Wander past the canopied café terraces, wizened olive groves, and austere cypresses of Provence and you’ll start to realize you can’t shake off a sense of déjà vu. If you’re feeling as though you’ve been here before, it’s because you’re wandering through the inspirations for the paintings of Van Gogh, Picasso, Cezanne, and Matisse. The post-impressionists were captivated by Provence for the very same reasons we still are today. The appeal of the crumbling farmhouses with terracotta roof tiles, infinite lavender fields and hazy cobalt mountains rolling down to pastures where cicadas chirp is timeless.

"Maui no ka oi" is what locals say—it's the best, the most, the top of the heap. To those who know Maui well, there are good reasons for the superlatives. The island's miles of perfect beaches, lush green valleys, and volcanic landscapes, as well as its historic villages, top-notch water sports, and stellar restaurants and resorts, have made it an international favorite. Maui is also home to rich culture and stunning ethnic diversity, as reflected in the island's wide range of food and traditional activities.

Easily one of the most picturesque places on earth, this Italian Eden—situated about two-thirds down the boot on the Tyrrhenian coast—boasts colorful cliffside villages, rolling olive groves, crystalline turquoise surf, and arguably the best pizza you’ll ever taste. You could spend weeks in Campania (the region encompassing Naples, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast) winding your way from its serene mountain villages to its jaw-dropping Roman ruins—Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Paestum—to its star-studded beaches and luxury resorts. But even if only a few days are in the cards, this corner of Italy is still well worth exploring.

The name Tahiti conjures up dreamy images of idyllic islands floating in azure lagoons fringed by palm trees and white sandy beaches. Though Tahiti is usually a stopover for many vacationers heading to the outer islands, it offers many attractions to tempt them beyond a one-night stay. Its assets are its natural attractions—soaring, cloud-swathed mountains, deep valleys, rivers, waterfalls—and ancient temple ruins that dot its valleys. And while the outlying islands have more impressive beaches, Tahiti (1,043 square km [403 square mi]) offers an untamed landscape of both wild black sand beaches and quiet lagoons. Tahiti Iti, just 80 km (50 mi) from the capital, offers the opportunity to chill out completely and find a quiet spot by the beach.

From Fodors