While Costa Rica wasn't my first choice for a holiday (too many bugs - or so I thought!), the country is stunningly beautiful and reminds me of how spectacular and precious the Earth really is.

Everything has its place, including the little critters. The volcanoes, fertile valleys and lush jungles are all worthy of anyone's Bucket List.

We stayed at the Riu Guanacaste which was a wonderful property with great service, delicious food and beautiful beaches. And lots of lizards, dragon flies, butterflies and other marvels of nature.

The erupting Arenal Volcano was fogged in so we went to Miravalles Volcano instead. While this mountain is dormant, it does have great hikes and zip lining which I am very proud to say, I tried - and succeeded!

Costa Rica with its friendly people and unique history is the jewel of Central America. 

Great resorts, fabulous beaches, friendly people and the Mayan history and art are simply amazing.

I'd go back in a heart beat! They had to practically drag me back on to the plane - I didn't want to leave. There are many excursions to do in the region, but two are a must: Chichen Itza and snorkeling in the cenotes.

It is worth reading up on the Mayan civilization to get a clearer understanding of this ancient culture. Once you see the ruins, you will have a greater appreciation of the ingenuity of people, hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago.

The cenotes, are natural forming sink holes that open up to form caverns, in some cases massive, that can fill with water. Great snorkeling with stalagmites and stalactites surrounding you.

We stayed at the Riu Palace Peninsula in Cancun, the Riu Palace Mayan Riviera in Playa Del Carmen and the Azul Five in the Mayan Riviera. All were amazing.

While not as exotic as, perhaps, the Mayan Riviera, Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful destination. The charming town is nestled between the lush Sierra Madre mountains and the warm waters of Banderas Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The people are very friendly and there are tons of things to do, including a must-see tour to the historic mining town of San Sebastian up in the Sierras. There are many great resorts to choose from, including the Riu's, Dreams and the old favourite, Crown Paradise Club.

The sandy brown beach is quite beautiful during sunrise or sunset when the seemingly gold flakes in the sand shimmer in the warm sunlight.

Viva Las Vegas!

I have been there many times, staying at Maxim Hotel, Luxor, Rio Las Vegas and The Mirage.

I go every couple of years or so as there is always a new resort style casino opening. Great fun even without the gambling! There are many great restaurants, clubs and attractions - some of which are free, like the Battle of Buccaneer Bay in front of Treasure Island and the Bellagio's musical fountains show.

Outside Las Vegas are Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and for the adventurous, the spectacular Grand Canyon.

Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, was a bit of a surprise. A pleasant one!

I did not know much about the country before I visited it. I found wonderful people, beautiful beaches and great resorts like the Breezes Superclub and the Sirenis. The Dominican culture is very humble and understated and is worth exploring. An island tour is a must do.

The south eastern side of the country has the nicer beaches with calmer waters while in the north, like in Puerto Plata, the waves are higher and the sand is darker. This is more suitable for sailing and surfing.

The island of Hispaniola is shared by Haiti to the west and the Dominican Republic to the east. The history of the island is quite fascinating and worth a look.

I went back to Europe for a friend's wedding.

Even though it was my fourth time, it was like I'd never been. There was something new, or shall I say old, around every corner. History is everywhere and yet the infrastructure is amongst the most modern in the world.

It is a wonderful blend of the old and the new. Salzburg, Austria is charming. With the Hohensalzburg Fortress towering above and the River Salzach flowing below, you can walk the street that Mozart strolled in his youth.

Budapest, Hungary is magnificent. Stunning architecture abounds. From the Parliament buildings to Buda Castle, the city is filled with marvels. Even the bridges crossing the Danube River are impressive. And the food!

Then there is Munich, Germany. The city itself is a sprawling metropolis, with its heart not much changed from its historic past. One of the must sees is the chiming of the bells in Marienplatz, a square in the centre of the city when at noon every day they start to chime, building to a crescendo and then falling off one by one only to go silent. I good goosebumps every time I think of it!

Nearby there are the charming Bavarian towns of Fussen and Oberammergau (home of the Passion Plays) and of course the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle sitting on a high hill above Hohenschwangau.

Just after the millennium, we cruised the Western Caribbean aboard the Holland America liner Veendam. 

We visited several ports along the way.

Cozumel, Mexico has incredible snorkeling and even a few Mayan ruins.

In Grand Cayman you can go swimming with the stingrays or just relax on the famous crescent shaped, white sand, Seven Mile Beach. For scuba divers there are many great sites to visit, including wreck diving.

While in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, which is one of the most beautiful islands anywhere, there are several local attractions such as Dunn's River Falls, Dolphin Cove and Fern Gully.

And in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay, Holland America's private island, has the most beautiful beach that I have ever seen.

The ship, like all Holland America liners, is beautiful with incredible service and great dining.

I almost had to be dragged off once we arrived back in Fort Lauderdale.

It is also a great option to stay a night or two prior to or after the cruise. We stayed in South Beach, near Miami and had a great time!

Alaska. The most spectacular part of North America. I saw it aboard the Maasdam,  one of Holland America's wonderful cruise liners. A beautiful ship with incredible service.

We sailed from Vancouver, through the Inside Passage (between Vancouver Island and the west coast of British Columbia) and up to Juneau, Alaska's state capital and home to the spectacular Mendenhall Glacier. After a short walk along the lakeshore you can reach out and touch the glacier!

We also visited Skagway and Ketchikan, one of the most charming little towns I have ever visited. Another highlight of the cruise was sailing into Glacier Bay. We saw humpback whales breeching, bald eagles soaring above and seals lounging on many of the little icebergs that recently calved from the several glaciers in the bay.

Listen to the "thunder" and you may catch the moment when large chunks of ice fall from the glaciers.

The one family trip I've done. I was more of a kid than my nephew and we had a blast.

We stayed at the "haunted" Castle Inn and Suites which is just across the street from the main entrance of the park. While it is a basic hotel, it was clean, comfortable and well located. An extra bonus was the ghost stories the staff told the kids.

Disneyland Park was amazing! The rides were fun and though some had long line ups, they moved fast and had entertainment on all sides. The Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Matterhorn, Space Mountain and Mark Twain Riverboat attractions were among my favourites.

Nearby there are plenty of other places to go and see: Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm and the retired Cunard liner, Queen Mary  in Long Beach.

Honolulu, Hawaii is the perfect destination if you want a tropical vacation with no culture shock, Canadian standards on meals and accommodations and lots of things to see and do.

There are great museums, historic sites and wonderful beaches as well as plenty of shopping opportunities. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a must.

We stayed at the Continental Surf Waikiki. A good basic hotel in a convenient location. I would, however, recommend paying a bit more for a better hotel as the price difference is not that much and worth it in the end.

The other islands, like Maui and the Big Island (Hawaii), are just a short flight away and can be visited on a day trip or longer is so desired.

So, Aloha!