Sure, you can book an all-inclusive, drink watered-down rum, and call it a vacation. Or you can dial up a beach break that’s far more exciting. These five, from Brazil to Mexico, are running hot right now. Plan a trip to one next year and make that PTO count.

For Going Solo (But Not Staying That Way)

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Why now: Because Rio continues to exert its magnetic pull. A global leader in minimalist swimwear, its beach culture spreads an inhibitions-dissolving aura through a city built for connection: joining pickup soccer on Copacabana, surfing at Arpoador, and sampling batidas (cocktails) and ice-cold draft chope in Botafogo. Cariocas—Rio natives—are famously friendly (and hot), with an easygoing vibe that invites conversation. Samba clubs in Largo da Prainha spill into the streets, and beach bars blur day into night.

Where to Stay: At the Philippe Starck–designed Hotel Fasano in the heart of Ipanema. Though it opened in 2007, it’s still one of the sexiest properties in Rio. Rooms feature Starck’s Dalí-inspired ear-shaped mirrors and chairs by Sergio Rodrigues, the father of Brazilian design. Post up at the rooftop infinity pool to watch the sunset while sipping a carioca tonic with your new, um, friends.

When to Go: For a full-on party, book Carnival in February or March, just before Lent. Otherwise, April or May bring manageable 80-degree days without the chaos.

For Hedonism With a History Degree

Bodrum, Turkey

Why Now: Because this city on the Turquoise Coast has transformed from a cheap and cheerful escape for sun-starved Brits into the Aegean’s answer to Ibiza, a Mykonos East, or the Turkish Saint-Tropez. Call it what you will, Bodrum has one of the ritziest beach party scenes, with a slew of new five-star hotels and all-day beach clubs like Maçakızı and Xuma luring celebs, yachting Euro tech moguls, and Turkish gilded youth. But away from table dancing and bottle popping, these hills are alive with history: fortification ruins tucked into hillsides, a crusader castle built with stones from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, and a Greco-Roman theater overlooking the sea. Come for 21st-century kicks, leave ready to start a podcast on classical antiquity. 

Where to Stay: At Scorpios Bodrum, the revered Mykonos beach club’s second outpost, which opened last year. But this one offers a place to sleep when the DJ calls it a night. Book one of its 12 villas, complete with private pools and spectacular ocean views. After Mykonos-like dancing, dedicate your day to wellness: morning vinyasa, guided meditation, and sound healing. At the restaurant, graze on mezes and lamb chops cooked on an open fire. 

When to Go: From May to September, when it’s warm enough to swim. The crowds cool off in October, but so do the temps. 

For a Group Trip That Gets Loud 

Port Antonio, Jamaica

Why now: Because on Jamaica’s lush northeastern coast, Port Antonio remains an oddly preserved paradise, a town that somehow stays semisecret despite its film résumé. James Bond retires here in No Time to Die, trading espionage for surf and solitude (Ian Fleming’s GoldenEye estate is nearby on Oracabessa Bay); Brooke Shields skinny-dips in The Blue Lagoon; and Tom Cruise canoodles with Elisabeth Shue at Reach Falls in Cocktail. Yet it’s far from the all-inclusive bustle of Montego Bay or Negril. The beaches, like Frenchman’s Cove and Winnifred Beach, are just sick: soft, golden sand, rarely a crowd, always a stone’s throw from jerk chicken. Just ask any cab driver for their favorite.

Where to stay: At Pompey, superstar DJ Diplo’s off-the-grid retreat on 50 acres above Port Antonio. Debuted a couple of years ago, it’s what the Grammy-winning producer of acts like M.I.A., The Weeknd, and Madonna has called “the greatest project [he’s] been able to make happen.” Initially just for friends and family, it’s now available for private booking—which means you and, say, your 10 closest (best-heeled) friends can bunk down in this five-bedroom, four-bathroom brutalist marvel. There’s an infinity pool, a climbing wall, a helicopter pad… and if you want to lay down a few tracks, a state-of-the-art recording studio billed as “a sonic bunker in the jungle.”

When to Go: From December to April, when the weather’s best. Avoid hurricane season, which typically runs June to November.

For the “I Went Before It Blew Up” Factor

Dhërmi, Albania

Why now: Remember when your IG feed was flooded with pictures of Croatia? Next year it’ll be Albania, so do yourself a favor and go now. Packed with unspoiled beaches and rave-y nightlife, the 75-mile southern stretch of the coast has already been branded the “Albanian Riviera,” and so far it’s free of the douchey yacht crowd that’s overtaken much of Greece. Some of the best beaches are in the village of Dhërmi, a Santorini lookalike of whitewashed stone houses built along a slope of the Ceraunian Mountains that leads to the Ionian Sea. The 20-minute walk from the parking lot to Gjipe Beach keeps crowds away, and at the more accessible Dhërmi Beach it’s easy to rent lounge chairs and buy drinks. Dhërmi is also gaining a rep among dance-music lovers; Kala, a weeklong music and wellness festival, takes place each June.

Where to stay: Zoe Hora, for sweet views of the sea and Old Town Dhërmi. The hotel has 38 rooms scattered throughout stone homes within the mountaintop village; the main building has two restaurants and a café​​ and an infinity pool. While the upscale Zoe Hora Restaurant serves up a killer sunset alongside grilled sea bass, you’ll have a better time at the more casual Zymo Square, where you can learn the traditional Albanian valle dance between bites of lamb stew.  

When to Go: If parties are a priority, then opt for high season, July and August. For a slightly slower pace but still 80-degree days, come in late spring or early autumn. 

For Seeing If It Works Outside Your Zip Code

Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Why now: Because this Oaxacan coastal town with “hidden” in its name still has shades of the wild port community it was in the late ’70s—a place where one-lane dirt roads end with killer waves crashing on golden sands. While today’s vibe is less Baja jackets and fish shacks and more Billy Reid chore coats and tamarind-mezcal cocktails, the lack of direct U.S. flights has helped spare Puerto Escondido from Tulum influencers. This makes it a gorgeous setting to test if a new relationship has staying power. Embrace Puerto’s adventurous spirit: Take a beginner’s surf class on Playa Zicatela, swim with the locals at Roca Blanca, see where those unmarked dirt roads take you, and sweat out your demons at a temascal—followed up by a cold Pacifico, or three.

Where to Stay: At Casa Yuma, an adults-only property that opened on Playa Los Naranjos in 2024 with 25 minimalist-designed rooms. There’s an open-air restaurant serving ceviches and moles (plus club sandwiches and burgers), a beach bar, a pool, and a spa offering massages and facials. Feel free to bring your laptop to the thatched-roof coworking space. Just don’t plan on getting much accomplished.

When to Go: Go in the dry season, November to April, with January and February being the sweet spot.