5 Places To Visit This Summer

Looking for your next summer vacation spot? Try these!

1. Liberia, Costa Rica

Kyle Stewart

Plenty have been to San José, but have you tried Liberia on Costa Rica's west coast? The surfing is better, the country offers rainforests right to the sea and friendly monkeys swinging from the trees. Hotels and resorts range from affordable to ultra-luxury compounds like the Four Seasons.

2. New York City

Kyle Stewart / Via upgrd.com

For those looking for a city break this summer - there is plenty to do in the city that never sleeps. All summer long you can find festivals in the city, events in Central Park and some of the most vibrant people in the world. Even in the summer you can find rooms in high rise hotels for less than $150/night, like the one pictured at the Hyatt Place New York City.

3. Rio de Janeiro

Kyle Stewart / Via upgrd.com

They write songs about this place and it's not as far away as you might think (only about 8 hours from Miami, 10 from New York City). The best part is that while it is summer vacation time in the US and hot almost everywhere, Brazil is in winter as it is in the Southern Hemisphere. Of course the dead of winter in Brazil still constitutes 70 degree temperatures, but the views are just as stunning as ever and the flights are usually close to half price (less than $800 routinely).

4. Curaçao

The island nation of Curaçao (pronounced: koo-ruh-souw) is a little taste of Europe in the Caribbean. Originally part of the Netherlands but now an independent nation, it is located less than 100 miles north of Venezuela. The beaches are beautiful and so are the people. With flight times of just a couple of hours from Atlanta and Miami, Curaçao is a convenient destination for long summer weekends in case you can't stay longer.

5. Hong Kong

Kyle Stewart / Via upgrd.com

For those with a little more time on their hands, try Hong Kong. Most visitors don't need visas unlike mainland China, there are frequent flights from all over the world and tickets from the US can be had for as little as under $600 roundtrip. Hong Kong is a major city sitting on semi-tropical islands, where signs are in both English and Cantonese and the world seems to come together.