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- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Eight Luxury Destinations Worth the Airfare
There comes a point every summer when the fortunate begin their annual migration. The private terminals get busier. Linen gets whiter, Rosé consumption reaches medically questionable levels, and a familiar parade of entrepreneurs, financiers, celebrities, polo players, and well-heeled escape artists disperses across the globe in search of sunshine, scenery, and a table that was booked six months ago.
From the cliffs of Italy to the beaches of New England, these seven destinations remain the gold standard of summer luxury.
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen is proof that ski towns don't need snow to be spectacular. In summer, the mountains turn emerald green, temperatures hover in the perfect range (40’s at night mid-70’s by two) and every third person seems to be either a billionaire or training for an ultramarathon.
Days are spent hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, or pretending you're going to hike while shopping at Brunello Cucinelli, Moncler, Gucci or LV. There is world class polo and plenty of things to do. Evenings belong to wine tastings, charity galas, and patio dining beneath dramatic mountain sunsets.
Restaurant Pick: Matsuhisa Aspen remains the town's perennial power-lunch and power-dinner destination, serving world-class Japanese cuisine with a side of people watching.
Corfu, Greece
Corfu feels like the Mediterranean before Instagram discovered it. The Ionian Island offers turquoise water, Venetian architecture, olive groves stretching to the horizon, and enough luxury villas to keep privacy-loving celebrities happy.
Unlike some Greek destinations that have become overcrowded and overexposed, Corfu still manages to feel sophisticated and relaxed. Days drift effortlessly from boat excursions to waterfront lunches and long afternoons beneath striped umbrellas.
Restaurant Pick: Etrusco is consistently regarded as one of Greece's finest dining experiences, blending local ingredients with refined Mediterranean technique.
East Hampton, New York
The Hamptons remain America's ultimate summer status symbol. Yes, the traffic is terrible. Yes, the real estate prices are absurd. And yes, everyone complains about both while continuing to show up every year.
East Hampton offers a unique combination of old-money elegance and modern luxury. Historic shingled estates, pristine beaches, boutique shopping, and cocktail parties hidden behind towering hedges create an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the United States.
Restaurant Pick: Nick & Toni's has been the unofficial dining room of Hampton society for decades and remains the place to see and be seen.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Few places on earth can compete with the visual drama of the Amalfi Coast. Colorful villages cling impossibly to cliffsides while luxury yachts drift below in water so blue it almost appears edited.
Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi offer endless opportunities for leisurely lunches, boutique shopping, and sunset aperitivos. It's a destination designed for indulgence, where every winding road seems to lead to another postcard-worthy view.
Restaurant Pick: La Sponda, illuminated by hundreds of candles each evening, delivers one of the most romantic dining experiences in Europe.
Rome, Italy
Rome in summer is gloriously chaotic. Ancient ruins stand beside luxury boutiques. Priests walk past Ferraris. History and excess coexist in perfect Italian harmony.
The Eternal City rewards wandering. Spend the morning exploring centuries-old landmarks, the afternoon lingering over espresso in a piazza, and the evening enjoying one of the world's great dining scenes. Every corner seems to offer another reminder that modern civilization started here.
Restaurant Pick: Pierluigi remains a favorite among discerning travelers for exceptional seafood and an atmosphere that captures the essence of Roman summer.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket doesn't try to impress anyone, which is precisely why it does. Cobblestone streets, gray-shingled cottages, hydrangeas, and weathered harbor views create a uniquely American version of luxury.
The island's appeal lies in its understated elegance. Wealth whispers here. The best houses are hidden behind hedges, and the most powerful people often arrive in well-worn boat shoes rather than designer loafers.
Restaurant Pick: The Nautilus consistently delivers one of the island's most sought-after dining experiences with inventive coastal cuisine and a lively atmosphere.
Lake Como, Italy
If Amalfi is Italy's glamorous extrovert, Lake Como is its elegant aristocrat. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and dotted with centuries-old villas, Como has long attracted European nobility, Hollywood royalty, and a growing number of tech billionaires seeking a more refined version of summer luxury.
Days unfold at an unhurried pace. Guests drift across the lake aboard polished wooden Riva boats, stroll manicured gardens that have overlooked the water for generations, and enjoy long lunches where nobody appears to be in a hurry. Unlike some luxury destinations that seem determined to show off their wealth, Como wears its privilege with quiet confidence.
The towns of Bellagio, Menaggio, Varenna, and Tremezzo each offer their own charm, while the grand lakeside hotels remain among the finest in Europe. There is a timelessness to Lake Como that makes even the newest arrivals feel as though they've stepped into an old Italian film.
Restaurant Pick: Il Gatto Nero offers breathtaking views over the lake and serves classic Lombard cuisine that has attracted everyone from local families to international celebrities.
Montecito, California
Montecito may be America's most beautiful coastal hideaway. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains, it offers a blend of California ease and extraordinary wealth.
This is where hedge fund managers, entertainment executives, and royalty can coexist while pretending they're simply enjoying a quiet beach town. The pace is slower, the landscaping is flawless, and every property seems to have its own citrus grove.
Restaurant Pick: Caruso's, overlooking the Pacific, delivers luxury dining at its finest and perfectly captures the relaxed sophistication of the community.
Luxury travel trends come and go. One year it's Montenegro. The next it's some obscure island that suddenly appears on every influencer's feed. Yet Aspen, Corfu, East Hampton, Amalfi, Rome, Nantucket, Como and Montecito endure because they offer something rarer than exclusivity: permanence.
These destinations have become summer institutions. The scenery remains spectacular, the restaurants remain exceptional, and the people watching remains undefeated. In a world increasingly obsessed with what's new, these are the places that prove true luxury never really goes out of style.
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