While driving in Italy in 2005, I briefly crossed the border into the Lugano area of Switzerland. When leaving Switzerland, I was stopped at the border crossing by a Swiss policeman, who said I had been on the highway without a toll sticker. Luckily, I wasn’t fined, but I did have to pay for a sticker even though I was leaving the country.

My wife and I weren’t so lucky in Slovenia in May 2015. Because it is costly to pick up a rental car in one country and return it in another, we...

Taking the aerial tram with Rainforest Adventures Costa Rica Atlantic (phone, in the US/Canada, 866/759-8726, www.rainforestadventure.com) was a great way for my wife and me to spend a few hours during our February 2014 visit to Central America.

Starting at Guapiles (about 50 kilometers east of San José), the tram traveled slowly eastward through the canopy for about a mile and a half, then reversed itself for the return trip. A guide traveled with us in the tram car, pointing out the...

On a round-trip cruise off of Baja out of Los Cabos, Mexico, Jan.10-17, 2015, my wife and I sailed with Un-Cruise Adventures (Seattle, WA; 888/862-8881, www.un-cruise.com). 

Their ships are small, with 22 to 82 guests. We sailed on the Safari Endeavour, which is one of the larger ships, but we had only about 40 passengers, 50% of capacity. 

All of their cruises are one week long, Saturday to Saturday — perfect for little getaway vacations, especially if you live in the Western...