Still in Vacation Mode? Start Planning a Dreamworthy End-of-Year Escape

Summer travel dreams can die hard once that first breath of fall comes blowing in — but they don’t have to. All your dreamiest vacation-mode feels can carry you from one season into the next, especially when you have your next escape in the making or, better yet, already in the books. Get ready for an end of year vacation.

Whether you opt for a tropical beach vacation like only Bali can bring, beeline it for the Caribbean or hit France for some early turns in the Alps (or something warmer along the French Riviera), post-summer travels and travel planning are sure to keep the away-from-home fires burning all year long.

As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.

See Sherbet-Colored Sunsets on Grand Cayman

Love scuba diving and basking on a glorious beach in the Caribbean in equal parts? Grand Cayman ticks all the boxes, with teeming reefs, a world-famous wreck to snorkel or dive, and the splendid sands along Seven Mile Beach, frequently lauded as one of the region’s best beaches.

The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa keeps things fun off the sand, too, with a beautiful beachfront pool and fruity drinks whirring in the blender at the hotel’s own Tortuga Beach Bar & Grill. Grab one and watch the colors in the sky shift and dance at sunset.

Go On an A+ Getaway in the ABC Islands

Aruba, one of the three islands to escape to in the ABCs (which also include Bonaire and Curaçao), beckons with long sandy beaches and desert interiors for a great mix of water sports and land adventures (ATV rides and cavorting with wild donkeys, for starters).

For a prime location right near Palm Beach and the Bubali Bird Sanctuary, where you might spot wood storks, cormorants and more, check into the Courtyard by Marriott Aruba Resort, with a lively swim-up pool bar and spacious rooms families love.

Live Pura Vida Along Costa Rica’s Gorgeous Green Coast

Verdant with jungles and rainforests and cut through with rushing rivers and waterfalls, the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is an adventurer’s dream backdrop. And if you take your adventures with a heaping side of luxury, Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort is the spot.

Close to Carara National Park, west of San Jose, the coastal resort fronts a horseshoe-shaped bay and beckons friends and couples with swim-up rooms and an adult’s-only pool. Golf, a fabulous spa and hammocks all over the place invite you to relax whichever way you like best.

Revel in a Quieter Season Along the French Riviera

The French Riviera is another favorite stop in Europe that’s as seductive in autumn as it is during plein (full) beach season in summer — with a fraction of the crowds, bien sûr.

Browse the open-air markets and shopping promenades of Nice and enjoy a stroll surrounded by Mediterranean views along the Promenade des Anglais. Then retreat for a rosé on your balcony or at rooftop La Terrasse at Le Méridien Nice, right in the heart of the famed seaside city.

Discover a Different Kind of Beachy Escape in China’s Hainan Province

Sandy beaches, lots of sunshine year-round and flowering trees for days make China’s southernmost province, Hainan, the country’s tropical playground.

Stay right along lovely Haitang Bay in the south of Hainan Island at The Taikang Sanya, a Tribute Portfolio Resort, a sprawling, serene spot with six restaurants that’s close to temples, shopping, surf breaks and the excellent snorkeling around Wuzhizhou Island, just offshore.

Take in All the Tropical Beauty of Bali

With deep surf culture along the coast paired with its heady inland landscapes of rice paddies and volcanoes, Bali is breathtaking at every bend in the road.

Make Sthala, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Ubud Bali, set among the terraced rices paddies along the Wos River on the outskirts of Ubud, your base for Balinese dance classes, riverside yoga and day trips to experience all the natural beauty and wonder the Island of Gods dishes up.

Extend Your Summer Down Under in Sydney

Few global metropolises can rival Sydney when it comes to urban fun served up alongside some of the world’s most spectacular city beaches. And when summer is sputtering to a stop in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s just getting ready to step onto the stage Down Under.

Pier One Sydney Harbour, Autograph Collection is perfectly positioned for strolling to the Sydney Opera House (about 20 minutes away) for those iconic views or a show, as well as for hopping a ferry from Circular Quay to cruise around the headlands to superb Manly Beach for surf lessons or Shelly Beach for snorkeling.

Enjoy Some Early-Season Turns in the French Alps

Switch up time under the sun in the tropics with some early-season skiing in the French Alps with a stay in one of Europe’s most storied mountain towns right at the beginning of ski season.

W Verbier‘s cozy-chic rooms and suites mix urban and Alpine inspo — all have their own balconies and fireplaces to cozy up around, too, after a day exploring the slopes and hiking trails directly outside your door. Take advantage of the mountain concierge to arrange adventures like paragliding and mountain biking.

Savor the Croatian Coast Outside of High Season

Dubrovnik spills over with visitors during the busy (not to mention swelteringly hot) summer months. But when you time your vacation for autumn in the walled coastal city, you can skirt the “Game of Thrones” masses and hear your footsteps falling on the city’s ancient streets as you explore.

Set your sights south along the coast for a relaxing beachfront stay at the Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel and you can even venture into Dubrovnik via the boat shuttle that launches right by the hotel.

Indulge in Safari Adventures in Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve

September and October herald the hot and dry months in Kenya, with little chance of rain ruining your safari fun, making it an ideal time to experience the wonders of the Masai Mara National Reserve.

Set out to spot the Big Five and other incredible African wildlife during game drives from your perch at the JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, an all-inclusive property overlooking the plains with just 20 large, luxurious en-suite tents — all with private decks and alfresco hot tubs for wildlife viewing even when you’re not in a jeep.