According to TripsToDiscover.com, the Las Alamandas Hotel in Mexico is undoubtedly in the “secluded” section of vacation destinations. While the coastal area along the Pacific Ocean is home to a 16-room resort, getting there proves to be a bit of a planning process. The article states that guests can either fly into one of two airports then make a two-hour drive to “The Virgin Coast” or charter an airplane to take you to the resort’s landing strip. If warm weather is your thing but something a bit more exotic is also desired, then a trip to Four Seasons Golden Triangle in Thailand is in order. Tents, paddle fans and elephant rides all await, according to the article, but you’ll need to “take a 75-minute flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai followed by a four-hour scenic drive passing dozens of hill-tribe villages as well as a brief long-tail boat ride down the Ruak River.” Andrew M. Berke says that such travel obligations are par for the course when you want to arrive at far-flung destinations. For those who’d like to stay a little closer to home, the remote resort of Amangiri in Utah is still a domestic destination. A desert hike through “fiery-red rock canyons” will be on the itinerary after a flight to the nearest municipal airport then two-plus-hour drive.

Andrew Berke knows that these locations may seem like a tall order for some, but accomplished travelers should find each of them manageable with a bit of planning. This includes shopping for airline tickets weeks ahead of time, booking passes for the vehicle transportation that’s required and learning a bit about the local customs and language you’re about to be surrounded by.

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The first question many travelers will ask is, “How much is this going to cost me?” A fair point, says travel expert Andrew M. Berke, as the vacationer is about to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on the upcoming trip. According to the AARP, you could pay anywhere between $25 for guidance on a weekend getaway or upwards of $150 for week-long planning of an overseas excursion. The next question Andrew M. Berke hears often is, “What services do I get by hiring a travel agent.” Typically, these experts can provide you with suggested locations to visit, knowledge about when the best time to travel is, act as a go-between for advance lodging and transportation booking and generally be a wealth of knowledge. As Kathy Sudeikis, a Kansas City-based travel agent told the AARP, “We know if there’s going to be snow in Turkey or a strike in France … We proactively react and rearrange flights and hotels.”

Therein lies the rub for many travelers: Hiccups happen along the way but only those who know where to look will be prepared in advance. “How could you be expected to know about a rail line in France going on strike when you’re busy taking public transportation here at home to your job,” Andrew M. Berke said. According to the article, additional benefits of a travel agent include being able to re-book canceled flights or trains. For those who’ve been stranded at home or abroad – and suddenly faced with the fear of a crumbling carefully-planned itinerary, a shoulder to lean on back home could prove indispensable.

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According to The Boston Globe, weather conditions over the past three seasons of late 2016 and early 2017 have helped create the perfect setting for fall foliage in the New England region. Former meteorologist Jim Salge told the newspaper that a sharp decline in the recent warm temperatures that have been seen across the northeast — as well as dissipation of any lingering cloud cover — would further benefit the leaves changing colors. In recent years, the Associated Press reports that tourists to the New England region spent a combined $3 billion during their trips. According to travel guide Andrew M. Berke, this is a testament to the offerings that Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and more have to offer. Best of all, the peak foliage season is in late October so those considering taking time off from work still have the chance to catch the vibrant  colors that populate millions of maple trees across the region.

According to USA Today, the seasonal perks of fall travel extend to more than sight-seeing in New England. For example, temperatures in sunny San Diego, California will hit the 70s at most and the typical number of tourists who flock to Washington D.C. taper off considerably come September, October and November. Regarding San Diego, a fall visit means you won’t have to suffer summer temperatures that typically top out at closer to 80 degrees during the hottest months. Therefore, travel expert Andrew M. Berke says those mulling a trip to the West Coast should then visit the San Diego Zoo or Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum without having to worry about keeping young ones comfortable in sweltering heat. Those mulling a trip to this country’s capital will join the ranks of 20 million other domestic tourists who visited in 2016, according to the Washington Business Journal, and spent a combined $7.3 billion while there. According to travel expert Andrew M. Berke, the above attractions prove that domestic travel during the fall is a great way to getaway without having to cross continents.

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Eat like a local: They’re not called “Belgian” waffles for nothing, you know. The breakfast staple was first introduced to America during the 1964-1965 World’s Fair in New York City. While it’s typically served plain or with a little whipped cream, the Americanized offerings are decidedly more decadent. While the title and homeland is up for debate among locals, “French” fries are believed to have first been prepared in Belgium’s Meuse Valley.

The world wars: While some areas of Belgium escaped the great armed conflicts of the 20th Century relatively unscathed, other regions were witness to the most brutal fighting seen in either war. The areas near Flanders and Ypres remained in the crosshairs of both German and Allied powers during World War I. The impact of this fighting, and the casualties sustained, would inspire the “In Flanders Field” poem written in 1915 by Canadian physician and soldier John McCrae. Twenty nine years later, Allied and Axis forces would again do battle in Belgium, this time in the county’s Ardennes region. Travel guide Andy Berke says the area is now home to cemeteries and monuments marking the 1944 engagements in the waning months of World War II.

“Venice of the North”: While this title is also open to debate, the city of Bruges is awash in waterways and canals for tourists to take to and relax on. The majority of boat tours will take passengers past the major landmarks of the city, which is home to only about 118,000 residents, says travel guide Andy Berke. The medieval architecture that stretches across the city includes the Church of Our Lady, which was first built in 1270 and features the second-highest brick tower, at 377 feet, in the world.

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