Best places to travel in July

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July is considered low season for tourists in Japan as the weather heats up and many locals escape to cooler weather. The coolest new thing to do in the city is to bar hop your way through a second generation of speakeasies and cocktail bars.

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There are many ways to soak in the culture in this seaside town. The Cliff Walk allows you to peek into fancy living homes for free. And the who's who of Newport will be out in spades at two big festivals this month: the Newport Folk Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival.

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This German town is known as a wellness retreat, but there are many other reasons to visit. This month, Baden Baden hosts its annual Summer Festival at the Festival Hall, which includes everything from opera to piano concertos. Stay at the new Roomers hotel, which has a rooftop lounge and pool to soak in the great weather.

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Seattle has many summer attractions to see including Pike's Place, the Space Needle, the Chihuly Garden and Glass. The Thompson Seattle has opened a sleek new 158-room hotel in the city, just one block from Pike's Place. It has ambitious culinary plans as well, including an 18-seat chef's table called Scout (run by chef Josh Henderson).

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There are gorgeous fortresses and ancient theaters to see, beautiful beaches to relax on, and family-run wineries to visit. In the summer, you'll see European heirs and heiresses arriving on their well-appointed yachts and partying in the trendy bars around town—and you'd be hard pressed not to feel glamorous by association.

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The weather is great in July, and prices are low because much of the city is on vacation. Helsinki has a great design scene—it's got bigger names like Marimekko and Alvar Aalto (there's a museum dedicated to the starchitect), as well as shops from younger, up-and-coming designers.

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July is in the middle of Australia's winter, so the temperatures do get chillier, but it's also a great time to visit a city that's already incredibly budget-friendly. Chefs from around the world have been heading to the city to try the inventive restaurants, and Melbourne is also full of one-of-a-kind galleries and shops.

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The English country is this year's hot new adventure destination, with thrilling activities that range from an underground trampoline park to an extensive zipline course. The entire country is filled with action in July, as it plays host to the annual Gower Festival, where artists and performers take over ancient churches. And the capital of Cardiff hosts an international food and drink festival in the middle of the month, where local vendors and farmers come out in droves to share their produce and recipes.

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The Asbury hotel opens over Memorial Day, complete with beer garden, rooftop garden, and a pool with food trucks nearby. One interesting tidbit: you can text the coffee shop downstairs with your caffeine preference and they'll have it ready to go within five minutes.

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You'll get fantastic value for your money in Cape Town right now—the currency is weak, July is low season, and there are tons of ways to enjoy the city on a budget. The temperatures drop during winter in South Africa—but that just means you'll need a light jacket for dinner. The crowds are sparse in July, and you'll feel like you have the entire city to yourself.