What’s the antidote to the endless East Coast winter? Four nights in Cartagena, Colombia. Alert the senses because here, in one of the oldest colonial cities in South America, it’s all color and contrast. The city is walled, the history immense, the streets are cobblestoned, and the homes are rainbow-hued with balconies dripping with bougainvillea.

This cluster of small fishing towns on Taiwan’s southeast coast is a nature lover’s — and surfer’s — vacation paradise. From secluded point breaks and open beaches to mountainous jungles and winding bike paths, there’s something for every adventurer. At night, if you listen closely you may even hear the local deer barking in the mountains.

Arrive at Hydra and you’re immediately welcomed into the arms of a magical amphitheater-type surround of dwellings that rise up from the sea into the hills beyond. Its proximity to Athens makes the island a doable day trip but, to stay, especially living like a local in a home, is another thing entirely.