Where to Go When You Want to See and Be Seen

Blowing off steam looks different for everyone. For some, it requires a haul to a remote, cell-service-less corner of the globe, while others reenergize with sightseeing and restaurant-hopping in a vibrant city. Riding the third rail, though, are travelers who light up at the prospect of dressing to the nines, mingling with movers and shakers and ​sipping bubbly​ ​at a beach club in the company of at least one internet celebrity. If this sounds like you, consider one of these certified hotspots, where the music​ bumps, the crowd and the food are equally photogenic and a dose of well-mannered ​partying is never more than a velvet rope away.

Saint-Tropez

With everything from stylish beach clubs to a yacht-filled harbor, Saint-Tropez is one of the French Riviera’s most glamorous towns.

There’s an undeniable cachet to the Côte d’Azur. Also known as the French Riviera, this sandy strip along the country’s southeastern coast is stacked with the names of legendary destinations: Antibes, Èze, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Villefranche-sur-Mer. But it’s the enclave of Saint-Tropez, planted firmly on the map by the ’60s jet set, whose enduring glamour continues to capture the imagination—and the vacation plans—of the global glitterati. In this glitzy, celebrity-magnet town, you’ll find designer shopping, seaside restaurants, high-end hotels (we’re looking at you, Cheval Blanc St-Tropez and Hôtel Lou Pinet) and shiny yachts. But perhaps most famous are the beach clubs, like Le Club 55 and Nikki Beach Saint-Tropez, where a macrame cover-up or a linen twinset can take you from daytime sunbathing to sunset dinner and dancing.

Mykonos

The party capital of the Cyclades, Mykonos also has plenty of serene hotels where you can recover.

Among iconic European summer destinations, Mykonos has a reputation as the ne plus ultra for rosé-fueled revelry. The party hotspot in the Cyclades—a Greek island group that’s no stranger to throngs of tourists—is famed for its beach clubs (if you didn’t dance on a table and eat horiatiki at NAMMOS Mykonos, were you even in Mykonos?), nightlife and hedonistic vibes. When you need a break from the debauchery, book a yacht day and explore the Mykonian southern coast, known for sun-warmed beaches like Paralia Agrari. And for a bit more serenity without sacrificing the all-important vibes, reserve a room at Myconian Imperial Resort.

Aspen

Grab your fur coat and Kemo Sabe hat and join the stylish snowbunnies at The Little Nell, Aspen’s swankiest hotel. Photo courtesy of The Little Nell.

When it comes to winter resort towns, nowhere is cooler than Aspen (although Zermatt and Verbier, both in Switzerland, sure give it a run for its money). In the colder months, Colorado’s chicest mountain escape draws snow bunnies to its powdery slopes—and its fizzy après-ski scene (Champagne and truffle fries at Ajax Tavern, anyone?). You’ll also find visitors dressed in fur coats and designer cowboy hats shopping for new outfits at Fusalp Aspen and staying at stylish slopeside hotels like The Little Nell. But Aspen vacations aren’t just limited to ski season. Summer welcomes a crowd of athleisure-wearing hikers to take in the photogenic peaks of the Maroon Bells. It’s also a great time to visit the Aspen Art Museum and admire the sweeping views from the roof, pick up a pair of cowboy boots and a turquoise statement necklace at Kemo Sabe and dine at some of the best restaurants in town—including Bosq, Clark’s Oyster Bar and Matsuhisa—without the peak-ski-season waitlists.

St. Barts

Beauty is everywhere you look in St. Barts, from the turquoise water to the beach-club clientele.

A posh playground, St. Barts appeals to everyone from VIPs wielding toile-print beach totes and matching fans to movie stars, music moguls and European glitterati. A word to the wise: Reservations on this French-speaking Caribbean island matter. So book ahead for the perfect day, which involves lunch, sun loungers and plenty of rosé at one of the exclusive beach clubs (preferably Shellona or La Guérite Beach – St Barth). If you absolutely must work on vacation, Rémy Bar & Salon is a great spot, especially if you want to trade business cards over a passion fruit margarita. Travelers keen to sprinkle in more active pursuits can head out on the scenic Colombier Beach hike. In the late afternoon, peruse the designer shops in Gustavia and pick up something worthy of showing off at dinner (and, eventually, dancing) at Sella. And know that the red-roofed luxury villas, butler service and a private stretch of sand bring the “who's who” back to Eden Rock – St Barths year after year.

Ibiza

From bumping beach clubs to wellness-focused resorts, Ibiza is a study in balance.

Ibiza is the see-and-be-seen queen of the Balearic Islands, the Spanish archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea that also includes Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera. The barefoot-luxury-meets-all-night-party haven entices throngs of well-dressed travelers who laze away the day on oversized sunbeds at Blue Marlin Ibiza and, when the sun goes down, bop to international DJ sets at Pacha Ibiza. While here, be sure to explore beyond the coastline. The wild interior of the island has become an in-the-know wellness epicenter for sound baths, yoga retreats and farm stays like Jardines de Palerm. For a luxury, well-being-oriented resort right on the water with the potential for a casual celeb sighting, there’s Six Senses Ibiza. If you can’t decide between green juice and getting after it, Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay offers a bit of both—with prime people watching.

Bodrum

Bodrum defines Euro summer with wild clubs, luxury hotels and celebrities sunning themselves on superyachts. Photo courtesy of Maxx Royal Bodrum.

