Podsolnyh

Marfa has become a bucket list trip for anyone who’s tapped into culture. Here, there are 16 galleries—one for every 124 residents of this isolated town—in addition to the Chinati Foundation, which holds hundreds of works by Dan Flavin, John Chamberlain, Donald Judd, and more. The town received its first full service hotel in 2017, the Hotel Saint George, though budget-conscious and adventurous travelers should look into spending the night in a teepee at El Cosmico. As for dining, try out whichever of these restaurants is open: Marpho, a Vietnamese bánh mì and pho emporium, or Planet Marfa, which serves up a mean plate of nachos.

Sitka is widely considered the most beautiful town in Alaska—mountains known as the “Sisters” serve as a backdrop, and spruce trees grow almost down to the sea. The harborside town is quaint and compact, with the look of a Wild West enclave, complete with flat-fronted wooden buildings that wouldn’t look out of place in a John Wayne film. The natural beauty and remote location of Sitka makes it a beloved destination for hikers, climbers, hunters, and fishermen; head just a few miles out of town and you’ll feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, in the best possible sense.

Surrounded by picture-perfect gardens and set on the banks of the Mingshi River, LUX* is the definition of a tropical modernist refuge. Each suite in the hotel has its own terrace, overlooking the calm water and striking karst mountains, and hotel staff will happily arrange for tours of local sugar-making cottages or high tea served on a bamboo raft on the river. The hotel’s location on the border of China and Vietnam also creates a unique narrative here, as various cultures collide and blend with one another. Rooms from $600. —Tong Yu

In a beach town dominated by could-be-anywhere mega-resorts, The Standard, Hua Hin brings a much-needed dose of youthful energy to a place usually associated with snowbirding retirees and hi-so (high society) Thais driving down from Bangkok. In lieu of teakwood floors and jasmine garlands, guests are greeted by fresh contemporary art and midcentury-modern furnishings; then pathways palisaded with bamboo and bougainvillea snake to the boho-beachy villas (where disco balls hang in the bathrooms). The main action happens at the pool, where Bangkok’s beau monde lounges under candy-striped umbrellas and two restaurants serve drinks and Thai-with-a-twist bites until 10 p.m. Rooms from $125. —Chris Schalkx