Of all the travel I’ve done, I can honestly say there’s never been a place I regretted visiting. Some destinations have even taken me by surprise, leaving me wishing I could stay longer.

We all have our travel “bucket list” destinations—those dream locations where we can already imagine having the time of our lives from the moment the seatbelt sign turns off. Most of the time, we’re right about those dreams. But what about the places we wouldn’t even consider? The ones we’ve already written off? What could we be missing out on?

I’ll admit, my own “I don’t need to go there” list is not short. But thanks to the Well Divas, I’ve been nudged out of my comfort zone many times to make sure their travel dreams come true. Little did I know this would lead to their travel dreams becoming mine too.

The French Riviera: Frolicking With The Wealthiest But Spending The Least

The French Riviera? Nah, I’m good. At least, that’s what I thought. I had absolutely no desire or reason to visit. But by the end of day one, I realized how wrong I was.

After landing in Nice, I headed straight to my hotel to freshen up and hit the shops. Turns out, the prices in Nice were so NICE that I could skip shopping in the U.S. for an entire year! The savings were enough to fund another trip back to the French Riviera—and a new wardrobe.

Then there were the fragrances. Y’all, they’re selling high-end perfumes for around $30, compared to the usual $300. And just when I thought it couldn’t get better, I Ubered from Cannes to Antibes, attended the Antibes Jazz Festival solo, and made new friends.

Monaco is known as the country with the most millionaires per capita. We spent a day there learning the history, and an evening having a fabulous dinner and shooting our shot at the casino. And let me not forget the private yacht party. Fab.U.Lous.

By the end of my time there, the French Riviera had stolen my heart.

London: Love at Second Sight

London was another destination I thought I’d hate. Having visited as a child and vaguely recalling a racial incident, I only went to attend a training and no more. Yet somehow, I ended up wanting to move there!

From authentic Indian food and vegan delights to fabulous tea times and affordable shopping, London had me hooked. My love for jazz even led me to the London Jazz Festival, where I had a jolly good time. Who knew London would surprise me this much?

Cuba: More Than Meets the Eye

In 2020, the ladies convinced me to host a trip to Cuba. Was it on my radar? Absolutely not. But I went, and wow—what an experience!

I wasn’t in love with the “casa,” but the Cuban people won me over. The food? Some of the best I’ve ever had. And the live music (yes, jazz again!) had me at hello. I will have to share the story one day of how Cuba turned out to be a soulful, unforgettable trip.

Take You to Kenya to Feed What?

Feeding giraffes in Kenya? At first, I wasn’t just uninterested—I was afraid. But stepping out of my comfort zone led to a moment I’ll cherish forever. We spent two nights at the most unique resort in Nairobi. Upon arrival, the training on how to not get head butted and killed by a giraffe had me a bit “shook” as they say, but the free flowing drinks was a nice touch to calm all nerves. The photos from Giraffe Manor were amazing, and now I have a story to one day tell my grandkids.

The Migration From Tanzania to Zanzibar

And then there’s Tanzania and Zanzibar. I couldn’t imagine flying all the way over there for…what exactly? But once I arrived, every single day was awe-inspiring.

From shopping for authentic Tanzanite in Arusha to dining in the home ONE THE MAT of a local family in Zanzibar, it was a cultural experience like no other. We visited three UNESCO World Heritage sites, spotted four of the “Big 5” during the wildebeest migration, and even took a hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti at sunrise.

Yes, the Tanzania and Zanzibar experience was everything.

Open Your Mind to the Unexpected

Travel has taught me one powerful lesson: opening yourself up to the unfamiliar can lead to life-changing experiences. That’s one of the reasons I like to keep parts of our itineraries a secret. When the ladies encounter the unexpected, it often results in being the highlight of the travel experience.

So, where have you visited that turned out to be a pleasant surprise? And which destinations are you ready to give a chance? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your stories!