13 Dream Vacations to Add to Your Bucket List

Leave it to a super high lottery jackpot to get us all dreaming about what we'd do if we were wealthy beyond our wildest dreams/had Kylie Jenner money. This week's $1.6 billion Mega Millions windfall was won by just one lucky person in South Carolina, but not before pretty much everyone we know got to thinking about what they'd spend that kind of money on. From donating to important causes, to new houses and cars, there's certainly a lot you could spend that over-$900 million (pre-tax) lump sum on. But probably our favorite thing to think about is what kind of vacations we'd go on with all those winnings (I mean, you'd take at least a little time off work or school, right?). After all, the Earth’s surface area of 197 million square miles, according to NASA, is a lot of ground to cover in a lifetime. Even if you're not the mystery South Carolina winner of $1.6 billion, we dug up some of the world’s must-visit destinations so you can set your sight on more, well, realistic travel goals.

Fiji:

Think of the most breathtaking view your mind can conceive, and then multiply that tenfold. Turtle Island isn’t your run-of-the-mill resort. Instead of a hotel room, you live (and want to stay forever) in a villa equipped with a private Jacuzzi and sweeping views of the Pacific. Located a hop, skip and a private jet flight from the capital of Nadi, lobster is as ubiquitous as oxygen on the island, where other stunning wildlife like endangered sea turtles roam free as a bird. If only the air were as warm as the Fijian people. Bula!

Costa Rica:

It’s a little known fact that the best travel buddies are the ones you see along the way, perched on a tree branch or nestled in a plant. Costa Rica is among the top 20 most biodiverse countries in the world, which inspires sustainable hospitality practices that feel uber bespoke and luxurious. Feasts straight from Vista Celestial’s on-property garden are an incentive to finally emerge from your private villa, and a steep yet scenic hike towards the manager’s coffee plantation guarantees great (Instagram) shots of caffeine. If you're lucky, you might even see a sloth along the way.

The Bahamas:

While much of the Caribbean island was tragically hit by Irma, many pockets of luxury remain intact. If you’re a dolphin person — I mean, who isn’t?— catch a glimpse of these brilliant mammals performing Cirque de Soleil-esque tricks at the notorious Atlantis hotel on Paradise Island (abandoned after Hurricane Katrina in 2007, the dolphins enjoy a more sustainable environment in the world's largest open-air marine habitat). At Bahama House in Dunmore Town, rent out all 11 rooms for your closest friends, because spring break is best spent eating local organic cuisine and floating on Instagrammable floaties with your faves. Plus, the boutique hotel is minutes away from a beach with millennial pink sand.

Aruba:

This Caribbean oasis truly lives up to its motto “One Happy Island.” Take an ATV drive on the wild side of the Dutch-inspired island where rugged off-roads lined with caves and cacti give way to sprawling beaches. At the Renaissance Hotel's intimate beach, close your eyes and relish in the fact that you are standing on the very sand that Beyonce did at Timbaland's wedding (with flamingos lining the shore and stars brighter than the sun, it's not hard to see why celebs flock to the area). While breakfast in bed is nice, you're often too disoriented to appreciate it all. Throw table manners out the window at Screaming Eagle's dinner in bed (yes, seriously), where you can kick off your shoes on the plush bedding and tuck into some fresh lobster and yellowfin tuna perched on your lap. Napping between courses permitted.

Israel:

You can drive down the entire country in eight hours, but that doesn’t mean it lacks in incredible sights. If you’ve ever wanted to read the newspaper while floating in the sea like a lily pad, hit up the famously buoyant Dead Sea (at 420 meters below sea level, it's the lowest point on Earth). Afterwards, slather your sun-kissed skin in mineral-rich mud for a DIY spa. Skip the hotels and live like a local at Ein Gedi kibbutz, a communal living quart-turned spa hotel surrounded by plush gardens. You haven’t had breakfast until you’ve had one of their Israeli breakfasts equipped with fresh salads, bagels and hummus. Fuel up before your hike up Masada nearby and watch the sun rise at the summit. Repeat.

Hawaii:

In moments of high stress, we send our minds somewhere remote and sunny, maybe under a palm tree in Pūpūkea or windsurfing in Waipahu. But Hawaii’s pretty face extends well beyond its fairytale terrain. Thanks to a slew of workshops featuring bamboo wood carving, lauhala (leaf) weaving, Ni’hau jewelry making, and sarong dying to name a few, West Oahu is the art guru’s ultimate go-to destination. Once you're all cultured out, reserve a luxury beach cabana in advance at the Four Seasons Ko Olina for some ultimate pampering (outdoor massage and spa treatments anyone?). Come night fall, experience Pacific culture like a local at Art Walk, a monthly exhibit open to the public.

