The German capital of Berlin is great every time of year, but not time is better than during Christmas. Aside from some of the great landmarks of the city like Berliner Dom, Brandenburg, Gate, the Reichstag, East Side Gallery and Checkpoint Charlie, the many Christmas Markets (Christkindlmarkt) are in full swing during the month of December. Pack a coat and enjoy this great German city!

Kiev (or Kyiv), Ukraine surprised me in many ways. So many churches to see: St. Andrew's Church, St. Michael's Gold-domed Monastery, St. Sophia's Cathedral, and Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Great historical monuments like the Motherland Monument. And awesome neighborhoods like Vozdvyzhenka Barrio, Andriivs'kyi descent, and Park Landscape Alley. If you have the time, a day trip to Chernobyl is a must!

Sofia in Bulgaria possesses a treasure trove of churches, cultural monuments, and even ruins of the ancient Roman city of Serdica. Take a weekend break to check out places like Vitosha Blvd, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, St. Sofia Church, Church of Sveti Sedmochislenitsi, The Largo, Sofia History Museum, and St. Kyriaki Cathedral Church (among other places).

Let me take you on a tour of the American capital (and my hometown) with stops in some neighborhoods like Dupont Circle, Georgetown, H street, Noma, and Chinatown. Visits to the White House, US Capitol, select museums (Natural history, Air and Space, Smithsonian) and monuments (Washington) and memorials (Lincoln, Jefferson), Rock Creek Park, and Gravely Point are also highly recommended!

As the global center of banking and finance, it is quite fitting how Zürich has come to be known as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Despite that, you can manage to have a wonderful city break here without breaking the bank. The gorgeous churches of Fraumünster and Grossmünster sit just opposite one another across the Limmat River. Other notable attractions include Kirche Enge, the Swiss National Museum, the Botanical Garden, St. Peter’s Church, and Bahnhofstrasse (especially during Christmas time).

The Nordic region of Europe consists of some of the world's happiest countries. The term Nordic is often mixed with Scandinavia though the two represent certain parts of Northern Europe. Each capital is quite different and has much to offer. This guide breaks down the Nordic capital cities of Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Reykjavik, Torshavn, and Mariehamn.

Sometimes when you plan a trip, you have to deal with a longer than normal layover in a different city. This can be a blessing! I have highlighted five such layovers you can build into your trip itinerary to get the most from your trip (KLM - Amsterdam, Emirates - Dubai, British Airways - London, Turkish Airlines - Istanbul, IcelandAir - Reykjavik).

This is London. It's huge and it's full of energy. There are so many things to see in this city. Whatever you decide to do, don't forget to see iconic places like St. Paul's Cathedral, the Shard, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Soho, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Parliament, The Tate, Carnaby Street, Tower Bridge, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey, just to name a few!

Head on over to Holland come see what makes Amsterdam such a special city. Get lost in the labyrinth of canals, lined by architecturally stunning buildings. Better yet, rent yourself a bike and head on over to great places like the Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, Anne Frank Huis, Rembrandt Huis, the Red Light District, and the Heineken Brewery.

When you're in this part of the world, be sure to take a ferry from Chumphon towards the East Thai islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan. These islands together all have a little something different to offer so it's worth checking out all three. You can expect to go snorkeling, paddle boarding, suntanning, diving, and plenty of eating and drinking when you're here. Enjoy!

The northern region of Vietnam boasts the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and the amazing archipelago at Ha Long Bay. Take in the sights in the capital, walk through the Old Quarter and experience Hoán Kiêm Lake while riding a scooter through the city. Then book yourself a boat to take you for a night out on Ha Long Bay with stunning viewpoints and explore Sung Sot Cave while you’re at it.

Hoi An and Hue in Central Vietnam are (IMHO) the most culturally important cities in the country. Where else in Vietnam can you ride bicycles through the alleyways lined with lanterns and through rice fields on the city outskirts, to the most picturesque beaches? The Answer: Hoi An. Hue is rich in history as well. See it all at the Imperial City and Tombs/Pagodas that dot along the Perfume river.

The southern region of Vietnam has a massive bustling city in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), and an area lush with jungle vegetation, known as the Mekong Delta. Here you can get two massively different experiences, but just as much adventure. If you desire to go to the beach and live in paradise for a few days, then Nha Trang is just for you!

They say there are more than 10,000 waterfalls in Iceland. Though you won't have time to see all of them, here is a list of a few worth seeing: Hundafoss, Svartifoss, Svöðufoss, Hjalparfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Hengifoss, Öxarárfoss, Bruarfoss, Kirkjufellsfoss, Faxifoss, Haifoss, Goðafoss, Selfoss, Hraunfossar, Dettifoss, Klifbrekkufossar, Litlanessfoss, Skógafoss, Kolufoss, and Urriðafoss.

This road trip through the south coast of Iceland will take your breath away. Hire a car and set out from Reykjavik and stop at waterfalls like Seljalandfoss and Skógafoss, see glaciers at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (near Vatnajökull National Park), discover ice caves at Hofn and Skaftafell, and marvel at the rock formations at Reynisdranger at Reynisfjara Beach, just outside of Vík í Mýrdal.

Start off your trip in this quaint Northern Polish city by walking along Dluga Targ, the main street and pass sights like Neptune's Fountain, St. Mary's Church, The Great Mill, and the Old Crane. Don't forget about the World War II Museum as well. If time permits, venture your way to the cities of Sopot and Gdnyia to complete your tour of the Tri-City Metropolitan Area.

There is more to Helsinki than it's gorgeous emerald-domed cathedral. This Scandinavia capital is replete with a ton of fantastic cafes that give great views of the capital countryside. The fortress of Suomenlinna is also just a ferry ride away and its solitude and quietness stands in great contrast to the city sounds just across the water.

This Scandinavian capital has loads of fascinating sights to see. Start at the Oslo Opera House and also check out Akershus Fortress, the Royal Palace, and Frogner Park. Make sure you don't miss the Kon-Tiki, Fram, and Viking Ship Museums on the Bygdøyfergene Peninsula as well.