Birds are a-chirping, sun is a-shining, and your summer is a-empty. No travel plans yet? We’ve got you covered, no matter what kind of vacationer you are. Hey, you might as well travel now—2012 just might be your last summer ever.
The First-Class Flier: When cash flow isn’t an issue, you’re free to open the floodgates of extravagance. If the thought of public transportation and all things generic makes you pray for death, it’s not likely you’ll go on just any vacation. For those who really have their finger on the pulse, try the Mayan Riviera, the 75-mile stretch of white sand beaches and turquoise water just south of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Dine on international cuisine from Italy and Argentina, but don’t be afraid to veer away from typical resort food and try the delicious authentic Mexican that lies just outside the tourist track. Luxurious travelers will want to stay in resorts like the Reina Roja Hotel in Playa del Carmen, which is really more of a “spiritual experience” than anything. Perfect for nature lovers and avant-garde design fanatics, you can bet that Mayan Riviera regulars like Brad & Angelina, Julia Roberts, and Leonardo DiCaprio keep it in mind when they head south for the summer.
The Lovebirds: Whether it’s a honeymoon or just a spontaneous celebration of your romance (because why not?), lovebird travelers only want one thing: a destination that matches the beauty of their relationship. The best of the best choose Capri, a historic Mediterranean island just off the Italian coast. Combining the exotic with the quaint, Capri’s pebble stone roads are filled with tiny shops and cafes, overlooked by towering Monte Salaro. Luxury hotels, adventurous activities, and according to legend, Emperor Tiberius’ debauched orgies await in Capri, where lovers fall in love all over again- not only with each other, but with the island, too.
The Backpacker: There’s no place to rough it like the turbulent, historical Eastern Europe. Hike through the Carpathian Mountains, but steer clear of fierce brown bears, wolves, and lynxes. Take a break from the trail by stopping by major urban centers like Prague and up-and-coming Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. For those who dare, make a pit stop in Transylvania, Romania, and end the journey in the charming medieval village of Dubrovnik, Croatia, nestled on the Adriatic coast. Who said backpacking wasn’t fabulous?
The Lone Wolf: Thanks to Eat, Pray, Love and its many copycats, Southeast Asia has become a huge attraction for solo travelers. If you’re hopping from city to city, don’t miss Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Singapore. When you’re picking a hotel, choose one closer to the center of the city, so people-watching (and meeting!) won’t be hard to come by. You can also use guided tours as a way to share experiences with fellow travelers. Plus, since Southeast Asians tend to be group-oriented, they’ll find it odd if you’re walking alone, especially if you’re a woman. Bring books, magazines, or other entertainment to lunch and dinners, but likely, you’ll be too busy enjoying your tropical surroundings to need them.
The Classic Family Vacation: Instead of dumping thousands of dollars into a generic European or Caribbean getaway, save on cash and get patriotic: why not celebrate this July 4th teaching the kids a little something about their own country? For example, if you’re from the Northeast, try a road trip in the Arizona Desert or a ski trip in the Rockies, and if you’re from the Northwest, visit the home of country music in Nashville or jazz in New Orleans. Not only are domestic flights cheaper, but the continental U.S. is so massive, you’ll feel like a foreigner in the remote corners you’ve never been to. You’ll still get the same culture shock as you would in Paris, minus the confusing language barriers and currency exchange charges.
The Treehugger: Not only is New Zealand becoming one of the hottest travel spots in the world, it’s also an eco-tourist’s dream. Hike the trail of Mount Doom on a Lord of the Rings tour, go scuba diving in gorgeous sub-tropical waters, and kayak on the coastal wetland of Okarito Lagoon, all in the name of environmentalism. New Zealand even offers entire eco-friendly resorts. Check out the North Island’s The Farm, where groups of friends or families can learn horseback riding, bring their own boats and bikes (or just rent them there), spend days relaxing at the beach or in the mud at the dairy farm, and even build their own wilderness camp on the site’s 1,000 acres. Cut your carbon footprint even more by choosing a lower-emissions flight!
The Girls’ Weekend: One of the strangest things about New York City is that everyone believes a silly little rumor that there are “NO DATEABLE GUYS.” Ladies, this is false. They just live in Brooklyn. So skip Times Square, Central Park, and Manhattan in general in favor of BK’s sprawling neighborhoods lined with old brownstones and towering trees. Rent bikes and hit up Saturday and Sunday’s Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene, or spend a sunny afternoon on Coney Island for comically huge sticks of cotton candy. To quench the thirst for shopping, take the L train over to Williamsburg, which is by far the most gentrified and fashion conscious neighborhood in the borough. Summer’s the perfect time to be in Brooklyn, when Prospect Park is always bustling with free outdoor concerts, food festivals, and sporting events. From there, head west to Park Slope to go thrifting and watch impeccably-groomed dogs and babies stroll by (it’s also Brooklyn’s foremost lesbian-friendly neighborhood). And of course, around every corner, you’ll be sure to find bars aplenty full of dateable, albeit bearded dudes.
The Guys’ Weekend: Conversely, the borough of Manhattan is full of single straight women and gay men, which is why a guy’s weekend, which would traditionally include a campsite, fishing gear and a six pack of beer deserves to get amped into something slightly more—dare we say it—chic. If the Waldorf-Astoria’s out of your price range, consider Hotel East Houston, located smack in the middle of Manhattan’s busiest bar scene, straddling the trendy yet cheap Lower East Side and pub-ridden East Village. For bottle service and aspiring models, head west to the Meatpacking District to party at swanky hotel clubs like Top of the Standard with insane views of the Hudson River (just make sure you look REALLY good, or have a sizeable group of women with you or risk being turned away). Top off a late night out with brunch at Soho’s Parigot before heading back to reality.
www.capri.com
www.visiteurope.com/discover/where-to-go/carpathians
www.yoursingapore.com
www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel-Tourism/State-Tourism.shtml
www.newzealand.com/us
www.visitbrooklyn.org
www.nycgo.com