Come Playa on the white sands of the Mahekal Beach Resort.

This seemingly interminable winter weather has me (and, I imagine, virtually the entire Eastern seaboard) dreaming of steamy, sunny climes…and fantasizing about a long-weekend escape. My favorite easy-to-reach, tropical destination? Playa del Carmen, Mexico. A bit over an hour’s drive south of Cancun, Playa boasts all of Cancun’s gorgeous beaches and festive flavor, minus the urban sprawl and Spring Break insanity…or the lion’s share of it, anyway. A popular hangout for stylish European sun-seekers (translation: it’s not yet completely overrun by Americans), it’s the perfect place to soak up rays during the day and slurp margaritas on Playa’s Avenida Quinta, a charming walking mall dotted with palm trees bedecked with twinkling white lights, at night. (For those who still have some Spring Break spirit left in them, there are a number of bars and clubs that keep the tequila and techno flowing into the wee hours, including the chic rooftop lounge at Hotel Deseo, where the service is as warm as the vibe is cool).

Playa's charming Avenida Quinta beckons en la noche...

If you venture to Playa, stay at the Mahekal Beach Resort , a truly magical (hence the name) beachfront oasis that’s blessedly short on modern amenities (no phones, no TVs) and decidely long on charm: with its colorful, thatched-roof casitas and paths studded with tiled mushroom-shaped lamps, it resembles a kind of Smurf Village for adults. Lounge on the pristine beach, order the to-die-for octopus ceviche and an ice-cold Corona for lunch–brought to you with a big smile by one of Mahekal’s many sweet, attentive waiters–and revel in how lucky you are to be there. Or, venture up the street a block to La Cueva del Chango to dine with the local glitterati in a one-of-a-kind setting. Vamos!

Deseo's rooftop lounge is both sultry and chic.