Comporta is one of my favorite European beach destinations. I almost hate to help spread the word — it feels like a chic, relaxed insider spot and I don't want that to change.

It's about an hour south of Lisbon, and somewhere between the pine forests and rice paddies you arrive in a place that feels deliberately unfound. There's no St-Tropez energy here. No high-rises, no marina. Comporta isn't trying to be anywhere else — just whitewashed cottages, miles of empty Atlantic beach, and a quiet that's somehow held up even as more people have discovered it.

The coastline is wild and serene. No construction is allowed within five hundred meters of the sand, so there aren’t any beachfront hotels, just a handful of restaurants and beach clubs tucked into the dunes. The village has high-end boutiques, an upscale grocery store, great restaurants, and tons of bohemian charm.

Last summer we moved to Connecticut and are loving the easy access to the Caribbean! Recently we went to Turks and Caicos for the first time, and I was genuinely surprised by how easy it was. It's one of the shortest direct flights to the Caribbean from New York (~3 hours). We went for a week, but it would be totally doable for a long weekend too. Amanyara and COMO Parrot Cay are incredible hotels with stunning, private beaches and expansive views. Both require a little extra effort to get there compared to Grace Bay, but are completely worth it. Here's how I would think about comparing the two.