Scottsdale, Arizona
Spas and golf courses don't do it for hip-hunters but hotels that list Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood among previous guests do. Half a century ago, the Hotel Valley Ho (hotelvalleyho.com) in Scottsdale Arizona was a magnet for holidaying Hollywood starlets; now it's been reinvented in all its 50s fabulousness. The James Hotel and the Phoenician, the 1930s grand dame of resorts for the Hollywood elite, have also upped the glamour factor in Scottsdale and are drawing a new crowd who'd prefer their desert wilderness with a dash of west coast cool.
Almeria, Spain
The province is best known as the location for hundreds of spaghetti westerns, but the current, mostly Spanish, crop of artists and hippies aren't there for the Clint Eastwood connection. They come instead for the uncrowded beaches and yoga retreats around Cabo de Gata, about 30 miles east of the city of Almeria, where the Parque Nacional de Cabo de Gata-Nijar protects 60km of pristine coastline. Think the Costa de la Luz 10 years ago.
South coast, Cambodia
In the space of just a few years, the temples of Ankor Wat have gone from being remote, barely visited treasures to overcrowded tourist honeypots. But Cambodia's southern coastline is yet to be developed. The backpacker fraternity has already discovered the white beaches, fishing villages and deserted islands between the main resort Sihanoukville and the former French colonial town of Kep-sur-Mer. It's only a matter of time before the developers and day-trippers move in. Go now because it ain't going to last.
Cerro Dragón, Chile
The coastal town of Iquique in the region of Tarapaca towards the top of skinny Chile is one of the best surfing spots in South America, but the sport is rapidly moving inland to Cerro Dragón for the incredible dune surfing. Like all nascent surfing communities, accommodation is still pretty basic, but that'll soon change just as surfing mecca Tarifa on the tip of the Iberian peninsula turned into a chi-chi enclave for wealthy Spaniards in the know.
Ilhabela, Brazil
The protected island of Ilhabela is one of the most beautiful spots on the coast between Rio and São Paulo. Discovered by the yachting crowd in 1986, it's become a favourite among eco-friendly, beach-savvy Brazilians. There's only one road - head south to the end of the island and stay at the superb boutique hotel DPNY (dpnybeach.com.br). On Saturday nights, the streets of Ilhabela Town become one big nightclub.
Ilhabela is featured in the June/July issue of Wallpaper*.
Jeroen Bergmans, Travel editor of Wallpaper*
