Great getaways.

Taking break away from our routines is a treat we all deserve every now and then, whether we have time for an exotic vacation, a weekend trip or a day at the spa.

After these refreshing interludes we seem to come back to life as we know it more inspired and motivated--ready for the next challenge.

The chic getaways of the moment have never been more luxurious than they are now, according to Laura Q. Hughes, editorial director of Elite Traveler, an ultra-upscale magazine read by 350,000 of the most affluent travelers worldwide in their mega-yachts, private jets and five-star hotel suites.

"The customized getaway is very hot right now," she says. "Chartering a mega-yacht and setting your own itinerary with all of the amenities, entertainment and food tailor-made to your own specifications is the option that many are choosing as a secure and private way to see beautiful parts of the world."

Continually hot as destinations with top quality resort experiences are Los Cabos in Mexico, Canouan in the Grenadines, Aspen in Colorado and Shanghai in China, Hughes adds.

To make their getaways even more of a custom-designed treat, many travelers are joining concierge clubs that provide access to a variety of special requests for food, entertainment and services wherever globe-trotting members find themselves.

For those who choose the stunning venue of Los Cabos for their great getaway, a paradise awaits.

Located on the southernmost tip of the Baja California Peninsula, Los Cabos is one of Mexico's most breathtaking beach destinations, featuring unspoiled desert landscape, white sandy beaches and dramatic rock outcroppings.

As one of the country's most popular tourist attractions, the area offers world-class lodging and recreational facilities, including five-star hotels, luxury condominiums, impressive golf courses, charismatic marinas and exquisite restaurants.

Los Cabos, which is internationally renowned for its exciting and diverse sport fishing, has recently become a major golf destination in Latin America as well. The city hosts the PGA Senior Slam and has earned full recognition of its facilities in the international community. Its 207 holes designed by sport legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye and Robert Trent II, are situated in majestic green courses beautifully bordered by the desert and the sea, making it a one-of-a-kind golf destination.

Another fabulous getaway is a visit to the Mexican Riviera: Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and Acapulco.

Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is one of Mexico's most exciting vacation spots, offering spectacular beaches, first class resorts and golf, scuba diving, surfing and deep-sea fishing for sailfish, marlin and yellow-knife tuna.

Visitors to the beaches during the winter months are also treated to great whale watching during the majestic creatures' annual migration.

Nearby, the vibrant Mexican Pacific Port city of Acapulco is home to one of the most spectacular bays in the world, making it a favorite stop over the decades for celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Placido Domingo and Julio Iglesias.

But Aca, as the locals call it, offers much more than gorgeous stretches of beach: Mexicans and foreigners alike agree it is the perfect place for tourists of all tastes and budgets to swim, shop, dine, party or just soak up the sun. For more information on Mexico, visit www.visitmexico.com.

The perfect getaway in Cancun, Mexico is the Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts' Paradisus Riviera Cancun.

The hotel, which recently became the largest all-inclusive property to receive the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Rating, creates a Mayan Village ambience with its narrow paths, 500 Suites, 100 Royal Service Suites and 96 Ocean View Suites. It stretches between a lush tropical mangrove preserve, on a 5,000 foot-long Caribbean beach, protected by the second largest coral reef formation in the world.

The Paradisus Riviera Cancun has received a bevy of awards over the past year, such as the inclusion of its Paradisus Royal Suites into The Leading Hotels of the World portfolio.

Travel to Mexico in style begins with the selection of "signature service" offered by Aeromexico, Mexico's largest airline and one of the world's leading on-time carriers. Aeromexico provides service to over 40 destinations in Mexico from cities throughout the Americas.

To take the guesswork out of planning a vacation to Mexico, travelers can turn to the Aeromexico Vacations travel experts--available to help travelers create affordable, all-inclusive packages that cater to their particular tastes and preferences. Aeromexico Vacations maintains relationships with resorts and businesses in the destinations that it serves throughout Mexico. As such, Aeromexico Vacations provides travelers with one-stop-shopping packages that include roundtrip airfare, transfers, hotel accommodations, fees, taxes and optional tours that allow agents to plan memorable vacations for their customers. For more information, visit www.aeromexicovacations.com.

