So what’s on the menu? A flight to Florida for my best friend’s wedding (woohooo!). While I’m there for 3.5 days, the plan is to party in Miami, spend time calming her before the big day and then party some more at the wedding among friends and family. Following the next morning’s brunch with the newlyweds, off I go to the port in Miami and hop on a cruise. I always thought my first cruise would be in the Mediterranean with my future husband or something like that. A lovely cruise in the Greek islands with a few stops in Turkey. But as we know, we can never plan out our life and we shall take the opportunities as they arise. Which means I’ll be spending my first cruise with my parents. A mini family vacation could be fun too! Initially I thought of taking a road trip down the Keys for a few days. But having done so many road trips in the last few years, I decided to opt for a cruise and try something different instead. It was a good deal for a 4-day cruise and I get to visit two new places, the Keys and the Bahamas. Since this is considered an extension to a wedding trip, the option sounded great. I can’t wait to eat all the food and simply relax! In terms of planning, I need to think about buying travel insurance since I’ll be in the US and it’s the last place I would want to get sick. I could consider a single trip travel insurance  in this case since it’s a relatively short trip and a one-time deal.

If I had the choice of planning a vacation, I probably wouldn’t be going on a cruise. I’d be going to Malaysia and Indonesia! Or maybe Ethiopia. Or Mongolia But life is all about trying new things, right? And… there is always next year for the backpacking trip.

Photo Credit goes to Markus

If Paris is your choice of destination, then consider 201 St Germaine, which is situated on the left bank of the Seine. This apartment boasts 2,585 square feet of pure luxury. Every modern convenience is available, and, if that isn’t enough, you also have a concierge to cater to your every need at any time of the day or night! The Louvre and Orsay are within walking distance, as is Joel Robuchon’s L’Atelier.

Now if you really want to get away from it all to relax, and you decide that a holiday in Italy is just the thing for you, then The Belvedere Residence is the place for you. This lavish villa is situated on top of a hill in Coreglia Antelminelli in the Italian countryside – an absolutely perfect place to enjoy the slow pace of rustic Tuscan life.

This spectacular home has its own heated pool, every modern convenience you could wish for, a fantastic garden, as well as a beautiful 360 degree view of the Tuscan countryside. Although there are excellent restaurants close by, where you can sample and enjoy the local cuisine, you also have the option of having a local chef come and cook for you in your own kitchen! As with most great Italian food, all your meals will be made from only the freshest, local ingredients.

Lynette is a freelance writer for briefcases and lives in a small town called Korinberg in the Western Cape, South Africa, with her two dogs and two cats.