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A weekend in Marrakech offers just enough time to take in the Red City’s gardens, the medina, and to tumble through the city’s souks and boutiques, your arms filled with purchases. Of course, the food: from traditional Moroccan dishes to European-inspired meals, and plenty of local red wine. Don’t miss a night of food stalls and snake charmers at Djemma el Fna. Tempting as it may be to stay put in Marrakech’s oldest section for the weekend, leave the medina to tour the stunning gardens French painter Jacques Majorelle left behind, and the museum dedicated to legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. And do go to a hammam on day one because, really, you’ll quickly see why it should be your daily habit while in town.

Far above the plains where lions roam, there’s another Kenya, where life moves slowly and the people run fast. Writer Matt Gross tries to keep up.

Young artists stake their claim to the city’s open spaces.

AFAR chose a destination at random—by literally spinning a globe—and sent Sloane Crosley on a spontaneous journey to Ecuador.

St. Lucia is home to incredible biodiversity, from dense rain forests in the heart of the island to dramatic volcanic landscapes by the sea. When visiting, be sure to explore beyond the beaches to discover lush botanical gardens, tropical forests full of birds, rushing waterfalls, and even a drive-in volcano.

Visit the floating market in Willemstad early in the morning, then head to the Punda District to browse the colorful art galleries, wander through gardens selling herbal medicine and botanics, and pick up a bottle of the island’s eponymous liqueur.

Japan’s former imperial city offers awe-inspiring Shinto and Buddhist temples, beautiful gardens, streets lined with old wooden town houses, and narrow stone lanes where you might see modern-day geisha and stop at an izakaya for a meal.

Known for its pink-sand beaches, pastel cottages, and rum swizzles, Bermuda is also home to some of the best hotels in the world. From a sleek glass box overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to a colonial-era manor nestled within lush gardens, the selection here is rich with possibilities.

While you’ll never have time for all of Shanghai’s best sights, here are some of our favorites. Seek out the city’s art and mind-blowing architecture, decompress in tranquil gardens, or tour long-forgotten nightclubs. Trust us: You won’t be bored.

Simple, skilled treatment of raw product is the hallmark of the cuisine at Narru. With a chef once named in the Wall Street Journal as a top young chef to watch in Europe, the food here is quite simply delicious. Stars are the tomato salad, the seafood rice dish of the day, the crema de queso for dessert, and the secreto ibérico, an incredibly juicy cut of pork.

There are plenty of ways to have a perfect weekend in Singapore. For a small place, it packs a mighty punch of delight. For first timers, a taste of the outdoors, a splash of shopping, and more than a few hearty servings of food will leave you craving more. Browse the National Gallery Singapore. Explore the Gardens by the Bay. Sip a sundowner at one of the stunning rooftop bars. And eat eat eat. (The food is so incredibly good.) Make your way outside of the city center to see the world-famous Singapore Zoo.

A short boat ride north from San Pedro will deposit you onto a portion of Ambergris Caye that feels worlds away from any town or city. Once ensconced in a private bungalow on a private beach, there isn’t much to distract the guest from complete enjoyment of the charms of Caribbean water, sunshine, and the slower pace that characterizes day-to-day life in the North Islands. Massage therapists are available, as are spa services, and a full range of excursions and activities can be arranged via the concierge. Thirteen exclusive villas are available, one of which includes a steam room and private infinity pool, while other villas either feature beach access, jacuzzi tubs, private outdoor showers, or decks that stretch over a saltwater lake. El Secreto’s full-service restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a bar is poolside in the main lodge. Rates begin around $3,000 for a three-night stay, and more information is available at www.elsecretobelize.com.

I’m on the hunt for perfection, Japanese style.

Argentina at a Gallop

There are few more picturesque destinations than southern Italy’s Sorrentine peninsula. Stretching from the Bay of Naples to the Gulf of Salerno, the dramatic coastline is dotted with cliff-side towns that overlook brilliant blue waters and are favored by the jetset for their pebbled beaches and terraced gardens, dreamy lemon groves and villa retreats—think Amalfi, Ravello, Positano. Want your own piece of la dolce vita? Here are the hotels and resorts where you’ll find it.