The beginning of the year is always when I find myself thinking about annual leisure-travel plans. I’m not just trying to see if I can knock out some bucket-list items over the course of the year — it’s also normally freezing out, and daydreaming about lying on a fabulous beach is just too tempting.

I’m currently trying to plan an international trip for this summer, and I’ve been spending recent weekends researching and daydreaming. The photos are just too beautiful to keep to myself. Here, for your wanderlust pleasure, are some of the places that I would love to visit in 2015.

Croatia. Just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, this small country has tons of coastline and islands. Oh, and the currency is kinder to the American dollar than the Euro!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tulum, Mexico. The hot new destination in Mexico. Not far from Cancun, Playa Del Carmen or Cozumel, Tulum offers a luxe, small-town vibe along the beautiful waters of the Caribbean coast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cape Town, South Africa. While a glamping safari trip is definitely on my radar, Cape Town is probably my top destination in Africa. The scenery is just unreal, and it feels like a good mix of cosmopolitan sophistication and beach casual.

 

 

 

 

 

Turkey. From beaches to mountains to ancient cities with plenty of history, Turkey has a little something for everyone. Like the mineral-rich hot springs pictured that you can actually take a dip in. And, most importantly, Turkey is more affordable than its neighbor Greece. Count me in.

 

 

 

 

 

New Zealand. This is my number-one, all-time bucket list trip. There’s no easy way to get there, but I’m pretty sure that’s because it’s worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecuador. With plenty of tropical, lush vegetation and fewer tourists than other coastal options, Ecuador feels like an off-the-beaten-path vacation spot — in a very good way. Plus, you have the stunning Galápagos islands a short boat ride away, and the U.S. dollar gives you major spending power.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuba. I’m throwing this on here just because it’s suddenly an option! Thanks to more relaxed relations with Cuba, Americans face fewer travel restrictions. The entire country seems to be trapped in a time warp, which could make for a nice vacation in today’s high-tech world.

 

What am I missing? Where are you traveling in 2015?