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Victoria Craparotta and Flavio Fabiani had a decision to make.

A British man defaced a home preserved in time at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii in Italy, where Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.

When I planned my family's trip to Southern Italy — including a stop at the Amalfi Coast — for the end of July, I knew enough to expect it'd be hot and crowded.

Tourists are flocking to Costa Rica, with visitors trying to get a taste of the Blue Zone lifestyle that promises better-than-average health and longevity.

As a travel planner, I book my fair share of national-park stays and Disney vacations, but my clients have also been loving some less advertised US destinations.

At the age of 63, I was bankrupt and in foreclosure. I had less than nothing because I owed money to a friend. All I had were my pensions. I knew I could never afford to retire in the US.

When American Airlines gate agents announced they needed volunteers to step off an overbooked flight, Susan Berry didn't hesitate to raise her hand.

When Priscilla (Prissy) Torres got engaged, she assumed she would have a big bachelorette party.

There was a knock-knock-knock at my RV door. My 3-year-old granddaughter was coming to have breakfast with my wife and me. The door opened, and she stepped in wearing her Bluey pajamas. I looked across the yard and waved to her mom.

I've traveled to Cabo — both San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas — more times than I can count to attend weddings, bachelorette parties, birthdays, and personal trips.

In 2010, my wife and I met in Las Vegas at The Little White Wedding Chapel parking lot. Fourteen years later, we returned for five days to renew our vows and enjoy all the things the city has to offer.

My husband and I have traveled with our five kids countless times across the US, Canada, and Newfoundland. We have camped in national parks and visited amusement parks.

As a travel writer specializing in tropical destinations, I've been lucky enough to have visited 30 islands around the world. Because of my extensive travels, people often ask me which islands I'd return to.

When you've done as much travel as Lee Abbamonte has, you know a thing or two about the places worth visiting within the US.

I moved to Thailand to teach English the day after I turned 24. I realized right away that I wasn't built for my native London, and wanted to create a life outside the UK.

I've stopped in 10 cruise ports, from the US to the Caribbean to the Mediterranean. I've even been to some of the busiest cruise ports in the world, such as Barcelona and Cozumel, Mexico, where I stood in long lines and shuffled through crowds to find my tour guides. 

As someone who's traveled to over 40 countries, there was one thing I never checked off my travel bucket list: flying business class. I always walked past the lie-flat seats and dreamed one day I would be able to.

Paris is hosting this year's Summer Olympics — but that's not where we kicked off the Games.

I love exploring places that fulfill my desire to get away without depleting my bank account. Eager to enjoy the outdoors after a chilly spring, I decided to book a trip to Chincoteague Island.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kayla Sommese, a Taylor Swift fan who traveled from Los Angeles to Vienna to catch Taylor Swift's Eras Tour. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her expenses.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bianca Capazorio, a 41-year-old Swiftie based in Cape Town, South Africa. It has been edited for length and clarity. Business Insider has verified her expenses.