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You don’t need rose-colored glasses at these pink sand beaches.

2020 shows no sign of slowing down when it comes to luxury hotel openings. Here are 6 openings that I am especially excited about, plus a rundown of what other important brands are up to, highlighted at ILTM Cannes this month.

An earthquake registering 6.9 on the Richter scale hit the popular Indonesian vacation islands of Lombok and Bali on August 5. Here’s what travelers need to know about the current situation.

The wild and rugged coastline of Sumba, Indonesia has yet to be discovered by most travelers to Indonesia due to the allure of other popular islands, namely Bali, Java and Lombok. Sumba has yet to be developed and there are only a handful of accommodations spread around this large island catering primarily to surfers seeking the fabled monster waves that break on its reefs. The beaches are long stretches of soft white sand and you will most likely have them to yourself. The villages on the island are very primitive and constructed of timber and tall thatch roofs. Sumba is serviced by air a couple times and week at tiny airstrips in either Waingapu or Waitabula. Cancelations are frequent and I ended up stuck on the island a few days longer than I had anticipated. Sumba feels like you stepped back in time a couple hundred years and it’s a real adventure.

Nestled between jungle and sea in the remote Karangasem Regency, Amankila evokes the shapes of the nearby Ujung Water Palace yet also captures the spirit of everyday Bali. Modeled after traditional Balinese beach houses, the 34 suites are stilted among bougainvillea and frangipani trees and topped with alang alang thatched roofs; inside, royal doorways, pillared bed canopies, and marble vanities blend with more understated pieces crafted from bamboo, rattan, and coconut wood. Elevated marble walkways turn and intersect until they reach the colonnaded main buildings and three-tiered pool, inspired by the country’s hallmark rice terraces, and steps wind down from the resort to the oceanfront Beach Club, which features a restaurant, a 130-foot lap pool, and eight shady bales (pavilions) tucked into a coconut grove. Windsurfing boards, Hobie Cats, and outrigger boats resembling jukung (traditional fishing crafts) encourage guests to get in the snorkel-friendly water. Though Amankila offers everything a guest could need for a relaxing holiday, visits to nearby temples, ornate water palaces, and artisan villages complete the experience.

If you’ve visited temples in Bali, Pura Lingsar, the largest and most important temple in Lombok, may look familiar. The Hindu temple here, Pura Gaduh, has four shrines, including ones associated with the holy mountains of Gunung Agung on Bali and Gunung Rinjani on Lombok. This holy site embodies not only the cultural connections between Bali and Lombok but also the multifaith nature of Lombok. In addition to the Hindu temple, there is an Islamic mosque in the complex. Both men and women will need to rent or bring a sarong to enter, and revealing clothes are not allowed. A visit here is a delight for the eyes along with other senses as you wander among the jasmine, fruit, flowers and incense sticks left as offerings.