I spent two weeks in Australia’s Northern Territory. From the G’day Australia conference in Darwin to a guided journey through the Red Centre. Here’s what I experienced, from a sunrise balloon flight to Uluru at sunset, plus what I’d tell any client about getting there, pacing the trip, and respecting the culture of the place.

I always knew Belize as a cruise stop - until a recent trip showed me it's a true land destination. Traveling from Tampa took two flights, a hopper flight, and a boat ride - and it was A LOT - but the staff waving from the dock made it worth every leg. From a private island with quick reef access to a jungle lodge deep in the rainforest, plus Mayan ruins, spider monkeys, and horseback riding along the way, this is a split-stay trip that proves Belize deserves more than a few hours in port.

I did zero research before boarding a river cruise through Vietnam and Cambodia, and it turned into five mini trips in one. Floating markets, a family-run incense village, silk woven by hand, a banh mi worth chasing down, and a welcome into a stranger's home that I'm still thinking about. Here's what a Mekong River cruise is really like, plus a few practical lessons for planning your own.

What 8 Years as a Travel Advisor Taught Me About the Trips That Actually Change You. On expedition travel, river cruises, and why the trips that scare you a little are usually the ones worth taking.