As excited as I am about my upcoming trips to Boston and Las Vegas, they’re not among my dream destinations. If I were able to pick anywhere to visit, I’d definitely want to head back to Europe. We were there SO long ago, it seems like another lifetime ago! And being that I’ve been able to ski in North Carolina and Colorado, I’d of course have to go skiing in Europe. Some of the best skiing is in the Alps, and if you’re going to go all out with a luxury ski vacation, you of COURSE need one of these luxury villas to stay in!

Can you imagine staying in a beautiful, traditional Swiss chalet in the Alps? How about a 5 story chalet with an indoor swimming pool, 5 bedrooms, and 5 bathrooms? It can be yours for just over $3000 USD per night - that’s the kind of place that the rich and famous stay when they go to ski, no doubt! Check out the site for yourself - it’s amazing to see what kind of luxury accommodations are offered in locations around the world, from Switzerland to Australia to Africa.

I am a big fan of renting vacation homes or condos. With 5 of us in the family, if we’re staying anywhere for more than a few nights, it just makes sense. Condos and vacation rentals may cost a tad more than a hotel room, but we save money in the long run, by buying food and making breakfast and lunch on our own each day. Eating out 3 times a day for a family of 5 cuts into the vacation budget real quick. That’s why if I ever make it to Hawaii, we’ll totally be checking out something like these Kauai vacation rentals. Remax Kauai offers rentals in all of the vacation hot spots, like the Waipouli Beach Resort, as well as other cities and out of the way locations around Kauai. It’s a great place to visit for beaches, a little bit of history, and a quieter, more laid back experience than Honolulu. Kind of close to everything, but still far away…right?

These Poipu vacation rentals look amazing - just look at the waves crashing into the cliffs. I could see myself sitting on that bench for hours looking out over the ocean, or reading a book and letting the rays hit me. The condos are located on the southern tip of Kauai and have ocean views, a pool, golf, tennis, and all of the luxury of a 5 star resort, as well as plenty of room for the 5 of us to stretch out and relax!

This is a sponsored review.

Branson, MO bills itself as a family friendly version of Las Vegas. This former small town in the middle of Missouri is now home to many shows and attractions featuring the stars of country music and the natural wonder of the Ozarks. Although I’ve never been to Branson, I imagine that it’s probably a bit like Gatlinburgh, TN, with more glitz and glam. There are hotels, resorts, and Branson cabin rentals available to vacationers. The Thousand Hills Golf Resort offers an award winning 18 hole golf course, beautiful views, and a location just minutes from all of the action in Branson. Most of the cabins feature hot tubs, fireplaces, and porches, and some can sleep up to 16 people.

You can forget about good surfing where I live. The Gulf of Mexico has wimpy waves, so you can boogie board, and you can wind surf, but you can’t actually surf on a surf board. (Except for those few times when a hurricane is coming and the wind is kicking up huge waves!)

If you want to do serious surfing, you head for the big waves of Hawaii. Poipu, Hawaii is one of the neatest places you can go. The small town boast a population of just over 1,000 people. In fact, at any given time, they’ve probably got more vacationers staying in Poipu condos and hotels than they do residents! But the lack of residents translates into a quiet, picture perfect place to relax in one of these beautiful Poipu vacation homes and find some great waves. The town features several posh high end resorts, as well as many Poipu vacation rentals to choose from. Once you’re settled into your room, had out to the local beaches and catch a wave. Poipu is located on the south side of Kauai (also known as Kaua’i) which is the leeward side, meaning sunnier and drier weather for tourists. You’ll enjoyed the laid back feeling that Poipu has to offer, as well as great beaches (Poipu Beach was named the #1 beach in the world by National Geographic Traveler!) and waves.

This is a sponsored review.