For all that I love about Italy, that is largely how Nicky feels about France (ironically, 2 years ago he had no interest in ever going to France). So, while I wanted to go to Corsica, Nicky was far more excited. We decided on Ajaccio in order to make our travel easier but also because it sports some rich history and renowned coastline. I didn’t know what to expect, but if it was anything like Saint Barth’s, I knew I’d have a good time!

This wasn’t so much a “why” as it was an “I can’t wait!” I’ve long wanted to go to Sicily ever since my honeymoon during which Nicky and I spent time in Lake Como, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.

I knew I wanted to stop at another Greek island during this trip, particularly in the Cyclades. Originally I had Mykonos on my mind, but Nicky convinced me to try Paros instead since it’s much less party oriented and you get more bang for your buck. Some other options that crossed our list were Naxos, Milos, and Crete, so maybe next time!

Much like Cyprus, Rhodes was an island I knew very little about before this trip. Nicky and I knew we wanted to see more of the Greek islands given our wonderful stay in Santorini last year, and during our research we kept seeing mention of Rhodes. A little more digging was all it took to feel comfortable adding it to our itinerary.

Limassol is considered the prime vacation destination in Cyprus due to its soft black-sand beaches and abundance of luxury resorts. The Four Seasons in particular is consistently ranked one of the best hotels on the island, so for our “intermission” this was perfect.

We landed in Malta well before check-in so Nicky thought it would be fun to take me to the shopping district in Sliema, a short ferry across from where were staying in Valletta.

Nicky and I had a strategy to avoid jet lag this time around: take melatonin after the in-flight meal and sleep the rest of the flight. Dallas to Paris is 9 hours and they do food service about an hour in so that potentially gives you up to 7 1/2 hours of sleep before you land.

Loaded closets, adopting a minimalist approach to your wardrobe can offer a liberating contrast. This stripped-down style emphasizes quality over quantity, which not only reduces waste but also saves cognitive energy, leaving room for the things that truly matter in life.