Beyond Cabo: Seven Chic Spring Break Destinations to Book Now

There’s a way to do spring break with cheap beer and crowded beaches, and then there is a chic way to do spring break. From a foodie tour of Tulum to a luxe, African safari retreat, these breathtaking destinations around the globe will upgrade your spring break like no other. Spend a few days away from the insanity of your daily life and unwind in a beautiful place, indulge in great food and wine, immerse yourself in another region’s culture, or soak up the sun on the beaches of Vietnam or Thailand. You can still dance, drink, and have a wild time like the spring breaks of your youth, but this time around the experience will be a little less debaucherous and a lot more elevated. Here, some of the most intriguing places to escape to this spring.

Those looking for beautiful beaches and majestic landscapes will not be disappointed by Vietnam. Stay at the newly renovated Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, open as of December 2016, and enjoy the hotel’s own private stretch of Ha My Beach. Nearby, get your culture fix at the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Hue’s imperial city, the temple sanctuary of My Son and the village of Hoi An. Foodies will want to try out The Nam Hai Cooking Academy, where Chef Tran Van Sen will teach you how to make authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

If you didn’t get enough skiing in this year, it’s not too late. Head to Aspen for one last ski of the season and enjoy better weather and less crowds. (What’s not to like about that?) Stay at The Gant, A Destination Hotel, which is perfect if you are traveling with a group and conveniently located in downtown Aspen. It’s a short walk to the slopes as well the city’s most beloved restaurants, like Matsuhisa and Ajax Tavern at The Little Nell, and the stunning Aspen Art Museum.

If it’s a luxurious adventure you’re looking for this spring, head to South Africa’s Lebombo Mountains for a week of game drives (during which you’ll spot rhinos, lions, and elephants), unparalleled stargazing, and more. Stay at Singita Lebombo Lodge, one of South Africa’s most modern safari lodges, and enjoy the rustic surroundings while you enjoy the comforts of the luxury property, including the spa, a top notch culinary program, and spacious swimming pools.

Looking for a wellness immersion to reset your mind and body (and maybe start getting ready for bikini season)? Pack your bags and jet to Phuket, Thailand for a few days of cleansing at Amanpuri, Aman’s first-ever hotel situated on the shores of Andaman Sea. If you can, get there in April as May marks the beginning of the rainy season. Try one of the hotel’s three to 14-night individual wellness immersions programs, where you’ll work with nutrition experts on a personalized diet, do therapy sessions with movement specialists and treatments at the Aman Spa, and more.

Lake Como is open for the season and it always makes for a perfect couples retreat, whether it’s a babymoon, honeymoon, or just a weekend away with your partner. The ever alluring Grand Hotel Tremezzo has just announced a new addition to the hotel, the neighboring Villa Sola Cabiati, that you’ll be sure to want to check out. The historic villa, dating back to the 1700’s, was home to one of Lombardy’s most noble families and currently houses a wildly impressive art collection. Live like royalty and book out the whole villa or reserve it for a private party while you’re there. It’ll certainly be one of your most grand vacations ever.

Tulum might be old news at this point, but thanks to Noma’s René Redzepi, it’s Mexico’s hottest destination right now. The Copenhagen-based chef has set up shop in Tulum for his latest pop-up restaurant, running April 1st to May 28th. The $600-per-person dinner tickets are sold out, but you can still go on your own culinary adventure in Tulum. If you want to be where the action is, stay at one of Noma’s partner hotels, Hotel La Zebra and Hotel Mi Amor. Sample the region’s incredible ingredients that have inspired Redzepi’s Mexican pop-up, like the local clams and Yucatan lime, and visit his favorite restaurants like Nectar (by Robert Solis). Finish off your food tour of Mexico at Hartwood, another spot beloved by gastronomes from around the globe.

Spring in Tokyo means cherry blossom season. (And, a lesser known phenomenon, the wisteria is also in full bloom at the magical Wisteria Tunnel at Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu outside of Tokyo.) Go, stay at the Mandarin Oriental (hands down, it’s one of the city’s best hotels), indulge in a spa treatment or two, and then make your way to Nakameguro to feast on Japan’s culinary delights and do some serious shopping, and stroll along the canals to see some of the city’s most beautiful cherry blossom trees in full bloom.

Related: Nowhere to go? Opt for a staycation, like Bella Hadid: