Collioure, just before the Spanish border, aims its charms at its own people. It's the ideal small town-without-the-glitz antidote to condo city Riviera. Like an ice cream shop, Collioure offers 31 flavors of pastel houses and six petite scooped-out beach-sprinkled lightly with beachgoers.

Lisbon, the enchanting capital of Portugal, entices sightseers with its vibrant color, stunning Gothic architecture, and temperate weather. Easily traversed by foot or tram, the city’s distinct quarters and vivid cultural landmarks make Lisbon an excellent spot for exploration.

The Cook Islands, a group of 15 islands scattered across the South Pacific, offer a rare blend of Polynesian tradition and laid-back island charm. Rarotonga, the largest and most visited island, is ringed by a turquoise lagoon and backed by lush mountains. Visitors can circle the entire island in under an hour, stopping along the way for fresh coconut, beachside cafés, or a quick swim in the clear lagoon.

Home to Stirling Castle, Sterling, is a picturesque and historical town located in the heart of Scotland.

Boppard, the pearl of the Rhein, gets its nickname from the fact that it is situated on part of a horse-shoe ben in the Rhein, resembling a pearl in an oyster shell. This bend is one of the most severe anywhere on the Rhein, so much so that the town frontage faces due north while the vineyards, one the same band face due south. The bend is also known as the "bendiest bend on the Rhein."