Destinations
Every destination, by region.
Every destination we plan, organized by region — with best months, ways to go, and Wayne's advisor notes.
Caribbean & Bahamas (3)
Bahamas
Baha Mar, Atlantis, and 700 islands.
Nassau and Paradise Island for family resorts, the Exumas for private-island escapes, Eleuthera and Harbour Island for boutique stays.
Best: November · December · January…
Caribbean
The gold standard for a warm-weather week.
From Sandals-style all-inclusives to Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection sailings and villa hideaways, the Caribbean covers every budget and traveler style — year-round.
Best: December · January · February…
Turks & Caicos
Grace Bay, ranked #1 beach in the world.
Providenciales' Grace Bay Beach anchors upscale villa rentals, family all-inclusives like Beaches, and adult retreats such as Como Parrot Cay.
Best: November · December · January…
Mexico & Central America (3)
Costa Rica
Cloud forest to Pacific coast in one trip.
Arenal for volcanoes and hot springs, Monteverde for cloud forest, Manuel Antonio and Guanacaste for beaches and resorts — combine 2–3 zones for a great first trip.
Best: December · January · February…
Mexico (Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, PV)
Ninety-minute flights, five-star resorts.
Cancún and Riviera Maya for family all-inclusives, Los Cabos for luxury and golf, Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita for boutique feel and Sayulita side trips.
Best: November · December · January…
Panama Canal
Full-transit or partial-transit — one of the world's great engineering marvels.
Full transits pair with 8–10 night Caribbean-and-Pacific sailings. Ocean-view cabins on the port side (northbound) get the best lock views.
Best: November · December · January…
Europe (4)
Europe (multi-country)
The classic first trip: London → Paris → Rome by rail and river.
Combine cities by train (Eurostar, TGV, Frecciarossa) or a river cruise through the Rhine, Danube, or Douro. Add a beach or countryside week to decompress.
Best: April · May · June…
France
Paris, Provence, Loire, Riviera.
Paris for city, Loire for chateaux, Provence for lavender and rosé, French Riviera for beach + Michelin-star cliffside.
Best: April · May · June…
Iceland
Ring Road, glaciers, and the northern lights.
The Golden Circle for first-timers, Ring Road for repeat visitors, plus expedition cruising to remote fjords. Northern lights: September–March.
Best: June · July · August…
Italy
Rome, Florence, Amalfi, Venice — with wine country in between.
First-timers do Rome (3) + Florence/Tuscany (3) + Venice or Amalfi (3). Repeat visitors add Sicily, Puglia, or the Dolomites.
Best: April · May · June…
Alaska & Pacific Northwest (1)
Hawaii & South Pacific (2)
Hawaii
Maui, Kauai, Big Island, Oahu — pick two.
First-timers combine Oahu (Honolulu/Ko Olina) + Maui. Repeat visitors do Kauai + Big Island. Norwegian Pride of America is the only cruise ship sailing exclusively inter-island.
Best: April · May · September…
Tahiti & French Polynesia
Bora Bora, Moorea, Tikehau — overwater bungalows.
Fly LAX to Papeete, then inter-island on Air Tahiti or a Paul Gauguin / Windstar cruise. Bora Bora anchors most first trips.
Best: May · June · July…
Africa & Indian Ocean (2)
Africa Safaris
Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa.
Safari-first: Serengeti and Masai Mara in dry season, Botswana Okavango Delta year-round with high-water July–October. Combine with Cape Town or Zanzibar.
Best: June · July · August…
Maldives
Overwater villas at every price tier.
One island = one resort. Direct flights to Malé, then seaplane or speedboat transfer. Choose atoll by budget and travel style (adults-only vs. family).
Best: November · December · January…
Asia (3)
Japan
Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka — plus onsen country.
Two-week classic: Tokyo (4) + Hakone or Kanazawa (2) + Kyoto (3) + Osaka (2) + Naoshima or Hiroshima. Add sakura (late March/early April) or fall foliage (November).
Best: March · April · October…
Thailand
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui.
Bangkok (3) + North (Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai, 3) + beach week (Phuket, Koh Samui, or Krabi). Combine with Angkor Wat (Cambodia) or Luang Prabang (Laos).
Best: November · December · January…
Vietnam
Halong Bay, Hoi An, Saigon.
North to south: Hanoi (3) + Halong Bay cruise (2) + Hoi An (3) + Ho Chi Minh City (2). Add Mekong Delta or Con Dao beach.
Best: November · December · January…
South America & Antarctica (3)
Antarctica
The seventh continent, by expedition ship.
November–March season. Fly Buenos Aires → Ushuaia, then 10–12 day expedition through the Drake Passage, or fly-cruise programs that skip the Drake.
Best: November · December · January…
Galápagos Islands
Nature you can walk right up to.
5–7 night small-ship cruises are the classic way — western itineraries for Fernandina/Isabela wildlife, eastern for scuba and boobies.
Best: January · February · March…
South America
Machu Picchu, Patagonia, Iguazú, Galápagos.
Peru (Cusco + Machu Picchu + Sacred Valley) is the classic first trip; add Amazon or extend to Patagonia (Chile + Argentina) or Galápagos.
Best: April · May · September…