9 Last-Minute Vacation Destinations Around the World

Known for Maya ruins and turquoise waters, Quintana Roo is one of Mexico’s most popular vacation spots, but there are plenty of hotels to go around for spur-of-the-moment travelers. Score a direct flight to Cancun or Tulum, where you’re likely to find all-inclusive resorts with last-minute availability.

Upon arrival, your trip can be adventurous, relaxing, or a combination of both. Spend one day touring Chichen Itza and swimming in cenotes, then set sail for an Isla Mujeres boat trip that takes you snorkeling in the clear Caribbean. With remarkably preserved Maya murals and neighboring white-sand beaches, the Tulum Archeological Site packs the best of the region into one must-go place.

You don’t have to search far for spontaneous weekend getaways from the US. Just across the border in Montreal, you’ll find the cobblestone streets, Parisian-style squares, and Victorian architecture that you’d expect from a European capital—only a 90-minute flight from New York City.

Make Old Montreal your first stop in town; the historic quarter is home to city headliners including the Old Port and Gothic Revival Notre-Dame Basilica, plus some of the best shopping, café-hopping, and museums in town. Get your bearings on a bike tour that takes you from the waterfront to the Mount Royal overlook, then try true Montreal bagels on a Mile End food tour.

With direct flights from hundreds of cities, Amsterdam is one of the easiest European destinations to visit on a whim. It’s also one of the most dynamic, offering world-class art galleries at the Rijksmuseum, poignant history at the Anne Frank House, and unlimited charm along its 165 canals.

Canal cruises are the best way to take in the pretty boats and Dutch gabled houses that line Amsterdam’s 17th-century waterways, but you can also explore from the Royal Palace to the Red Light District on walking tours. If you’re lucky enough to visit Amsterdam in the spring, don’t miss a day trip to the tulip-filled Keukenhof Gardens.

One of the best tips for booking last-minute vacations is to choose a city with an airport near downtown, as you’ll avoid wasting time in transit. San Diego is the perfect example, since the airport is within a 10-minute drive of Ocean Beach Pier, museum-filled Balboa Park, and other major attractions.

While sandy shores are a big draw in this Southern California city, there’s plenty more to do in San Diego besides beach yoga and surfing. Learn about naval history aboard the USS Midway Museum, or check out Pacific-view hiking trails and tide pools at Cabrillo National Monument. From whale watching to bar-hopping in the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego tours have something for all ages in all seasons.

The Caribbean is speckled with several easy-to-reach beach destinations for last-minute trips, and San Juan is no exception. If you’re a US citizen, you can skip passport control upon arrival and head straight to the sea. Escambron Beach is one of the best swimming spots near Old San Juan, and it’s a popular departure point for snorkeling with sea turtles.

Besides the beach, Old San Juan has Spanish fortresses, candy-colored buildings, and coastal promenades that you can admire on a historical walking tour—or perhaps a sunset boat ride around the harbor. If you have time for one day trip, make it to El Yunque National Forest, where you can hike to waterfalls, speed down natural waterslides, and spot tropical wildlife.

The winter months are some of the best times to find last-minute travel deals—and you won’t have to sacrifice good weather on an off-season trip to Charleston, where daytime temperatures stay close to 60°F (16°C) from December–February. Plus, walking along Rainbow Row and Waterfront Park is much more enjoyable without the sticky summer humidity.

As one of the oldest cities in the US, Charleston is naturally a popular place for historical tours, both by day and with a ghostly emphasis at night. See 18th-century architecture in the French Quarter, or take the ferry to Fort Sumter for a lesson on Civil War history. If you’re curious about Low-Country cuisine, try the best biscuits in town on a food tour.

You don’t have to plan far ahead for a successful trip to Nassau, where lounging on endless white-sand beaches should be number one on your to-do list. American passport holders don’t need a visa for the Bahamas, so you’re free to book a last-minute flight and head straight for the turquoise sea at Cable Beach.

While it’s easy to make spontaneous visits to Nassau’s public beaches, the souvenir-filled Straw Market, and the fish-fry restaurants of Arawak Cay, guided tours are well worth reserving a few days in advance. This is especially true of popular rum-tasting tours and boat trips to Rose Island, where you can swim with pigs and snorkel among colorful fish.

While reservations for Chicago Theatre shows and Michelin-starred restaurants are best scored in advance, there’s plenty to do in Chicago on the fly. Choose from countless flights landing at O’Hare—one of the world’s busiest airports—and start your trip with a free walk along the Magnificent Mile or in Millennium Park.

Of course, the best way to learn about the historic buildings lining the Chicago River is to hop on architecture river cruises, which run at all hours and are easy to book on the same day. Then, see those skyscrapers from an even better angle at Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower. Don’t leave without visiting at least one museum or sampling a slice of deep-dish pizza.

If you’re coming from America’s east coast, it’s not overly ambitious to hop on a red-eye for a long weekend in Lisbon, a 7-hour flight from Philadelphia. Once you land, you’re only a 20-minute metro from the historic center’s tiled palaces and bakeries slinging pasteis de nata.

With limited time in Lisbon, tuk-tuk tours are by far the best way to see multiple neighborhoods in the hilly city, from the cobblestone streets of Alfama to the nightlife hub of Bairro Alto. Have your driver take you to Belém Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Lisbon’s most impressive landmarks, then watch the sunset at the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte (or while sailing along the Tagus River).