This summer, rethink your travel plans with our edit of under-the-radar destinations that all offer beauty, culture and luxury, but without the massive crowds.
Here’s our guide to swapping the obvious choices for unexpected spots.
Kotor Bay, Montenegro
Instead of the Amalfi Coast
Skip the summer crowds of Positano and head for the fjord-esque beauty of Kotor Bay, where medieval towns meet sparkling Adriatic waters. This Montenegrin gem offers similar cliffside drama and historic charm, but with far fewer tourists and a slightly wilder and more untouched edge. Dine by the water in Perast, visit the historic Our Lady of the Rocks, sail to secluded coves, or explore the winding alleyways of Unesco-listed Kotor Old Town.
Where to stay: One&Only Portonovi
Montenegro’s most glamorous new address features a Riviera-inspired design and is home to the world-class Chenot wellness spa. Located in Boka Bay, the resort offers fine dining, private beach access, and medical-grade wellness programmes. It’s also a gateway to exploring the Adriatic coast and nearby historic towns.
Albania’s Southern Coast
Instead of Santorini
For sun-drenched coastal charm without the Santorini crowds, Albania’s southern coast is having a bit of a moment, with luxury seekers and celebrities flocking to discover its dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear waters and whitewashed villages. With scenery that rivals the Cyclades, Albania blends Mediterranean beauty with a refreshing sense of authenticity. From the beach clubs of Dhërmi to the wild coves near Himarë and the Unesco-listed town of Gjirokastra inland, it’s a destination where there is still so much to discover.
Where to stay: Kep Merli
A luxurious resort perched above the Ionian coast, it offers private access and has attracted celebrity guests, including Dua Lipa. Set in Albania’s untouched southern riviera, the resort combines contemporary design with raw natural beauty. With exclusive villas, crystal-clear waters and a focus on privacy, it’s fast becoming one of the Mediterranean’s most sought-after escapes.
Kazbegi, Georgia
Instead of Switzerland
Trade Swiss precision for Georgian soul in Kazbegi, where snow-capped peaks frame hilltop churches and dramatic valleys. Its high-altitude serenity offers culture, culinary warmth and a sense of deep history – plus, fewer tourists and far more adventure. In the summer, the local scenery is unrivalled and there are plenty of outdoor activities to discover, from mountain biking and hiking to horse riding.
Where to stay: Rooms Hotel Kazbegi
A former Soviet sanatorium, it has been turned into a chic mountain lodge with panoramic views and a firelit alpine-meets-brutalist aesthetic. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains, the property is a mix of retro charm and modern design, and makes for a stylish base for year-round adventure. Guests can enjoy a cosy library, an indoor pool and sweeping terraces facing Mount Kazbek. The in-house restaurant offers international cuisine.
The Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Instead of The Maldives
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Project is reimagining barefoot luxury with a pioneering eco-conscious vision. With views and scenery that rival the Maldives’s paradisiacal islands, expect crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs and ultra-exclusive resorts. This emerging destination lies within one of the world’s most pristine marine zones – offering seclusion, sustainability and high-end hospitality with an authentic Middle Eastern sensibility.
Where to stay: The St Regis Red Sea Resort
Located on the exclusive island of Ummahat, this recently opened resort blends architectural sophistication with marine conservation and five-star indulgence. Surrounded by untouched coral reefs and turquoise waters, it offers overwater villas, personalised butler service and holistic wellness experiences. It champions sustainability but doesn’t compromise on delivering an ultra-luxurious experience.
Slovenia
Instead of Lake Como
Trade the glamour of Lake Como for the untouched elegance of Slovenia, where serene alpine lakes, lush forests and boutique vineyards offer a quieter kind of luxury. Whether it’s paddleboarding on the glassy Lake Bohinj, a day in the rolling hills of Brda, or hiking through Triglav National Park, Slovenia offers nature at its most refined – all with a sustainability-first mindset and a growing network of properties that are design-led and discreetly opulent.
