The car-less village of Murren is surrounded by the mountain peaks of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, all soaring over 13,000 feet.

Located on the southern end of Baja California Sur in Mexico, the Los Cabos municipality is a popular resort destination. Including the stunning city of Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos offers spectacular beaches, panoramic ocean views, and a variety of fun activities, including golfing, hiking, and snorkeling.

If summer means the beach to the inhabitants of Greater Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata is most often the beach they are thinking of. Situated on the northern Atlantic coast, 400km from the capital, beaches in this area sprawl for eight km, with sophisticated mansions (reflecting the area's upper-class origins) mingling with the new middle-class resorts. Sea lions keep an eye on the fishing activities around the wharves, and a replica of the grotto of Lourdes is a kitsch paradise.

Staniel Cay is a small island in the Exuma Cays of The Bahamas, surrounded by clear shallow waters, coral reefs, sandy beaches, and numerous nearby cays. The island covers less than two square miles and has a small Bahamian village on its western shore. Its position makes it a useful base for exploring the surrounding Exumas by boat, while a local airstrip provides another way to reach the island.

Cairns is the majestic entrance to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. This warm, tropical destination is located in Far North Queensland. Must-see attractions in Cairns include the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park, which educates tourists about indigenous peoples, and restaurant and bar-dotted Cairns Esplanade, which has a lagoon for swimming.