As the steaminess of summer sets in — and with it, long, sunny days followed by warm, starry nights — who doesn’t dream of taking off and getting away? We know that there is no one-size-fits-all trip when it comes to summer vacation, though, and everyone needs a little inspiration sometimes. After all, some travelers are searching for ocean breezes and ample pool time, while others might look for destinations with an excellent food scene or a buzzy, cosmopolitan nightlife.
Thankfully, if you’re itching for a last-minute summer getaway, it actually isn’t too late to plan one. Many of the most sought-after 2024 destinations still have availability within hotels and vacation rentals, and other less-popular spots that fly under the summer travel radar still provide the most important thing about any good escape: a chance to play more than work.
We’ve rounded up 11 ideas for embracing the season of simple pleasures — even if the planning is a little last-minute.
A seaside city escape: Seattle
Located on Puget Sound, the United States’ second largest estuary, visitors to Seattle are never far from nature. The Sound’s calm waters offer idyllic paddleboarding conditions with views of the Space Needle, distant mountains and nearby evergreen forests. In the summertime, which is the peak of whale-watching season, tours depart from different locations around the city and can include sightings of orcas, humpback whales and other marine life.
According to Kayak, Seattle is also the number-one searched-for domestic destination for summer. When temperatures are typically quite comfortable, summers here can include museum visits combining art and nature at Olympic Sculpture Park and Chihuly Garden and Glass, as well as plenty of fresh seafood, strong coffee and French pastries at Pike Place Market.
Lotte Hotel Seattle, an elegant hotel with Philippe Starck-designed interiors and Puget Sound views, is offering summer packages, including 30% off luxury suites. A luxurious way to begin or end a boat excursion from Seattle, the Seattle Seaside Escape package features a $100 dining credit and a $50 transportation credit for travel to or from the cruise terminal, paired with a guest room upgrade upon availability. If you’re interested in learning more about the art of glassblowing, guests of Lotte Hotel Seattle get a discount at Seattle Glassblowing Studio.
Rates for the Seattle Seaside Escape package start at $305 per night. Guests can receive 25% off classes at Seattle Glassblowing with code lotte25.
Related: A classic getaway: My first trip to Seattle for a long-awaited friend reunion
A warm-weather getaway with a purpose: Honolulu
Travelers looking for balmy weather, palm trees and ocean views will find a reliable destination in Honolulu. The summertime waters are calmer than in winter, outdoor temperatures hover in the mid-80s and if there are rain showers, they typically don’t last long. In July and August, visitors can enjoy early morning hikes up Diamond Head, visit the evening farmer’s market on Wednesdays and explore museums like Doris Duke’s Shangri La estate and the Honolulu Museum of Art.
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Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is framed by Diamond Head and the renowned Queen’s Beach surf break. The hotel’s two towers represent her homes, Kealohilani (“the brightness of heaven”) and Paoakalani (“heavenly fragrance”). The hotel honors her legacy by offering authentic Hawaiian experiences with artifacts displayed throughout and a new Heritage Center with activities such as hula, Hawaiian language lessons and lauhala weaving and ribbon lei making. The resort’s Malama Hawaii Package offers even deeper immersion. Guests are shuttled to the private nature reserve Kualoa Ranch to thatch traditional Hawaiian hale (houses) and assist with maintaining the traditional Hawaiian medicinal plant garden. Guests’ efforts are rewarded with a trip to a secret island for lunch and water sports.
Back at the hotel, the Queensbreak rooftop deck is one of Honolulu’s largest outdoor experiential spaces. It features a family-friendly pool, cabanas and a quieter pool for adults.
Rates for the Malama Hawaii Package start at $450 per night. Use promotional code CUE to book or call reservations at 1-888-236-2427. Nonpackage rates for Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa start at $329 per night or 63,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points per stay, based on availability.
Related: The 12 best Marriott beach hotels in the United States
Mexico without the crowds: Riviera Maya
Even though it’s hot in summer, travelers to Mexico’s Riviera Maya are never far from pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters and picturesque pools. On the edge of Mexico’s peak season, summer allows more freedom and ease when spring’s crowds have largely gone. Just under an hour from Cancun International Airport (CUN), to which many U.S. airports offer direct flights, Riviera Maya also enjoys natural beauty, cultural riches and top-notch gastronomy.
Situated on a 620-acre nature reserve with two miles of white-sand beaches, the Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai is a laidback luxury stay for nature lovers. The lush grounds have rainforest plants, tropical fruit trees and an array of wildlife, including iguanas, spider monkeys and white-nose coatis. The Riviera Maya is also known for clear night skies and abundant stargazing opportunities, and the resort is an ideal home base for these activities. The property’s lagoonlike pool, beach club and private pier with lounge-style cabanas always offer ways to stay cool. A cenote-inspired spa with hydrotherapy pools, a private outdoor pool and a Turkish hammam also has a subterranean lounge beneath a bamboo dome used for yoga. Two of Mexico’s best chefs, Francisco “Paco” Ruano and Tomás Bermúdez, collaborated on the resort’s five restaurants and bars.
