Cancún, Mexico

• If the resort you're staying at offers an all-inclusive option, take it! It's the biggest bang for your buck: all-included buffet or a la carte meals and alcohol (be sure to check with your hotel that this includes both domestic and international liquor and that there are no time restrictions to the all-inclusive plan). The resort will provide you with a waterproof bracelet to wear for the duration of your stay, and you're set to eat and drink to your hearts content!

• While many people think of Cancún as a crazy destination made for college co-eds, the majority of the time, the gorgeous strip of resorts and beaches is a great match for families and post-grads. Just be sure to avoid booking your trip during the key spring break weeks in March! 

• Tip well and tip often! This especially goes for the all-inclusive plan where you've already paid for unlimited food and drink. The servers appreciate the tips (they prefer the American dollar to the Mexican peso so no need to deal with those hefty service fees at banks for currency exchanges). The bigger the tip, the heavier the pour and keep in mind almost everyone at the resort will have the all-inclusive plan so with a limited number of servers, the best way to guarantee constant service is with a generous tip!

• Wear lots of sunscreen! The sun in Mexico is far stronger than New England, so lying out for just ten minutes can do just as much damage (if not more) than lying out at Nantasket for an hour. If you're up for it and want some breathtaking views of Cancún, pay $50 to parasail with a friend. If you're afraid of heights, pay $60 to rent a jetski for an hour instead.

Madrid and Sevilla, Spain

• If you're pressed for time in these two cities rich in history, art, and gastronomy, take advantage of the bus tours in the very modern Madrid and the horse-drawn carriage rides in the less modern Sevilla! Both are a great way to see the key landmarks of the cities without taking up too much time from enjoying tapas and Sangria at one of the many famous restaurants (try the world's oldest restaurant on record, Botín, in Madrid, and Casa Robles in Sevilla).

• Europeans do not tip like Americans do! Servers are paid more, so tipping is not expected. If anything, round up to the next couple of euros, but don't go crazy unless you want to.  

• There are three cultural events you should attend if you have the opportunity: a bullfight, a fútbol (soccer) game, and, of course, a Flamenco show. If you can't score tickets to a Real Madrid game, walk over to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for a quick tour! Sevilla is home to the most beautiful bullring in Spain, the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza. Tours are offered every day, so if you can't stomach a bullfight, at least walk around with a guide through the museum to better understand the importance of bullfighting to Spanish culture. There are hundreds of Flamenco dinner shows to choose from in Sevilla, but by far the best is Tablao El Arenal, right outside the bullring.

By Jamie Wilson

Jamie Wilson is a native of Braintree, Massachusetts, and a recent graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University. She currently works as an assistant editor at a publishing house in Boston.