The weekend is almost here! Are you headed anywhere fun? I'm off to sunny Puerto Rico to escape Chicago's latest cold snap. Here are a few bonus travel stories to keep you dreaming of warmer days.

• Winter in the northern hemisphere means summer in Buenos Aires. If you're headed down south, here are a few places to gorge yourself silly, courtesy of Matador writer Tom Gates. [via Matador Nights]

• Nothing says summer like the sight of tan surfers catching some waves. How does a pro surfer globe-trot? Find out with BootsnAll's How I Travel profile of surfer Holly Beck. [via BootsnAll]

• Sometimes warm is just a state of mind. Check out this list of great winter escapes to places so cool, you may forget how cold it is outside. [via Outside]

• Even hotel chains are thinking about warmer climes right now. Andaz, "Hyatt's hip little sister" has announced plans to move into Costa Rica. [via Hotel Chatter]

Filed under: North America, South America, Costa Rica, United States, Argentina