations, and incredible scenery, without the crowds or high prices.
Ready for a getaway where you won’t be fighting for a spot on the beach or waiting in endless lines? Uncover the world’s most enchanting resort escapes, breathtakingly beautiful, yet still flying under the radar.
1. Comporta, Portugal
Rice fields stretch toward the horizon, interrupted only by umbrella pines and thatched beach huts. Local fishermen sell their morning catch as stylish Europeans sip wine at low-key cafes. This isn’t some remote Asian hideaway, it’s Portugal’s best-kept secret.
Just an hour south of Lisbon lies this stretch of pristine Atlantic coastline that somehow remains off most travelers’ radars. Comporta blends charm with luxury.
The handful of boutique hotels and eco-resorts here prioritize blending into the landscape rather than dominating it, creating a refreshingly authentic escape.
2. Kep, Cambodia
The scent of fresh pepper and lemongrass fills the air as you wander through a sleepy fishing village. Abandoned French colonial villas peek out from jungle overgrowth, whispering stories of a glamorous past. Welcome to Kep, Cambodia’s forgotten riviera.
Once the playground of French elite in the 1960s, this coastal gem is experiencing a quiet renaissance. Small boutique resorts now occupy restored villas, offering infinity pools with views across to Vietnam.
The town’s famous crab market serves up the day’s catch with Kampot pepper, creating a culinary experience worth traveling for alone.
3. Isla Holbox, Mexico
Cars are banned here. The streets are made of sand. And at night, the only light pollution comes from the stars themselves. This is Holbox (pronounced ‘hole-bosh’), a sliver of paradise off Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
While Tulum has become overrun with influencers, Holbox maintains its bohemian soul. Colorful hammocks swing gently between palms at beachfront hotels.
Flamingos wade in shallow lagoons just steps from your bungalow. The island’s position where the Caribbean meets the Gulf of Mexico creates waters so rich with plankton that swimming with whale sharks is possible during summer months.
4. Koh Lipe, Thailand
Barefoot luxury takes on new meaning as you step from your beachfront bungalow onto sand that feels like powdered sugar. The Andaman Sea stretches before you in impossible shades of blue. This tiny speck in Thailand’s far south offers the paradise that Phuket promised decades ago.
Despite being just 2 square kilometers, Koh Lipe boasts three main beaches, each with distinct personality. Walking Street provides just enough civilization without spoiling the island’s charm. The surrounding Tarutao Marine Park ensures spectacular snorkeling right offshore, where clownfish dart between pristine corals and sea turtles glide past.
Isn’t it time you experienced Thailand the way it was meant to be?
5. Cirali, Turkey
Ancient ruins stand sentinel over a beach where endangered loggerhead turtles have nested for millennia. Behind you, mountains covered in pine forests rise dramatically from the Mediterranean coast. This isn’t a movie set, it’s Cirali, Turkey’s best-preserved coastal secret.
Strict building regulations mean no high-rises spoil this 3km crescent beach. Family-run pensions and boutique resorts are tucked discreetly among citrus groves.
At night, the flames of Chimaera, natural gas vents that have burned continuously for thousands of years, create an otherworldly hiking destination.
Remarkably, this natural wonderland sits just 80km from Antalya’s international airport.
6. Con Dao Islands, Vietnam
Turtles lumber ashore under moonlight to lay eggs on beaches where political prisoners once suffered. Nature has reclaimed what was once a place of human suffering, transforming it into Vietnam’s most pristine island paradise.
The Con Dao archipelago sits isolated in the South China Sea, protected as a national park. Six Senses resort brought luxury to these shores, but development remains minimal.
Empty beaches stretch for miles, dense jungle hides wildlife found nowhere else in Vietnam, and offshore reefs teem with marine life. The islands’ difficult history creates a uniquely contemplative atmosphere rarely found at beach destinations.
Can a place so shaped by pain also offer the purest form of peace?
7. Punta Rucia, Dominican Republic
Forget Punta Cana, the real magic of the Dominican Republic lies on the north coast, where lush mountains meet white-sand beaches and daily life unfolds beneath whispering palms. In Punta Rucia, fishermen mend their nets as children splash in water so clear it nearly disappears.
This unspoiled village offers authentic charm and access to Cayo Arena, a tiny sandbar surrounded by dazzling coral reefs.
Come winter, humpback whales pass through nearby Samaná Bay, adding a touch of wonder to an already unforgettable place. Here, nature and culture intertwine far from the crowds.
8. Ksamil, Albania
The Ionian Sea sparkles in shades of turquoise that rival the Maldives. Small islands dot the bay, close enough to swim to from shores lined with affordable seafood restaurants. This Mediterranean paradise isn’t in Italy or Greece, it’s Albania, Europe’s best beach secret.
Ksamil sits at the southern tip of the Albanian Riviera, just a stone’s throw from Corfu. While development has increased in recent years, it retains a refreshingly unpretentious atmosphere.
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint, an ancient Greek and Roman city, provides cultural depth just minutes away.
Fun fact: Some of Ksamil’s tiny offshore islands are so close, locals have been known to swim out carrying their lunch in waterproof bags!
9. Bawah Reserve, Indonesia
Seaplanes land on water so clear you can spot manta rays from the air. Six islands, thirteen beaches, and three lagoons comprise this remote private reserve in Indonesia’s Anambas archipelago. The journey here, a ferry from Singapore followed by a private flight – ensures few make the effort.
