Vanuatu, a multi-island republic in Polynesia, used to be a destination only for adventure travelers, said Bob Payne in Condé Nast Traveler. “But a luxury element has crept in” over the past decade, the pinnacle being the one-resort island of Ratua. The vibe at the 15-villa resort is “rustic chic,” with a “top staff, outstanding food,” and “a wine cellar a Frenchman could love.” All resort profits go to community projects, even those from the house kava, said to be “the most potent in the Pacific.” You can sip a glass while watching sea turtles cavort “in the clear water just offshore.” ratua.com; villas from $416
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