“Our family of five splurged on a two-week tour in Africa. But the once-in-a-lifetime experience was to see the great wildebeest migration, and the hot-air balloon ride we took was the highlight of that experience. We got there at 4 in the morning and saw the sun rise from the balloon. We found the wildebeests, and there were an unbelievable number of animals, predominantly wildebeests but some zebras and gazelles mixed in, all running toward the river. It was one of the most spectacular things I’ve ever seen in my life.” —Lissa Ecker, 54, Bethesda, Maryland

“I love to cook, and food is my love language. My husband knew a Michelin three-star restaurant in California’s Napa Valley that was on my bucket list, but it was not something that had ever been in the budget. For my 50th birthday, he surprised me and took me there. It was a spectacular three-hour-plus experience that included a prix fixe chef’s tasting menu plus wine pairings for each course. I even got to enjoy a glass of Screaming Eagle—it’s a cult wine that costs thousands of dollars per bottle—with my chocolate birthday cake. It was an incredible experience, just mind-blowing.” —Janet Upton, 59, Napa, California

“We don’t normally spend this kind of money on a trip, so our expectations were high, and they were not met. The room was lovely, but we could see and hear the people next to us. It was billed as all-inclusive, but when we got the menu at dinner on our first night, many items had extra charges. Even worse, although it was an adults-only resort, there was a toddler in the restaurant playing Elmo on a laptop—with the volume on! When we questioned the management, they told us the family had been coming for years and they couldn’t say no. Finally, we weren’t allowed to go into one part of the resort because Robert De Niro and his family were there. I actually challenged the charge on my credit card and got a partial refund.” —Christine Licardi, 56, Morristown, New Jersey

“My husband and I were always frugal in our travels. After he passed away, I met a woman who became a close friend. We both wanted to go to South Africa. She had the idea to fly first class, and I decided to do it. It was incredibly luxurious. I was in a pod, almost like a recliner, and I could stretch out completely. We drank champagne, had a nice dinner, watched a few movies, and then took a nice long nap. I’ve had lots of international trips where once I arrived in the country, I felt so tired I had to sleep before I could do anything. On this one, I felt wonderful and didn’t need to sleep. It was totally worth it.” —Myra McElhaney, 66, Atlanta

Costs represent the estimated charge at the time of purchase and may not include additional related travel expenses. Current prices may vary.

“Last year I had a few weeks free coming up, so I thought, Where do I want to go? Machu Picchu was on my bucket list, and I found a trip. It was a splurge for me, but it was a good deal—the cost included the airfare, the hotel and two meals a day. I stayed at a fabulous hotel, hiked every day, took tours, visited a butterfly museum, went to a soccer game and learned about traditional tea making. I got to know some people there and got to know the culture. The beauty of it was amazing, and there was a ton of history, which I love.” —Diane Butler, 56, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

“A friend and I signed up for a two-week tour to Iceland to see the northern lights. We went in February because we were told that was the best month to see them. Well, we never saw the northern lights—not once. One night we went out on a boat because the guides thought going out in the ocean would give us a better chance to see them. The temperature was 20 below. At one point the tour guide said, ‘Look, let me show them to you on my phone.’ I said, ‘No. We didn’t pay to look at them on your phone.’” —Jacquie Hume, 76, Tallahassee, Florida