Best Places to Visit this Fall for a Quiet Vacation

Laze on a daybed with a warm cup of Earl Grey and a good book—Hidden Pond facilitates that all too well. Serenely situated amongst 60 acres of birch and balsam trees in Kennebunkport, Maine, its 36 cottages are all charmingly and uniquely decorated. Amenities include a morning basket of baked goods, stone fireplaces and screened in porches. There’s also their Tree Spa (yes, treatment rooms are up in the trees) and Earth restaurant, the brainchild of James Beard Award Winning Chef Ken Oringer.

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and while the ranch surrounding The Inn at Dos Brisas is a whopping 300 acres, there’s just 14 rooms. Located between Houston and Austin, it offers a reprieve from city life by way of horseback riding, hiking, biking, wine tastings and cooking classes, or just let the kitchen do it for you—The Inn is home to the only Forbes 5-Star restaurant in Texas and it pulls right from the property’s own certified organic farm.

If you want culture and a secluded spot to retreat once you’ve gotten your fill, consider a hot holiday in Oaxaca. Here, Hacienda Los Laureles offers an adorable alternative to the large resorts typically associated with Mexico. There are just 23 rooms in this 18^th-century restored mansion within a quiet residential area. They offer full spa services and arrange guided eco-tours to nearby mountains. Make sure to taste all the mezcal you can—this UNESCO World Heritage Site of a town is known for it.

Ten suites. Adults only. No televisions. Casa Chameleon Hotel might just be the quietest of quiet escapes—save for the occasional bird song. On the southern tip of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, each suite tucked into the jungle offers ocean views and a private plunge pool. The surf towns of Santa Teresa and Playa Hermosa are easily accessible for those looking to hang ten.

Looking at pictures of countryside oasis House of Jasmines, you’d never guess it’s just five minutes from the Salta airport. Touchdown and get straight to the good life: smelling the flowers, sipping Malbec, hiking in the foothills of the Argentinian Andes. When you want a splash of lively culture, head to one of the city’s peñas (folk-music clubs).

We’re not sure who invented the concept of a quiet escape, but there’s a solid chance it originated in the English countryside. One of the many charming spots to choose from is The Samling Hotel in the Lake District. The Georgian-style house is surrounded by 76 acres of gardens, fields and woodland. One of the best spots to enjoy the lake view is the hot tub with a bottle of bub. If you get antsy, know that the area is also dubbed “the UK’s Adventure Capital.”

The Amalfi Coast is a popular place (for good reason), but if its crowded beaches aren’t your scene, step into the all-white oasis of Casa Angelina. Perched on a secluded hillside in the village of Praiano, the hotel features 39 suites each with private balconies or terraces. About their beach La Gavitella: it’s private, picturesque and accessed by a glass elevator and 200 steps. Molto bella!

An hour south of Lisbon but a whole world away, Sublime Comporta is just that, sublime. Relaxation is the name of the game here, with an onsite yoga room, heated indoor pool, sauna, steam bath and spa facility. Meals at Food Circle, the hotel’s outdoor organic restaurant, are extra special—only 12 people can dine at a time.

There are more hot air balloons in the skies above Cappadocia on any given morning than there are rooms at Ariana Sustainable Luxury Lodge. Most of the 11 rooms feature gas fireplaces and fridges stocked with local wine; there are cozy cave suites and ones with private terraces. With the lodge’s position atop a hill, you’re in a prime spot to watch the twice daily shows at sunrise and sunset.