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Escape the crowds and connect to the aloha spirit with award-winning UnCruise Adventures.

Island Beauty: Chanelle de Lau of Curaçao

Island-Hopping in the Caribbean Isn’t Just for the 1-Percent

The islands off the coast of Panamá—white-sand beaches, hammocks rocking between palm trees, clear emerald waves lapping the shore—are the stuff of vacation fantasies but, in truth, are dangerously close to your reality. Head offshore and take off your shoes. You’ve discovered the undiscovered.

At Island Sole in Lahaina, the authentic, locally made gifts are designed to help shoppers “find their aloha.” Head here for shirts and flip-flops in tropical colors, home decor like jellyfish coasters and ukulele-shaped table clocks, and the shop’s signature longboard letters, which function as one-of-a-kind signs with customizable letters, icons, and characters attached to a wooden surfboard base. If you’re looking for some wall art, pay special attention to the palm-and-wave paintings on birchwood by Danielle Groff and the larger, laser-engraved maps of the Hawaiian Isles.

Occupying a modern tower next to Hong Kong Park and attached to the Pacific Place shopping center, Island Shangri-La is an earthly paradise on the edge of Hong Kong’s Wan Chai district. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the lobby face a 140-year-old banyan tree; the outdoor swimming pool is set amid grass and trees as well as skyscrapers; and the Roof Garden on the 56th floor is enveloped in the misty greenery of Victoria Peak.

The hotel’s interiors are equally inspiring, with more than 900 works of art on display, including a 16-story silk landscape painting called Great Motherland of China cascading down the atrium. Accommodations combine Asian silks, floral wall paintings, and Chinese tea sets with European antiques and crystal chandeliers. In 2009, the Horizon Club Lounge became the highest executive lounge on Hong Kong Island, offering sweeping views of Victoria Harbour. Dark wood, black marble, jewel-tone leather, Austrian chandeliers, and qi pao-inspired staff uniforms create an elegant setting for complimentary breakfast, evening cocktails and canapés, or an afternoon work session.

Jeju is known as the “Hawaii of South Korea” because of its blue waters and volcanic makeup (minus the tropical weather). One of island’s top experiences is ending the day with a solemn stroll through Jeju Stone Park, a tranquil space with conceptual rock displays inspired by local mythology and geology. The main draw is the outdoor stone sculptures and cultural village, complemented by a couple of indoor museums exhibits. Highlights include the tomb guardian children and grandfatherly, basalt “dolhareubang” figures. In olden times, the dolhareubang were considered to be gods offering both protection and fertility and were placed outside of gates for protection against demons.

The wagyu of pork, made from Jeju Black pigs, is treasured for its marbled, nutty-sweet meat. I found a life-changing version of it on a sleepy side street.

JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa is luring beach and nature lovers to South Korea’s largest island.

Guided rides are back on the California island, offering a unique way to explore and a dose of cowboy culture.

From a blissfully serene Japanese island to still undiscovered spots in Italy, here’s where to escape the hordes.

These under-the-radar islands are all about nature, serenity, and getting away from it all.

Whether heading to a floating restaurant or a tiny island outpost, traveling to these dining rooms is half the fun.

After a dip in the pool and a stroll on the beach, cast your line for tarpon, canoe in one of the most distinctive lakes on Earth, hit the links, shred on a mountain bike, or swim in emerald green and sapphire waters. Then, kick up your feet and take it easy with a relaxing stay at a participating Marriott Bonvoy hotel or resort.

My kids wanted to go to Japan. We took them to South Korea instead—and our timing was “Golden.” Here’s our parent- and kid-approved itinerary for exploring Seoul and Jeju Island.