11 Last-Minute Spring Break Ideas for a Quick Change of Scenery

With so many incredible hotels in Mexico City—especially boutiques—choosing where to stay can mean far too many hours hunched over your laptop. Allow us to make it simple: Casa Polanco is the move. Located in a restored 1940s Spanish Revival mansion in CDMX’s chic Polanco neighborhood, the 19-room property cfeels more like a private home than a hotel. Local original artwork from contemporary Mexican artists lines the walls, custom furniture gives the spaces a stylish touch, and there’s a library with an honor bar that overlooks the peaceful (and oh-so-green) Parque Lincoln. Breakfast in the property’s airy courtyard, which is filled with plants and flooded with natural light, is also a highlight.

Charleston, South Carolina

If you’re a Nancy Meyers fan (is anyone not a Nancy Meyers fan?), Charleston is always a good idea. The Southern city oozes coastal grandmother energy, with cobblestone streets, grand historic homes, and breezy porches—known locally as piazzas—meant for enjoying a glass of chilled white wine with your neighbor. But the coastal city becomes even more charming in spring, if that’s even possible, thanks to the proliferation of purple wisteria, magenta azaleas, and window boxes that spill over with colorful blooms.

Resisting the urge to pause for a photo every few steps could very well become your biggest challenge of the trip; that, or deciding where to eat. Charleston has an “unparalleled food scene,” as one Vogue writer put it, with restaurants serving everything from seasonal tasting menus to refined Lowcountry classics (emphasis on the seafood). Locals consistently rave about FIG and Leon’s Oyster Shop, though wandering around aimlessly—especially on the city’s lively King Street—is part of the fun, too. And if you’re craving pure sunshine, the local beaches are about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown, though the water will likely still be a bit too cold to swim.

The Hotel to Book

Courtesy of The Charleston Place

The Charleston Place is a local institution through and through. Set in the heart of Charleston’s historic district just steps from King Street, the property feels grand in every sense of the word, from its smooth marble floors and winding staircase to its glittering chandeliers and sheer number of rooms (434, to be exact). Yet despite its large size, it also offers all sorts of personal touches, including private tours, shopping sessions, and a crabbing experience where guests head into the marshes to learn about the coastal tradition firsthand.

Samaná Peninsula, Dominican Republic

In the travel world, the Dominican Republic is often associated with all-inclusives around Punta Cana. But if you want to escape that popular hotel circuit, the Caribbean country’s lush and more remote northeast region, the Samaná Peninsula, is your answer. Not only are the beaches less crowded (but no less beautiful), the surrounding area is also strikingly green and mountainous—especially on the drive in from the airport. Plus, it’s more affordable than many other Caribbean hotspots; one Vogue writer says Las Terrenas—Samaná’s most popular beach town—“reminds [her] of what Tulum was like 15 years ago.”