Kyoto, Japan

Hurricane season aside, there’s no bad time to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands—a Caribbean

paradise of white-sand beaches, world-class water sports, beautiful oceanfront hotels, and restaurants doling out all the conch fritters and mojitos you can handle. Peak season is over by April, but that doesn’t mean the party has ended. Carnival takes over the streets of St. Thomas for the month, bringing with it a fun-filled roster of food fairs, boat races, and rollicking parades featuring eye-popping costumes and music. Escape the commotion at Caneel Bay, a blissful wellness retreat tucked away in Virgin Islands National Park. The best part? You don’t even need to bring your passport. A 1,000-year-old history. Countless shrines and temples. Geishas strolling down ryokan-lined streets. It’s easy to see why this former imperial capital of Japan was voted the world’s best city in 2015 by Travel + Leisure readers. Kyoto’s romance peaks in April, when the country’s famed cherry blossoms blanket the landscape in pink. The place to stay is Hoshinoya Kyoto, a century-old riverside villa opening this month with not one but two landscaped gardens where one can take in the foliage after a traditional kaiseki meal. For a further retreat into nature, head two hours southeast to the Mie Prefecture, where the minimalist Amanemu, Aman’s new hotel inspired by the classic Japanese onsen experience, looks out over tranquil Ago Bay.

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