Where to Go: May 2026

Insiders know that May is the ultimate moment to slip away to the world’s most beloved travel destinations—from Mallorca (above, NYBAU’s Es Figueral Nou) to Saint-Tropez—just before peak-season energy (and pricing) kicks in. From marquee cultural events and buzzy festivals to reopening dates at some of Europe’s most pilgrimage-worthy hotels, here’s what to have on your radar as you begin plotting a pre-summer escape.

• For Big City Style: El Llorenç Parc de la Mar—the flagship of the family-owned NYBAU collection—is an adults-only refuge in Palma’s most vibrant neighborhood.  Hotel highlights include a three-level rooftop terrace, featuring the city’s longest infinity pool, and DINS, the Michelin-starred restaurant whose menu of reinvented Mallorcan classics has a massive local following.
• For Ultimate Off-Season Access:  El Vicenç de la Mar, on the northern coast above the turquoise waters of Cala Sant Vicenç, is one of the first hotels outside of Palma to reopen for the season, making it an insider’s pick for exploring outside the busier summer months. On-property amenities include a cinema room, a bookstore and a state-of-the-art Bike Center where guests can rent bicycles and e-bikes for exploring the UNESCO-recognized Serra de Tramuntana mountain range (Mallorca’s answer to Italy’s Cinque Terre and a favorite training ground for Tour de France athletes).
• For a Down-Tempo Island Escape: Opened in 2024, Es Figueral Nou is an 18th-century estate within the Es Pla agricultural heartland, where fields blanketed with fig and and almond groves are interspersed with Moorish- and Medieval-era architecture, along with the island’s characteristic windmills. The 40-room hotel has lush gardens, yoga, hiking, tennis courts, and an expansive wellness center. Many of the generously sized rooms come with terraces and al fresco spaces, as well as views across the gardens.

In 1976, Napa Valley stunned the world when two local wines outperformed French bottles in a historic blind tasting (the event inspired the film Bottle Shock, starring Alan Rickman and Chris Pine in one of his first major roles). May 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of that milestone, the so-called “Judgment of Paris,” making it the perfect moment to travel back in time while getting a glimpse into Napa Valley’s bright future. To commemorate the milestone, the destination has unveiled a calendar of special events and cultural happenings, including movie screenings and a French-inspired flea market at the CIA at Copia to the world-premiere of a one-act opera, The Judgement of Paris, that will debut as part of Festival Napa Valley’s landmark 20th Anniversary Season.

For a stay that ties directly into the anniversary, book the limited “Judgment of Paris Experience,” which pairs a private tasting at Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars – one of the wineries that triumphed in the original 1976 competition – with an overnight at either Bardessono Resort or Hotel Yountville. The curated package invites guests to explore the estate’s historic wines and legacy firsthand, with a guided exploration of the property, tastings of limited-production and library wines, a seasonal lunch, and access to one bottle of the commemorative Judgment of Paris 50th Anniversary S.L.V. Magnum.

• Perched in the hills above Saint-Tropez, La Réserve Ramatuelle reopens in full for the 2026 season on May 1. The sanctuary-like property is home to the expansive, 10,800-square-foot Spa Nescens, which pairs Mediterranean views with 11 treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a steam room and hammam, and personalized multi-day wellness programs. These may combine hikes along the coast, guided breathwork, Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage, and anti-inflammatory Provençal cuisine by chef Éric Canino at the two-Michelin-starred La Voile.

• Just a short stroll from the Chelsea Flower Show, The Kensington Hotel—part of The Doyle Collection—offers an idyllic retreat for visitors to London this May, bringing art and culture to life through its standout partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A). This partnership grants guests access to major exhibitions (even when tickets are sold out!), including this spring’s “Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art” celebrating the innovative designer’s influence from the 1920s to today.

The Catalan capital is having a banner year, with a year-long program of concerts, exhibitions, and guided tours celebrating the legacy of Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Família. The festivities coincide with the city’s designation as the 2026 World Capital of Architecture by UNESCO-UIA, ushering in a slate of architectural routes and installations unfolding across Barcelona.

Of course, the city’s renowned architecture is only part of the story. On May 17, as part of The Night of the Museums (now in its 18th year), major museums and cultural centers will remain open free of charge until around 1 a.m. Among this year’s 95 participating venues are Gaudí’s Casa Batlló—fresh off the debut of a new contemporary art space—and the aristocratic Mercader Palace Museum in Cornellà de Llobregat.The celebrations continue on May 18 with International Museum Day, when many of the city’s leading cultural institutions, including the Picasso Museum and the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, offer free admission.

Where to Stay:

• As Barcelona takes center stage, Almanac Barcelona is the hotel to anchor the experience. Located just off Passeig de Gràcia, the family-owned property places guests within walking distance of Gaudí’s best-known landmarks, including Casa Batlló and Casa Millà (La Pedrera). From the rooftop Azimuth bar, guests will enjoy a panoramic vantage point that includes the soon-to-be-unveiled Jesus Tower of the Sagrada Família. As part of Almanac’s “Private Invitation to Catalan Modernism,” guests can book exclusive guided tours to such modernist gems as Gaudí’s Secret Park (Colònia Güell), complete with tickets, transportation, and optional food pairings. The concierge can also arrange private or priority access to La Sagrada Família, tailored evening or sunrise visits, and thematic itineraries tracing Gaudí’s vision through the elegant Eixample neighborhood.