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