Bawah’s 35 luxury overwater and beach bungalows were built using sustainable materials and renewable energy. The surrounding marine protected area teems with over 250 species of fish and 500 types of coral. Activities focus on reconnecting with nature, guided hikes through primary forest, snorkeling pristine reefs, and stargazing from deserted beaches.
It’s the kind of place that makes you wonder why you ever settled for the ‘mainland’, because this is next-level islanding.
10. Bocas del Toro, Panama
Wooden houses painted in rainbow colors perch on stilts over crystalline waters. Sloths hang from trees just steps from your eco-lodge. Welcome to Panama’s Caribbean archipelago, where jungle meets reef in spectacular fashion.
Bocas del Toro comprises nine main islands and hundreds of islets, each with distinct character. Bastimentos Island houses both pristine Red Frog Beach and indigenous Ngöbe-Buglé communities.
Sustainable resorts focus on minimal environmental impact, some run entirely on solar power and rainwater collection. The laid-back atmosphere attracts a diverse crowd from backpackers to luxury travelers seeking authentic experiences.
11. Pemba Island, Tanzania
Clove plantations perfume the air as fishermen in traditional dhows glide across waters in a hundred shades of blue. While neighboring Zanzibar fills with tourists, Pemba Island remains blissfully untouched, offering the authentic Swahili Coast experience that’s increasingly hard to find.
The handful of resorts here emphasize sustainability and connection with local communities. The Manta Resort’s underwater room, a floating structure with submerged bedroom, provides the ultimate marine immersion.
Pemba’s verdant interior hides endemic species found nowhere else, while its surrounding reef systems offer world-class diving without the crowds.
12. Koh Rong, Cambodia
Powdery white sand crunches beneath your feet as you step into water so clear, you can count the vibrant fish darting between your toes. After sunset, the shoreline glows with bioluminescent plankton, turning every wave into a flicker of natural magic.
While most travelers rush through Cambodia’s cities, few discover Koh Rong, an island that feels like a secret whispered only to those who linger. With just a handful of low-key resorts and minimal development, it offers that rare gift: genuine stillness and untouched beauty.
A short 45-minute boat ride from the mainland brings you to jungle-covered hills, quiet beaches, and the kind of peace you didn’t realize you were missing.
It’s not just a destination, it’s a feeling that stays with you.
13. Milos, Greece
Ever wondered what a moonlit island looks like by day? On Milos, lunar landscapes of white volcanic rock give way to water in impossible shades of blue.
Colorful fishing boats bob in tiny harbors where octopus dry in the Mediterranean sun. While tourists crowd Santorini and Mykonos, this Cycladic gem remains refreshingly authentic.
Milos boasts over 70 beaches, each with its own distinct character, from the white cliffs of Sarakiniko that resemble a moonscape to Kleftiko’s pirate coves accessible only by boat. Small family-run hotels and boutique resorts preserve the island’s traditional charm.
Its unique geology creates landscapes found nowhere else in Greece, including thermal springs and spectacular rock formations.
14. Rodrigues Island, Mauritius
Time slows to a gentle pace on this autonomous island 560km east of Mauritius. Locals still use ox carts to transport goods along roads where traffic jams mean stopping for wandering tortoises. The Indian Ocean laps at shores still blissfully free of major development.
Rodrigues operates on island time, where “kass-enn-poz” (take a break) is the unofficial motto. Small guesthouses and boutique hotels offer authentic hospitality without pretension.
The surrounding lagoon, twice the size of the island itself, provides a natural playground for kitesurfing, diving, and fishing. Local Creole cuisine blends African, Indian and French influences into dishes found nowhere else.
15. Dominica
Bubbling hot springs emerge from volcanic earth as parrots flash emerald and crimson through pristine rainforest canopy. This isn’t your typical Caribbean island of manicured beaches and all-inclusives. Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EEK-a) proudly wears its “Nature Island” nickname.
The few resorts here embrace the island’s wild character rather than trying to tame it. Secret Bay’s luxury villas blend into clifftop forests. Jungle Bay focuses on wellness amid hot springs and hiking trails.
The island’s rugged topography creates dramatic black sand beaches, the world’s second-largest boiling lake, and spectacular diving where volcanic vents release bubbles among vibrant coral.
16. Koh Kood, Thailand
Waterfalls cascade through ancient rainforest just steps from beaches that would make the Maldives jealous. Thailand’s fourth-largest island somehow remains its least developed, offering a glimpse of what places like Koh Samui were like decades ago.
Koh Kood (sometimes spelled Kut) maintains a sleepy fishing village atmosphere despite housing some of Thailand’s most exclusive resorts. Soneva Kiri brought six-star luxury to these shores, while smaller properties offer barefoot elegance at surprising value.
The island’s interior hides pristine waterfalls and villages where daily life continues much as it has for generations. Ready to step off the beaten path and discover a world untouched by time?
17. Trancoso, Brazil
Colorful fishermen’s cottages surround a grassy square where horses graze freely and locals gather for evening games of football. Just beyond, Atlantic rainforest meets miles of empty beaches where sea turtles nest undisturbed.
This former hippie haven in Bahia has become Brazil’s most stylish beach destination.
Trancoso manages the delicate balance between sophistication and authenticity. The town’s historic Quadrado (square) remains the heart of community life, while discreet boutique hotels and luxury pousadas hide in the surrounding forest.
Celebrity visitors appreciate the unspoken code that everyone, famous or not, goes barefoot and leaves pretension behind.