Where to stay: Vila Planinka
One of Slovenia’s most exclusive retreats, Vila Planinka is tucked away in the unspoilt Jezersko Valley. With only a handful of minimalist-chic rooms, a no-Wi-Fi philosophy, hyper-local fine dining and panoramic mountain views, it’s the kind of place that attracts those in the know.
Zakopane, Poland
Instead of the French Alps
The Tatra Mountains surrounding Zakopane are Poland’s answer to Chamonix – offering alpine adventure, timber chalets and a folkloric charm that feels refreshingly authentic. In summer, it’s all about hiking, thermal springs and open-air mountain dining. Wildflower-filled meadows and cool mountain breezes make it a perfect escape from the heat. Add in artisan markets and sunset views over the peaks, and you’ve got a summer idyll with soul.
Where to stay: Aries Hotel & Spa
This luxurious, design-forward chalet hotel blends rustic Polish tradition with modern wellness. Think carved timber interiors, roaring fireplaces and a spa inspired by the natural thermal springs of the region. It’s the kind of place where adventure ends in a herbal sauna and evenings begin under mountain skies.
Valletta, Malta
Instead of Vienna
Trade the grandeur of imperial palaces for the golden-stone elegance of Valletta, Malta’s walled capital perched above the Mediterranean Sea. Like Vienna, it offers layers of European history, from baroque cathedrals and ornate opera houses to cobbled streets dotted with wine bars and boutique galleries. But unlike its Central European counterpart, Valletta delivers it all with a coastal breeze and a yacht-studded backdrop.
Where to stay: Iniala Harbour House
A design-led luxury retreat, it offers sweeping sea views, Michelin-star dining and prime access to Valletta’s cultural core. Set across a row of restored town houses, the hotel blends Maltese heritage with contemporary elegance. Expect personalised service, indulgent spa treatments and rooms that open out to one of the Mediterranean’s most iconic harbours.
Costa Rica
Instead of Bali
Costa Rica combines tropical landscapes and wellness with a strong focus on sustainability. Known for its biodiversity and pristine beaches, it offers a range of activities – from ziplining through cloud forests to soaking in volcanic hot springs and trekking through the jungles of the Osa Peninsula. A current favourite among eco-conscious celebrities, including Gisele Bündchen and Selena Gomez, Costa Rica has a number of restaurants championing local food and luxury hotels that offer the same appeal as Bali, but at a lower cost.
Where to stay: Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
An ultra-luxury eco-retreat on a private peninsula, it offers ocean views, curated wellness programmes and five-star service nestled in tropical jungle. Days here begin with sunrise paddleboarding and end with dinner under the stars. Expect sleek villas, locally inspired spa rituals and seamless access to nature.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Teaching in coronavirus times
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HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
UAE%20v%20West%20Indies
%3Cp%3EFirst%20ODI%20-%20Sunday%2C%20June%204%20%0D%3Cbr%3ESecond%20ODI%20-%20Tuesday%2C%20June%206%20%0D%3Cbr%3EThird%20ODI%20-%20Friday%2C%20June%209%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EMatches%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Stadium.%20All%20games%20start%20at%204.30pm%0D%3Cbr%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMuhammad%20Waseem%20(captain)%2C%20Aayan%20Khan%2C%20Adithya%20Shetty%2C%20Ali%20Naseer%2C%20Ansh%20Tandon%2C%20Aryansh%20Sharma%2C%20Asif%20Khan%2C%20Basil%20Hameed%2C%20Ethan%20D%E2%80%99Souza%2C%20Fahad%20Nawaz%2C%20Jonathan%20Figy%2C%20Junaid%20Siddique%2C%20Karthik%20Meiyappan%2C%20Lovepreet%20Singh%2C%20Matiullah%2C%20Mohammed%20Faraazuddin%2C%20Muhammad%20Jawadullah%2C%20Rameez%20Shahzad%2C%20Rohan%20Mustafa%2C%20Sanchit%20Sharma%2C%20Vriitya%20Aravind%2C%20Zahoor%20Khan%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Gifts exchanged
- King Charles -- replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla -- Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump -- hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump -- personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
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UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures: Monday, first 50-over match; Wednesday, second 50-over match; Thursday, third 50-over match
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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