Several other locations in Latin America have been recently tapped by The Washington Post as part of the 10 top international travel destinations worldwide.

For transportation throughout Latin America, American Airlines is the top choice: For 14 years American has offered more flights in the region than any other airline.

Readers of LATIN TRADE have also voted American Airlines the "Best Airline" for Latin America for two years running--citing its coverage of 34 cities in 18 countries within the region.

The company, which employs 6,200 in Latin America, is developing a large new world terminal at its Miami gateway and has re-affirmed its commitment to keep the globe's most modern air fleet as a key force in the region.

Popular now as a Latin American destination is Ecuador, renown for its fascinating volcanoes, tropical beaches, rain forests and historic cobblestone towns. Top choices to stay are haciendas or eco-lodges, such as the Hacienda Pinsaqui--situated at the base of a volcano with centuries old gardens--and the Kapawi Ecolodge and Reserve, which has been praised by ecologists for environmental reasons.

Also popular for adventure seekers is Honduras. Attracted by 400 miles of unspoiled Caribbean coastline, pristine rain forests and majestic mountains, adventurous getaway travelers scuba dive or fish around the Bay Islands off Honduras' northern coast, explore Pico Bonito National Park and visit the Mayan ruins of Copan--one of the top archeological sites in Central America.

The Bay Islands wildlife, such as jaguars and monkeys, can be seen from the inland observation towers at the Lodge at Pico Bonito. At the nearby town of Roatan visitors seeking rest and relaxation enjoy the bed and breakfast accommodations at the Sante Wellness Center day spa.

Nearby in the Caribbean is the island that travel mavens are calling the newest warm-your-toes getaway: Great Exuma in the Bahamas. Much of the 500 mile-long Bahamian island is untouched, except for the new Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay, set to open in January 2005. Visitors are also encouraged to consider floating accommodations with weeklong rentals through Bahamas House Boats.

A host of boutique style hotels are expected to soon follow the luxury Four Seasons' lead, but lagging mainstream development is sure to keep Great Exuma a secluded luxury refuge for a while. For information, visit www.bahamas.com.

A current favorite and truly exotic getaway is a trip to New Zealand, the filming locations of Tom Cruise's "The Last Samurai" and of the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy. The island's picturesque landscapes include the volcanic Mount Ruapehu and the farming province of Taranaki, as well as Queenstown and Matamata.

Due in part to Hollywood hype, New Zealand attracted a record 2.2 million visitors in 2004 up to June--an increase of nearly 10% compared to the prior year. Latest forecasts predict that international visitor arrivals will rise almost 6%, with numbers reaching a massive 3.1 million by 2010.

Exotic and popular also is a trip centered around polar bear watching in Northern Manitoba. The wildlife scene in this central Canadian province--especially in the town of Churchill--is unmatched: Frolicking polar bears are the main attraction, along with the rare Ursus maritimus and the 20,000 snow-white Beluga whales that flood the western Hudson Bay and Churchill River each summer.

The 1,400 polar bears in the region are accessible to visitors via tundra buggy rides and nature expeditions through the tundra that also feature a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Popular accommodations with travelers are The Aurora Inn and The Bear Country Inn, which shows nature movies--just in cast an outdoor nature trek disappoints.

Attracting new attention as a safari getaway is peaceful Botswana, just north of South Africa. Considered Africa's best-kept secret, Botswana offers spectacular viewing of elephants, lions and giraffes among the wildlife on its breathtaking savannas, wetlands and salt pans. Safari-goers are also often treated to close visits of wildlife neighbors who stroll by their lodge verandas.

Most travelers visit Botswana's Okavango Delta, the largest delta on earth, which is teaming with birds, or the Chobe National Park, where thousands of elephants gather along the river. For further information, visit Tourism of Botswana www.gov.bw/tourism.