1. Romantic Summer
Santorini
Smack in the southern Aegean and some 200km southeast of mainland Greece, Santorini is one major tourist destination free of the loutish behaviour afflicting some other Greek isles. Admittedly, there isn’t much to it. Most of the island was pulverised during a massive volcanic eruption but the crescent-shaped crater wall that remains is just wide enough to support a mantle of boxy, white houses, luxurious hotels and tiny, blue-domed churches, all wrapped around an impossibly blue lagoon.
Where to stay: Kirini, a new all-suite resort in Oia. Rates start at 520 USD.
How to get there: Sail. Daily ferries link Athens to Santorini.
Travel Tip: Venture to the south and east of the island for the black sand beaches.
2. Watersports Summer
Costa de la Luz
This stretch of Spain's southern Atlantic coast stretches some 200km from Ayamonte on the Portuguese border to Tarifa at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula. Surfers have long come here for the perfect combination of sun, sand and big waves. But besides the amazing surfing, kite-surfing and windsurfing, the Costa del Luz is also quintessential Spain, the home of flamenco, fighting bulls and, with remarkably little development, offers sublime solitude.
Where to stay: Meliá Sancti Petri in Cadiz. Rates start at 335 USD.
How to get there: The nearest international airport is Seville (130kms away).
Travel Tip: Banks and shops close between 2pm and 5pm and restaurants don’t serve dinner before 9pm.
3. Landsports Summer
San Diego
San Diego is what you might call the anti-LA. It’s cleaner and friendlier, its food is tastier, its ocean is warmer and its beaches are emptier plus, if you still miss LA, it’s only 190 km away. San Diego’s definitely an outdoors kind of place. There’s an animal park and a Water World to keep the kids happy, and hikes through pine forests, golf at one of the city’s ninety or so clubs or horseback riding at the brand new equestrian centre at Grand Del Mar for you.
Where to stay: The Lodge at Torrey Pines in La Jolla. Rates start at 470 USD.
How to get there: Easy. San Diego has an international airport.
Travel Tip: San Diego is renowned for its Mexican food and flotillas of mobile taquerias.
4. Charming Summer
Marrakesh
There’s nowhere quite like Marrakesh. Its dusky, pink-walled Medina boasts more chic boutique lodgings per square inch than possibly anywhere else in the world, as well as enough emporia to keep the most ardent shopaholic busy for days. Can’t bear shopping? Never fear. The city’s colours, diversity and vibrancy will keep you happy. Excellent nightlife. New-wave riads. Fantastic food. Do you really need more?
Where to stay: The Royal Mansour. Rates start at 2,100 USD.
How to get there: Fly. Marrakesh has an international airport.
Travel Tip: Devote a day to visiting Kasbah du Toubkal, an abandoned hilltop stronghold on the lower slopes of Jbel Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak.
