I’ve always claimed to have very limited cooking skills, but as it turns out, I get frequent compliments on meals I prepare for friends and family. I’ve come to realize that having a great recipe is the key. While I still don’t have the culinary skills to create my own recipes, I do know quite a lot about travel (after all, I’m a.k.a. Travel Maestro!), so I whipped up this recipe for the perfect vacation to share with you.

Start with one portion of family or friends. The size of your portion will vary by how many you need to serve. For honeymoons, babymoons, and romantic getaways, the perfect portion size is just two. Family vacations can have larger portions, depending on the number and ages of children, and multi-generational families definitely enrich the final taste of your vacation. There’s no limit on portion size for friend trips such as girlfriend spa getaways, couples beach trips and groups of adventure enthusiasts.

Add the spice of your preferred destination. The world is a flavorful place and your options are only limited by your palate. You might choose the delicate floral notes of tropical islands or the Cajun seasoning of New Orleans. If you like your weather and food hot and spicy, add some Thai chilies, Cuban salsa, or Indian curry. To cool things down, add some Scandinavian licorice. For European flair, turn to the lavender fields of France, an olive oil farm in Tuscany, or honey-soaked Greece. Season liberally with all the cultural flavor you can pack in and savor your destination.

Pour into one or more forms of transportation. If you’re going far, an airplane ticket is likely going to be required, although driving by car may be an alternative. If you enjoy scenic panoramas and slow travel, consider a river cruise or train ride. To visit multiple ports of call by sea, an ocean cruise offers luxury service and you only unpack once. Combine as necessary to achieve the optimal consistency of travel time, comfort, and price.

Mix in savory accommodations. Your home away from home is one of the most important ingredients in your recipe for vacation. It can make or break the trip. Do you like quaint boutique hotels or glitzy all-inclusive resorts? Do you want a full oceanfront view or is a spacious suite more important? Let your travel advisor offer recommendations for mouthwatering hotels, resorts, and staterooms that suit your style and choose the very best your budget will afford.

Sprinkle with nutty activities to taste. The last ingredient is one that personalizes your recipe for vacation. Pepper your vacation with whatever activities make you happy. Adventure lovers can zip line, rock climb, and go sandboarding. The less daring might buy matching Hilo Hattie shirts in Hawaii or take selfies in Times Square. Swim with dolphins, walk the Golden Gate Bridge or try your hand at painting a sunset. This is your recipe – flavor it with fun.

Bake at your favorite temperature for the desired amount of time. Some like it hot, some like it cold, so cook up your vacation at 90° for the beach, 30° for the slopes or anywhere in between. There’s no “right” baking time for vacations, either. Some people prefer frequent long weekenders while others enjoy a periodic month-long journey.

I realize this recipe for the perfect vacation has lots of variables, so you might need some help choosing which ingredients to include to get the perfect flavor. The vacation advisors at Covington Travel are master vacation chefs and know exactly where to source the hardest-to-find ingredients. Let them help you stir up something good!