Your Guide To 3 Gorgeous Beach Vacation Destinations

Life is hard sometimes, #amIright? Buddha knew it, too, so much so that he made this fact the first of his Four Noble Truths. Work, money, bills, your partner, your family, your health, the damn traffic in this town — You. Need. A. Vacation.

That’s where we come in. Here are guides to three incredible beach destinations where you can get away from it all. Keep reading and, when you’re done drooling over the photos, start packing:

Greek Islands

Rich with history, from the Paleolithic Era to the powerful reign of the Romans, Greece is one of the most interesting vacation destinations in Europe. And that’s not even mentioning its many wonderful islands, loaded with natural beauty and great cafes and sprinkled with forts and museums for history buffs.

Visit Crete, perhaps the most colorful and intriguing of Greece’s islands. Its rugged mountains, ancient remains and beautiful city of Chania make this a must-see. Wander the old town, enjoy the busy market and take in the Venetian-Ottoman culture.

If you’d rather avoid the second flight or ferry ride, Kalamata is less than a 2 hour drive from Athens (or 2.5 by express bus) and includes great beachfronts. Situated at the apex of the crystal-blue Messinian Bay and at the foot of the imposing Mount Taygetos, it is an idyllic vacation spot.

Kalamata is the ideal base for those who want to discover the secrets of Messinia, since it is centrally situated and many of the tourist and cultural destinations are easily reached by car. For a romantic evening, visit the castle of Kalamata (13th century AD), paying a 2 euro entrance fee; you can have nice view of the town and the sunset from the top of the castle.

Stay at Horizon Blu hotel in Kalamata, then drive just over an hour away (or have the hotel pick you up), to The Romanos, a 5-star luxury boutique resort on the coast (in Costa Navarino) with an especially luxurious spa and two golf courses.

Flights from the US are expensive and long (10.5 hours at minimum, up to to 24 hours if you’re connecting to an island, depending on the flight path), so make sure to book enough time off of work to make it worth the effort it takes to get there.

Be sure to pack enough cash, as ATMs are scarce on the Greek Islands. When you get there, buy bottled water at a local grocery store — don’t drink the tap water anywhere. Also, be sure to collect a few plastic bags to throw away used toilet paper. Why? Because you cannot flush the toilets in many villas and hotels. This may take some getting used to, but having plenty of plastic bags on hand will allow you to discard trash and odor without it becoming overflowing or overwhelming. As for clothing, even summer nights can get chilly, so pack a couple of cashmere sweaters, a windbreaker, pants and a long-sleeve shirt or two.

Weather: May to September is the best season, with temperature highs of 75 to 79 degrees. The rest of the year is cold, with temperatures dipping to the mid-40’s. The number of hours where you can expect sunshine also varies widely, from a measly 3 hours per day in the winter to 13 hours per day at the peak in July.

Mustique, West Indies

Mustique is the ultimate secluded island escape. Part of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Eastern Caribbean, this picturesque private island features crystal blue waters, gorgeous white-sand beaches and a relaxed tropical attitude. There’s a reason why so many A-list celebs like Mick Jagger have chosen to build their vacation houses in Mustique… Mustique is probably the one remaining Caribbean island free of hassle and hustle, no beggars, no beach or street vendors, no unemployment, no casinos, high rise hotels, night clubs, discos or golf courses …and a 20 mph speed limit for the few cars on the island.

It’s home to a maritime menagerie that includes several coral reefs, brightly colored fish and large sea turtles, who are happy to swim by your side as you snorkel or scuba dive. Enjoy the many walking trails, go horseback riding or take a jeep, motorcycle or mountain bike tour of the island.

Any time of the year is wonderful in Mustique. There is no “out of season”, being far enough south to avoid hurricanes. Some of the best times to visit are the summer months of June, July & August when all the beautiful flora is in full bloom.

Accommodations include The Cotton House (arguably the Caribbean’s most exclusive inn), the Firefly Guest House (which has a lively bar and is self-admittedly “not for the boring, pretentious or stuffy”) and a collection of private villas available for rental. Here’s some info about how to get there.

Weather: Mustique enjoys a warm climate, with an average temperature range of 75 to 85 degrees (24 to 29 c) throughout the year, so bring your shorts, bathing suit and flip-flops.

Dominican Republic

How could you go wrong with a vacation in the Caribbean? Highlighted by its beachfront attractions and mountainside scenery, the Dominican Republic is an exotic, other-worldly getaway. The warm welcome you’ll receive from the locals is as charming as the Dominican Republic’s slow-pace lifestyle and natural beauty. These locals know how to enjoy life, with each community being home to its own distinctive fiesta, or carnival.

Check out Samaná, the most popular whale-watching organization in the Dominican Republic. Samaná offers a chance to see one of the largest mammals on the face of the earth. Take the time to visit the natural scenery and history of the Santiago and Jarabacoa Waterfalls, where you can also visit a cigar and ceramics factory.

There are many places to stay in the Dominican Republic, but we recommend booking a private villa. Check out the resort style waterfront villas located in the exclusive Punta Minitas section of the five-star Casa de Campo resort. The villa pictured features approximately 35,000 square feet of luxurious living space, making it one of the largest homes in the Caribbean.

Weather: The temperature is steady at highs of ~85 and lows of ~75 year-round.

Go. Enjoy. Make Buddha proud.