There are several things I look for in vacation spots.  Beauty, culture, food, and uniqueness just to name a few.  Phuket, Thailand offers all of those things in mass abundance and more!  Add those facts with a relatively low crime rate and a shockingly low cost of living and you may have just found your next amazing vacation destination!  

     Most travelers I have met agree that one of the most unique and romantic cities in the world is Venice, Italy.  It seems to be on everyone's travel bucket list lately and understandably so due to the rising sea levels that experts say will eventually submerge it.  Man, what a tragedy that would be!  I do highly recommend you go see it for yourself soon, however I would also suggest you take a day to travel just up the lagoon to another series of small islands collectively named Burano.  It still has all the uniqueness and romance of Venice...just with a lot more color and fewer tourists.  If Venice "takes the cake," as many people say, then I say Burano must be that oh so delicious icing!  

      You know that moment when you are on vacation, but you feel like you're just ready to get home?  Well, I've never felt that way...in part because of doing my research well in advance and picking destinations like this!  Two countries, one island!!  St. Maarten / St. Martin is truly a unique experience not to be missed in the Caribbean....where sometimes after island hopping for a couple days, they start to feel the same.