The resort’s summer packages include Extend the Bliss, which includes a 20% discount with a three-night stay and $100 daily resort credit, and Bed and Breakfast, with breakfast for two at Kitchen included daily.
Rates for the Extend the Bliss package start at $729 per night.
The city lovers summer trip: London
With many splashy new hotel openings, fun events and direct flights from U.S. hubs, London is a trendy destination this summer. While summers can be busy, the weather is typically reliable and it’s possible to enjoy all the city’s beautiful parks and open spaces without the threat of too much rain. There’s much to do in July and August, from theater festivals to outdoor concerts to sporting events.
The first hotel property in the U.K. for Accor-owned Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Raffles London at the OWO opened in September 2023. OWO stands for Old War Office, and the hotel is located in a grand historic building in Whitehall where Churchill made some of his most consequential decisions. State offices are now ornate suites balancing Edwardian elegance and British style. Eight Corner Suites are named after influential women leaders and spies connected with the OWO’s history. The building’s heritage features have been painstakingly preserved, like the Grand Staircase that wraps around a glittering chandelier, the mosaic-tiled floors and oak-paneled walls.
The renovated OWO, a project that took over eight years, also has residences, a Guerlain Spa and three restaurants from chef Mauro Colagreco.
Rates at Raffles London at the OWO start at $1,179 per night.
Caribbean in the offseason: Barbados
There are many reasons to visit Barbados in summer when the waters are at their warmest. The annual Crop Over Festival, a celebration of Barbadian history and culture, takes place in July and August. Summer is prime sea turtle hatching time. Barbados is the birthplace of rum, and August is National Rum Month, when bartenders at hotels, restaurants and resorts roll out special concoctions to celebrate. During the summer offseason, visitors can take advantage of less congested beaches and attractions — and the lowest hotel rates all year.
Hilton Barbados Resort on Needham’s Point, a tropical peninsula surrounded by the island’s two white-sand beaches and turquoise water, is offering an Escape and Explore package for stays from July 10 to Dec. 31 that includes 20% off room rates and a $50 daily resort credit for Hilton Honors members with a three-night minimum. On the grounds of the resort, where every guest room has a balcony and ocean views, history lovers can explore the 17th-century colonial Charles Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where George Washington once dined, and the historic Needham’s Point Lighthouse.
The Hilton’s beach is the Caribbean’s most densely populated hawksbill turtle nesting beach. Toast to a busy day of snorkeling and scuba diving (the resort has an on-property scuba diving facility) with a drink at Water’s Edge Beach Bar. It’s offering $6 pina coladas all summer.
Hilton Barbados Resort from $251, but Hilton Honors members can save over 17% on the lowest rates for a starting rate of $208 a night.
For festivals and culture: Santa Fe
A crossroads for culture, Santa Fe, New Mexico, comes alive each summer with three major markets: The International Folk Art Market features artists from 52 countries and everything from hand-woven Moroccan rugs to Colombian ceramics, and the Traditional Spanish Market in late July celebrates New Mexico’s Hispanic culture and features handmade traditional art from hundreds of local Hispanic artists. And then, in August, the century-old Santa Fe Indian Market brings together more than 1,000 native artists to share Native-made jewelry, pottery, paintings, sculpture and photography on Santa Fe’s central plaza. These markets are the best way for visitors to immerse themselves in the magic of Santa Fe and its artistic, musical and cultural confluence.
On 57 rolling acres in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, the recently renovated Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe is a luxurious getaway in the City Different. New coral-, rust- and copper-hued guest rooms pay homage to the high desert landscape. The resort has an in-house adventure center where expert guides can arrange hiking, mountain biking and equine experiences; a full-service spa on a vortex site; and a signature restaurant, Terra, serving inventive New Mexican cuisine like steak for two with asparagus and green chile mac and cheese.
Summer packages include the Stay Longer — Fourth Night Free, which also includes 15% off on-site adventure packages. New for summer 2024, the Discover Santa Fe package offers two complimentary experiences, like in-casita s’mores nights and private family hikes.
Rates at Four Seasons Rancho Encantado Santa Fe start at $900 per night and $675 per night for Stay Longer — Fourth Night Free.
The budget-conscious food lovers trip: Bogota
With the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism working on a new Sustainable Tourism Policy initiative and a fabulous food scene, Colombia is poised for a major tourism comeback. From high-end restaurants to bustling food markets, Bogota’s culinary scene features Spanish, African and Middle Eastern influences — and rates are very reasonable when it comes to lodging and food. The average cost of meals for a day in Bogota is roughly $20 to $30 per person. In New York City, it’s about $45, for comparison. During summer, travelers can experience Colombian culture and tradition on Colombian Independence Day (July 20), when the capital hosts parades, music and dancing.