With its blingy clientele, lively nightlife scene and sun-soaked beaches (Karaincir is a favorite), Bodrum draws comparisons to Ibiza—but with even more of a party-hardy atmosphere. The Turkish Riviera destination is having a major moment, driven by a wave of hot new luxury hotels like Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort, chic restaurants (among them Moi Vao Bodrum and Ayla by Aret Sahakyan) and thumping clubs (Scorpios, the famously hedonistic Mykonos haunt, recently made its debut just across the Mediterranean). In the sizzling summer months, you’re all but guaranteed to see sarong-wrapped socialites and nepo babies catching rays on the superyachts that moor in the bluer-than-blue waters of Yalıkavak Marina. Need a day (or even just an afternoon) off from the table-service action? Bucket some time to visit Bodrum Castle, the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology and the Bodrum Bazaar.

Copenhagen 

Follow the trendsetters to Copenhagen, where you’ll find cool shops and even cooler cafes. Photo courtesy of La Banchina.

One of the hottest “coolcation” destinations in the Nordics, the impeccably clean and walkable Danish capital has trend-setting fashion (expect effortlessly chic locals striding down the street in oversized button-downs, asymmetrical hemlines and chunky brogues), great shopping (with a mix of vintage and Scandi brands) and attractions like the Designmuseum Danmark and the Danish Architecture Center, where global tastemakers go for inspiration. Copenhagen is also known for its robust cafe culture, defined by cozy, minimally minded spots to linger over lattes and homemade pastries. While devouring a cardamom cream-filled semla at Lido, you might unwittingly strike up a conversation with the extremely low-key CEO of a Nordic tech startup who’s caffeinating after a swim in the harbor. Ask for their favorite spots, or just know that all the hip locals are lining up for the 18-course New Nordic tasting menus at Kadeau and the raw Norwegian scallops at Iluka.

Porto Ercole

Travelers in the know head to Porto Ercole for its picture-perfect beaches and chill vibes. Photo courtesy of Hotel Il Pellicano.

Anyone who’s ever crossed the Atlantic in search of pasta and gelato knows the heavy-hitters: Capri, Positano, Lake Como, Venice. But travelers looking for a spot that’s more in-crowd than crowded will love Porto Ercole. Tucked away in the municipality of Monte Argentario, just a two-hour drive from the Eternal City, Tuscany’s burgeoning coastal gem—and Rome’s answer to the Hamptons—has sun-dappled beaches, a glimmering harbor that welcomes a wave of private yachts at the height of summer, and a refreshingly laid-back atmosphere. There are two glorious hotels: Hotel Il Pellicano, a jet-set hub in its ’60s heyday that now welcomes a steady stream of European media execs, designers and models, and La Roqqa, for when you want to escape the scene—but still be seen.

Oaxaca

Oaxaca’s flavorful street food, vibrant art scene and hip hotels draw travelers from around the world.

For years, trendsetters have been singing the praises of Oaxaca. But only recently have casual travelers started to catch on to its many charms—and to book trips accordingly. A rich heritage, culinary chops and a deep well of creativity have turned the colorful city into a veritable it-destination. Local chefs and social media stars alike queue up for tlayudas from Tacos Del Carmen and memelas from Memelas Doña Vale. And the abundance of galleries and art institutions means the calendar is full of openings, exhibitions and workshops, where you can mingle with prominent and emerging talents. Oaxaca is also home to a handful of hip hotels, such as Hotel Escondido Oaxaca, a Member of Design Hotels, for rubbing elbows with other on-the-pulse wanderers and, eventually, resting.

Miami Beach

In addition to a red-hot restaurant scene, Miami Beach brings the party with nightclubs, pool parties and buzzy art galleries.

With its cocktail bars, swanky lounges and nightclubs bumping house music till the wee hours, Miami Beach brings the party. But the real estate moguls, musicians, art collectors and models who call it home—or fly in every other weekend (because it’s just so electric)—don’t only hit the boozy nightlife venues. The gallery-hopping circuit buzzes (yes, even beyond the major yearly art fairs); the sandy beaches are dotted with sun loungers and colorful lifeguard stands where content creators snap bikini selfies; and the pool parties, like the ones at The Goodtime Hotel, look great on social media. South Florida’s steamiest urban sprawl also has a red-hot restaurant scene, with hard-to-snag reservations like Sunny's and Boia De. Curious where your favorite parasocial pals are posing in front of that gold-plated woolly mammoth skeleton? It’s the Faena Hotel Miami Beach.

Phuket

Relax by day and party by night in Phuket, where lavish resorts share space with lively nightclubs. Photo courtesy of Anantara Hotels and Resorts.

Night markets, beaches and lively bars along Bangla Road once made Phuket popular among well-traveled backpackers and twenty-somethings on a budget. But recently, Thailand’s largest island has also been drawing digital nomads, influencers and fun-loving, financially solvent groups of friends, who travel halfway around the world to dance all night and recuperate by the pool at a swish resort (Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, Trisara and Banyan Tree Phuket are your best bets to recharge your batteries). The lively scene continues to expand beyond Patong Beach with newcomers like Flamingo Beach Club, an early-to-late playground in the Cape Panwa neighborhood. When you need a break from the bass, there are quiet corners of the Andaman coastline to explore and, OK, snap jealousy-inducing photos to post.