Travel has developed from what it once was, the predictable itineraries that once defined luxury have given way to something much more valuable to travellers now, which is genuine rarity. Today, holiday makers are after experiences that can’t be packaged and recreated, instead prioritising making memories over star ratings. As people search for their best summer 2026 holidays, the destinations worth knowing about are the ones most people won’t think to look for. Here’s where to go.
Northern Spain: Eclipse Country
An upcoming highlight to pencil into the summer calendar is the total solar eclipse on 12th August. Whilst most travellers head towards the Balearics or Madrid, those in the know are heading to Asturias and Cantabria, the green stretch of Spain’s Northern coast, otherwise known as Green Spain. This is a far less crowded, cooler and greener alternative destination to the scorched south. In the limestone foothills of the Picos de Europa sit historic palacios, grand estate houses converted into hotels. They are far from city light pollution and are perfectly positioned for viewing the solar eclipse, a guaranteed night to remember.
Further afield, the Albanian Riviera continues its quiet rise, the coastline between Vlorë and Dhërmi offers clear water, dramatic scenery, and genuine hospitality. You could spend a morning on a private catamaran exploring the sea caves of the Karaburun Peninsula, with an afternoon in the Llogara Pass, and you’ve had yourself a day that no travel review has quite captured yet.
Sri Lanka: The Island Reimagined
Sri Lanka highlights the mood of travel in 2026. The island’s hospitality sector has developed into a renowned one, and luxury Sri Lanka now means much more than just a beachfront infinity pool. Jaffna is a city of heritage, history, and an untouched coast, which has led it to emerge as a quietly compelling spot.
Sustainable travel is now more sought after than ever, and the Maldives and Mauritius have developed in a regenerative way, with the sustainability and longevity of their islands as the utmost priority. On private islands, guests might find themselves joined by marine biologists, taking part in coral propagation or helping with manta ray research. It’s the kind of holiday that gives something back, rather than simply taking from a place.
Mexico: Beyond the Obvious
Mexico remains a big part of the Globally Mine portfolio, but by 2026, there’s far more to the story than Cancún and Cabo. With major infrastructure projects like the Maya Train now complete, some of the country’s more remote regions are becoming far easier to explore, especially for travellers willing to go a little further, part of Mexico’s appeal is the option for discovery.
Mexico’s landscapes and culture reward those who look beyond the obvious, allowing a shift in perspective that is becoming harder to experience in polished, perfected destinations. Those who explore further, regardless of the destination, rarely regret it. They are the ones who find the stories that haven’t been told a thousand times over on an Instagram feed.
Canada: Cool Air and Deep Silence
If you are someone who finds the summer heat exhausting rather than restorative, Canada offers genuine quietness, a rare kind of it. It is a country of extraordinary scale and restraint, where wilderness is not something that feels curated but instead present in a way that recalibrates you.
Just off the coast of Newfoundland is Fogo Island, known as one of the world’s most considered travel experiences. The island is just on the edge of the continental shelf, surrounded by a vast, unspoiled and dramatic ocean, there isn’t anywhere else quite like it in the northern hemisphere. The sense of being genuinely at the end of the world is not incidental to the experience, it is the experience.
In British Columbia, the Great Bear Rainforest sits beyond the reach of roads, accessible almost exclusively by floatplane. The lodges here double as working conservation centres, where guests join science projects tracking salmon runs and monitoring whale populations, allowing you to immerse yourself in the work rather than merely observing it. It is something Canada does quietly and well, letting the experience carry its own significance, without ever needing to make a point of it. You leave feeling a part of something.
Why It Takes a Specialist
The best travel experiences rarely come from what’s publicly available. A great travel agent carries something a search engine never will, and that is years of first hand knowledge, trusted contacts on the ground, and an understanding of exactly what makes a place work for a particular kind of traveller.
The summer of 2026 is an invitation to go somewhere that hasn’t been processed yet. Make it the best summer holiday of 2026, reach out to us!