The W Bogota in the trendy Usaquen neighborhood has colonial architecture but dramatic interiors inspired by the legend of El Dorado, including a glitzy gold lobby. Maximalist styles like pops of gold and floral wall and ceiling coverings are found in guest rooms as well, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing stunning capital views. The W has several great restaurants, including a microbrewery and the Latin American restaurant Jairo, which celebrates Colombia’s farming tradition.
Summer rates at W Bogota start at $160 per night.
An unexpected glamping getaway: Cape Cod
A destination families return to year after year, Cape Cod offers the ideal New England summer experience with its seafood shacks, lighthouses and ocean beaches. Guests looking to soak up the summer sun on the Cape can book the Beach Package at AutoCamp Cape Cod in Falmouth, Massachusetts. This package includes a bottle of Vacation sunscreen, two non-alcoholic Athletic Brewing beers, two beach chairs and one beach parking pass, a must for accessing the Cape’s best beaches.
For a limited time, guests can book three nights and enjoy up to 50% off their third night at AutoCamp locations including Cape Cod, Joshua Tree, Catskills, Russian River, Yosemite and Zion. AutoCamps blend the glamping experience with a boutique hotel’s service and design-forward thinking. An ideal getaway for the warmer months, the brand’s locations offer immersive experiences and activities for guests, including yoga, rock climbing, stargazing and kayaking.
AutoCamp Cape Cod’s summer starting rate is $357, and the Beach Package is an additional one-time fee of $30.
SoCal’s glamorous side: San Diego
From dreamy sunsets to world-class surfing, there are many reasons travelers think of summer when they think of San Diego. While beaches should be explored for plenty of sun and splashing in warm waves, one of the best summertime attractions is actually the Del Mar racetrack, founded by Bing Crosby in 1937. The summer racing season draws thousands to witness and wager on elite Thoroughbred racing and enjoy Del Mar’s tony coastal setting. The 2024 summer racing season kicks off July 20 and runs until Sept. 8, with racing Thursdays to Sundays.
Tucked into a lush canyon, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is a luxury resort with hacienda-style architecture, a celebrated tennis program and a relaxing spa. The resort will be hosting its After Pony Party on Saturday, July 20, from 6 to 10 p.m. In addition to a night in a luxurious suite with vaulted wooden ceilings and a fireplace, the resort’s Perfecta Package gives guests insider access to the race-day action with a prerace visit to the paddocks with a behind-the-scenes stable tour, a private table in the Turf Club, an exclusive lounge where you can place bets and order food and drinks and a VIP trip to the Winner’s Circle.
The starting rate for the Perfecta Package is $1,499.
For swimming and star gazing: Lake Powell, Arizona
While travelers may be wary of desert vacations in the summer, the summer season is the perfect time to visit the national parks in the American Southwest, where conditions are at their most ideal for swimming and exploring. Under Canvas camps are located near the country’s most iconic national parks and monuments, from Yellowstone to Zion, and beautiful bodies of water such as Lake Powell in Arizona. The 186-mile-long reservoir has naturally formed rock pools, calm bays for exploring on a paddleboard and rock formations for cliff jumping.
At Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase, 14 miles from Lake Powell’s main marina, visitors can easily have an epic wild swimming and boating experience on the lake’s calm waters. It’s easy to rent boats and other gear at the marina.
Also the first-ever DarkSky-certified lodging property in the world, Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase visitors can experience unforgettable stargazing. The plateau location and low light pollution allow for the clearest views of meteor showers, planets and the Milky Way. Stargazer tents have viewing windows, so you never miss a fabulous nighttime view.
Rates at Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase start at $307 per night.
For arts and the outdoors: Asheville, North Carolina
In the Blue Ridge Mountains, summer in Asheville includes mountain breezes, shaded hikes, hidden swimming holes and whitewater adventures. There’s whitewater rafting on the French Broad River just 30 minutes away. In town, summer is packed with outdoor art and music festivals (like the nearly 100-year-old Mountain Dance and Folk Festival Aug. 1-3), alfresco dining and rooftop bars for evening cocktails. The 19th-century Biltmore estate, with gardens, art exhibitions and a winery, always offers a fun way to escape summer heat and humidity.
In the lively River Arts District, The Radical, a hotel in a 1920s warehouse, is teaming up with local hiking experts at Blue Ridge Hiking Company for its new summer package offering the best of Asheville. The Rad Outdoors package includes private guided hiking excursions to Asheville’s best peaks and picturesque valleys. The package also includes local kombucha, late checkout and a $25 food and beverage credit to be enjoyed at the hotel’s eateries AfterGlow, Golden Hour or The Roof, one of the best places in the city for taking in peachy-toned sunsets.
Rad Outdoors package is a $99 add-on to any stay at The Radical, where nightly rates start at $186.
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