Many travelers take vacations to jolt themselves out of the daily grind. Adventure vacations are often designed to test your limits, whether it's participating in a ropes course, a challenging hike or even your first attempt at downhill skiing. For an adventure in the U.S., visit the Grand Canyon or the Rocky Mountains. For something slightly further from home, hop a flight to Peru and hike or camp along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, the ancient mountainside village.
City trips are popular for those who prefer shopping and sightseeing and don't have a lot of time on their hands. If you live near a large city -- Chicago, Denver, New York or San Francisco, for instance -- book a hotel in your favorite neighborhood and snag a table at the best bistro in town. Plan a day of sightseeing and museum visiting to reacquaint you with this close-to-home travel gem.
If you prefer a travel location a bit further afield, finding airfare and hotel deals in Europe is easy as long as you plan in advance. Prague, London and Rome offer a wide range of sightseeing opportunities, fantastic restaurants and healthy nightlife, perfect for a fun-filled and relaxing city vacation.
If hanging out on the beach is more your style, unwind in a tropical locale. Several islands on the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. offer sun and sand to rejuvenate even the weariest traveler. Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Hilton Head are places to consider as they provide a gorgeous place to lounge and cute villages for nights out and shopping 'til you drop.
In Europe, Spain offers a slightly more cultural experience with Flamenco and tapas in the Andalucía region near Seville or Malaga. Morocco in northern Africa and Croatia in eastern Europe are also home to beach resorts and friendly people and, as they don't use the Euro, are more affordable travel destinations.
If skiing and sipping hot cocoa is your idea of travel paradise, book a flight to the Alpine region of central Europe. Grenoble, France, is a hub for many budget airlines in Europe and sits in the picturesque French Alps. Zurich and Klosters in Switzerland are favorite skiing destinations for celebrities and royals alike, so you can add star-sightings to your itinerary if you visit here. For classical music and museum buffs, nothing beats Salzburg, Austria, in the winter months. With heavy snowfall and powder-covered mountaintops, Austria is a perennial hit with skiers and historians.