Switzerland:

Why ski in the Swiss Alps when you can gorge yourself silly on cheese and chocolate? Postcard perfect, Gruyère works double time as the world's cheese capital, while the Cailler chocolate factory in the small town of Broc puts Willy Wonka's to shame (seriously, the tour starts with an Aztec chocolate ceremony and culminates in a massive shmorgasbord). A short train ride away, Vevey is the most picturesque place on Earth to feed swans surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Furthering the self-care-centric itinerary, Rock Om at the Hard Rock Hotel Davos's Rock Spa with a massage performed to the soothing beat of the bass. Try not to fall asleep before your in-room yoga session.

California:

We know, we know, California is pretty vague. But as the most populated state in the US, it's undeniably a microcosm for the entire world. Up top, spend an evening at Atelier Crenn indulging in the tasting menu, which earned chef Dominique Crenn the title of "best west coast chef." Board your private jet (because, duh), and arrive at San Diego airport where your private chauffeur will drive you to Escondido, home of iconic wellness retreat Golden Door. There, you'll receive a full week of pampering, gourmet food personalized to your taste, bonding with other guest sans social media, and beauty treatments galore. Not to mention, 100 percent of net proceeds go towards various children's charities.

Cambodia:

Siem Reap is Cambodia’s bustling resort town home to UNESCO site Angkor Wat, the largest sanctuarial monument in the world. But for a break from the crowds and piercing heat, Peace Café is a tiny oasis worthy of the trip. The “café’” in its name is misleading, since fair-trade coffee is only a third of the pie. Sprawl out on body-length sofa beds while sipping from their long list of fresh vegetable juices. Overhead, tea lights create a cocooned feel, but you are very much in an outdoor oasis. Turn off your cellphone and read from their vast selection of books while running your toes through the sand — because you can. Then, make your way up the wooden steps into a silent tree house. A gentle man will lead you through guided meditation, Indian traditional yoga, or if you’re lucky, an intro to Buddhism. No need to order a meal. Make it yourself instead. Private and intimate classes offer hands-on lessons in fusing banana leaves, a Cambodian or Khmer staple, into flavorful, aromatic dishes like amok and spring rolls with palm sugar dipping sauce. At the end of a long day, collapse into a king-size bed at the Mekong Angkor Palace that’ll set you back around $30 a night.

Mexico:

You know those huts on stilts that sit above electric blue water? They aren't just a figment of those BuzzFeed dream vacation quizzes—they're real, and they're spectacular. In Riviera Maya, Palafitos overwater bungalows are a hop, skip and a dive away from the ocean. When you're not snorkelling in it, marvel at the view through your transparent glass floor. From a private infinite pool to an indoor jacuzzi, there are fewer things in the world that melt the stress away quite like constantly floating.

Dominican Republic:

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? You do when you check into Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana or their Riviera Maya location slated for a 2019 opening. An all-inclusive vacation is never complete without waterslides, tubes and a lazy river on over 500,000 square feet of pools. Need to get away from your getaway? Book the wraparound swim-up suite that takes lounging to new levels. Make like Dora and explore the grand lobby where Mutant Ninja Turtles meets modern art.

Central Florida:

When we think of the Sunshine State, our minds conjure exactly that—palm trees under a bright, clear sky, ice cream dripping down our forearms, and our hair swaying in the wind like Beyoncé as we tear through the air on Hollywood Studios' Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. While Disney World has long been Central Florida's main draw—and for good reason!—it can get a little, well, hectic. Get the best of both worlds by posting up at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate a 15-minute drive from the park. Its lazy river and wave pool are the perfect places to rest tired feet from waiting in line all day. Try not to gawk when you see a Pinterest-worthy bride step out in her dress.

British Columbia:

Cross the border to the Great White North, and you'll be greeted with everything from world-class skiing in Whistler to high tea at the iconic Fairmont Empress hotel along with 400 other daily guests (scones and clotted cream obligatory, with a pinky raised while you sip Blue Suede Shoes tea). Then, head down to Vancouver for a glimpse of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen's Chinese Garden, which feels like you're walking through a fairytale. Cap the day off with a bright red sunset at Sunset Beach to the beat of bongo drums.

New Orleans:

The kind folks down in NOLA pretty much invented having a good time—so you know it deserves a spot on the ol' bucketlist. Escape the blues by listening to the blues on Frenchman Street where cars make space for pedestrians to dance in the middle of the road, browse art galleries and flea markets. Re-energize with a perfectly greasy fried shrimp po' boy sandwich that'll put every other thing you've ever eaten to shame (you can't go wrong anywhere, but Mike Serio's, which Bobby Flay deems the best one in the city, is a safe bet). Cool off at the rooftop pool at Ace Hotel, whose star-studded clientele include Beyonce, Sam Smith and Maroon 5, before eating your bodyweight in local oysters at Seaworthy down the street.

Related: 10 Travel Apps for All Stages of Your Spring Break Vacation

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