It comes upon you sneakily, the urge to wander: You’re on an office coffee run, and the sun feels so good, you almost consider going AWOL for the rest of the day. You see kids playing in a sandbox, and suddenly wish you were doing the same thing…only on a white-sand beach. You’re supposed to be doing your expenses, and instead find yourself browsing last-minute vacations online.
You call yourself a grownup—you with all your fantasies?
Well, we would. We’d even go one step further and recommend you live out those fantasies, starting as soon as possible, in one of the drop-dead-gorgeous locales listed below.
Paraiso de la Bonita – Wine and Dine
There are so many things to recommend this graceful property on the Riviera Maya: The Thalasso Center Spa—the only certified one of its kind in all of North America. The accommodations: ocean-view suites, each with hot tubs built for two. The no-kids-under-16 policy.
But for epicureans,
Paraiso presents a mouthwatering piece de resistance. Styled as Four Elements Dining, it matches four special menus (representing Water, Earth, Fire and Air) with distinctive settings. Water would focus on seafood and be served within toe-dipping distance of the ocean. Fire’s spicy flavor symphony is presented in front of the traditional Temazcal sauna—though you’re not expected to go in it. All menus feature chef Marc Dobbels’ “Cuisine of the Sun.”
Bonaire – Windsurf
When Dutch people want to relax, they head to Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles. When Curacaoians want to relax, they go to
Bonaire. And there, they windsurf. This tiny, quiet island may not have anything in the way of action, but it does have Lac Bay, a protected lagoon with near-ideal windsurfing conditions. The calm, crystal-clear water is waist-deep; the crosswinds a consistent 15 to 25 knots. Beginners can take classes right on shore, watching as more advanced windsurfers freestyle in the deeper water. Boards are available to rent by the hour, day or week. The KonTiki Beach Club and the Sorobon Beach Resort are located nearby.
Peter Island – Seaside Spa a Deux
Typically blasé about spas, we succumbed with a blissful sigh to the dreamy oceanfront languor of
Peter Island’s spa. Beachside “Couples Suite Retreats” offer blue-greeny Caribbean views; each comes equipped with its own massage table and private deep-plunge soaking tub. A menu of scrubs, rubs and wraps caters to every skin whimsy. The specialty—Caribbean Kur Odyssey—utilizes sea salts and essential oils, seaweed wraps and aromatherapy, to coax toxins from the body and leave your soul with a gentle glow.
Venturing out from the spa, you’ll discover a serene sun-warmed haven, populated by just a few friendly faces. Villas and luxury suites peep between palm trees and tropical plants. A dive boat putters gently at the marina. Guests get lost on five idyllic white sand beaches—there’s plenty of space to relax on this pristine private island.
Royal Playa del Carmen – Pick-A-Mix
There’s something so delightful about the idea of an all-inclusive resort…but the reality is usually far different, and far shabbier. Except at the
Royal, where it dovetails sleekly with your five-star fantasies. Guest rooms boast flat-screen televisions and CD/DVD players. Complimentary phone calls (domestic and international), complimentary one-hour car hire, complimentary 24-hour room service and top-shelf liquor… you must admit it sounds tempting. Not that you’ll make use of everything once you get here. You’ll be too busy lounging poolside, or splashing in the two-person hot tub, or learning how to scuba. Still, you’ll know you can have it if you want it—and that’s the important thing. (Spa services excluded. Boo.) Adults only, please…
Viceroy Palm Springs—Love Me, Love My Dog
Is it quite fair, to bring a four-legged child on a grownup vacation? Most dog owners would say yes, absolutely. If you’re one of them, head to the sleek, Hollywood-style
Viceroy, where your pooch gets just as pampered as you do. Doggie biscuits are fresh-baked, and a Doggie Sanitary Kit is issued at check in. While you indulge in a body scrub at the spa, your dog can get a pet reflexology massage. While you’re playing golf, your dog gets a private walk.
Too Southern California for words? Well, of course. But Rex (Rover/Rocky/Spot) deserves a treat just as much as you do.
Grand Cayman – Dive
The warm, clear waters around Grand Cayman are home to a rainbow circus of exotic tropical sea creatures, each more colorful than the last. Snorkel or dive with parrot fish, angel fish, trumpet fish and other exotica.
The Reef Resort on the island’s East End is a popular home base for divers; from there, you can boat out to dive sites such as the Valley of the Dolls and Turtle Pass. Night dives can be booked on Tuesday or Thursday; or if you prefer, venture out to Stingray City, which continues to be one of Grand Cayman’s spotlight attractions in spite of the Croc Hunter’s recent demise.
Ft Lauderdale – Yacht by Day, Play by Night
If you think
Fort Lauderdale is just a Miami suburb, then you obviously haven’t cruised its picturesque waterways and seen the jaw-dropping mansions that line either side. Each one has its own dock—usually with a million-dollar boat moored and gleaming in the sun. If you can manage to procure your own boat, even for just a day, there’s nothing better than breezing along the waterways, drinking beer and laying out on the prow and make-believing that you, too, are a squillionaire with a trust fund and a Bentley of your very own.
On the realistic tip: Pool resources with your friends and charter a boat for a day at Water
Fantaseas. Or, just board one of the Anticipation cruising yacht fleet for a quick narrated cruise. If you want to carry the party over onto land, stay at either the Atlantic Hotel and Spa, a stylish Starwood property that opened in 2004, or the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which is a bit inland but offers up nightlife action on par with Fort Lauderdale’s famous Riverwalk.
E-mail the author at lena@lenakatz.com 
