9 off-the-grid hotels for when you really want to escape

Casa Palopo

Busy beaches or lines at amusement parks are often an inescapable vacation reality. But what happens when you really want to escape, and maybe just commune with nature?

We recommend turning on your out-of-office reply and getting off the grid. Start by checking out this list of hotels that take the concept of “do not disturb” to a whole new level.

1. Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, California

Perched on the craggy coastline of the Pacific Coast, the Post Ranch Inn is a sanctuary for the soul. The architects at this 39-room boutique hotel wanted guests to feel as though they were immersed in nature, not just gazing out at it. You won’t find any alarm clocks or televisions in the rooms, which was a conscious decision made by the hotel staff to better help guests unplug and relax. Still, there are plenty of ways to be entertained here, including stargazing with an astronomer at the hotel’s restaurant, Sierra Mar.

Photo courtesy of Kodiak Greenwood

2. JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort and Spa, Mexico

At the tip of Baja, where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez, Los Cabos is commonly referred to as “Land’s End,” a geographical blessing that makes this an ideal retreat. The sleek, modern architecture at the JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort and Spa perfectly frames the ocean views. Dip into one of the hotel’s many infinity pools for a front-row seat at watching whales pass by. Or let the hotel spa’s shaman lead you through an ancient temazcal ritual. The sweat lodge ritual is believed to cleanse your body and soul so that when you get back on the grid, you’re feeling truly renewed.

Photo Courtesy of JW Marriott Los Cabos

3.Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa in Arenal, Costa Rica

Star amenities at this Costa Rican resort include the surrounding thermal springs, naturally heated by the magma from the nearby Arenal volcano. Guests at the Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa can find their zen in one of the hotel’s rainforest bungalows, which are open for spa treatments. Rushing streams and chirping birds set a relaxing soundtrack.

4. The Gangtey Lodge in Bhutan

Cradled by the eastern Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan is an outdoor lover’s paradise, with mountains to conquer and rivers to ride with the assistance of rafts or kayaks. The Gangtey Lodge, which gives guests sweeping views of the valley, is a luxe base camp in this relatively undiscovered vacation destination. After a day of adventure, guests can sink into a hot stone bath and soak up views of the verdant surroundings.

Photo by Ken Spence Photography

5. Casa Palopó in San Antonio Palopó, Guatemala

Casa Palopó, a boutique hotel on the shore of Lake Atitlán in the Guatemalan highlands, spoils guests with views of the lake and of a trio of volcanoes across the shore. Start the day with yoga on the hotel’s helipad, with the volcano views as backdrop, or take a boat ride around the lake.

Casa Palopo

6. Mahekal Beach Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Book a stay in a private, palapa-style bungalow at the Mahekal Beach Resort, located between the Riviera Maya jungle and Playa del Carmen’s longest stretch of beach. The luxury resort’s roots date back to more than five decades ago, when a local Mexican family built six thatched-roof palapas on the beach for backpackers to rent. They continued investing the money they made into the resort, building up the boho bungalows.

Photo courtesy of Mahekal Beach Resort

7. Casa de Uco in Mendoza, Argentina

Tucked in Argentina’s Uco Valley, Casa de Uco is a luxury wine resort with private vineyards and a winery. New in 2018, guests can stay in the secluded villas alongside the vines. Wine lovers can even make their own wine blend, starting with the beginning stages of picking grapes, or go on a moonlit horseback ride through the vineyards.

8. Cliff House in Cape Neddick, Maine

Let the ocean hypnotize you at this coastal Maine retreat that’s splayed across 70 acres on the Bald Head Cliff. Guests can play bocce ball or croquet on the property at the Cliff House. Or, if you can peel yourself away, take a helicopter tour of the nearby lighthouses and coastlines. The coastal-chic rooms include comfy comforters made locally in Maine and glass terraces to watch the waves crash against the craggy cliffs.

Photo courtesy of Cliff House

9. French Leave Resort in Eleuthera, The Bahamas

You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to paradise at this luxe resort in Eleuthera, a tranquil island in the Bahamas, with famed pink-sand beaches. The French Leave Resort includes 14 waterfront villas that imbue the spirit of the island’s British Colonial and Caribbean influences. The property’s infinity pool overlooks Cupid’s Cay and the Caribbean Sea and is across the street from the French Leave Beach.

Photo courtesy of French Leave Resort

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About the Author
Brittany Anas
Hi, I'm Brittany Anas (pronounced like the spice, anise ... see, that wasn't too embarrassing to say, now was it?) My professional writing career started when I was in elementary school and my grandma paid me $1 for each story I wrote for her. I'm a former newspaper reporter, with more than a decade of experience Hula-hooping at planning meetings and covering just about every beat from higher-education to crime to science for the Boulder Daily Camera and The Denver Post. Now, I'm a freelance writer, specializing in travel, health, food and adventure.

I've contributed to publications including Men's Journal, Forbes, Women's Health, American Way, TripSavvy, Eat This, Not That!, Apartment Therapy, Denver Life Magazine, 5280, Livability, The Denver Post, Simplemost, USA Today Travel Tips, Make it Better, AAA publications, Reader's Digest, Discover Life and more.

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