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A family’s ​hot-air balloon ride over the African savanna at dawn was a justifiable splurge. Courtesy Kensington Tours/Unsplash Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

More and more, the most exotic places in the world are seemingly within our grasp. Social media is filled with “trip of a lifetime” images from friends, family and distant acquaintances

showing off their strolls through the Taj Mahal or along the Great Wall of China. Experiences that once seemed unimaginable are being enjoyed by everyday people, all around the globe.

But not every trip of a lifetime is worth spending a lifetime’s savings on. While vacation photos on Facebook and Instagram make every getaway seem glamorous, we know we’re seeing just the

highlights, often through a soft-focus lens. So to find out what’s really worth spending money on, we went right to the source: the men and women who ventured forth with big hopes and fat

wallets. How did their trips turn out? What’s really worth spending the money on? Here’s the inside scoop.

Members only Splurges Antarctica | Peru | Caribbean cruise | Northern lights | Mediterranean cruise | First-class seat | River-view hotel room | French villa | Private island | Spanish

paradores | Michelin-starred restaurant | Cave spa | Hot-air balloon safari | Seaplane ride

Years of saving and planning can deliver the trip of a lifetime. Or not.

The splurge: 10-day cruise to Antarctica

Cost: $12,500 per person

Worth it? Yes

“You kind of have to splurge if you want to really experience Antarctica because you need to be on a smaller boat that can chop through the ice. And oh my gosh, it was so worth it. There

were about 200 passengers and crew aboard, and the crew, which included experts on the wildlife, geography and history of Antarctica, mixed with the tourists, joining us for meals, whale-

and bird-watching, and talks. Highlights included daily walks on the continent to see penguins, spending Christmas night camping in the snow and ice, a polar plunge into the frigid waters

and zodiac rides that got us close to whales, seals and icebergs. This vacation was unlike any other trip I have taken, given how remote Antarctica is from the rest of the world, and I

would recommend it as an incredible, unique experience worth splurging on.” —Judy Tierney, 58, Austin, Texas

The splurge: Eight-day trip to Machu Picchu in Peru

Cost: $2,200

Worth it? Yes

“I’m a food truck and restaurant owner, and last year I had a few weeks free coming up, so I went on Expedia and thought, Where do I want to go? On my bucket list was to go to Machu Picchu,

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, 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

The splurge: A Caribbean cruise

Cost: $18,000 for a family of 10

Worth it? Yes

“After retiring from a career of 33 years with the postal service and a second career as my county’s elected tax assessor and collector, I splurged on a Caribbean cruise for my family of 10

in February 2024. We took our two sons, their wives and our four grandchildren. The whole thing was wonderful. We spent time together and made memories we will never forget.” —Darlene Bane,

65, Louisville, Mississippi

The splurge: Two-week northern lights tour in Iceland

Cost: $7,000 per person

Worth it? No

“A friend and I signed up for a two-week tour to Iceland in 2021 to see the northern lights. We went in February because we were told that was the best month to see them. They didn’t

guarantee it, but they said, ‘You’ll see it; it’s there every night in the sky.’ Well, we almost froze to death, and 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 zero. 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