When it comes to vacations, I must admit, I’m pretty spoiled. I live on the beach in a place with mild, spring-like weather that many people dream of visiting. My hometown is Paris, the world’s most visited city. So when we decided to spend New Year’s on a tropical island in Belize, a well-loved honeymoon spot close to the world’s second-largest barrier reef, I was excited but not overly impressed. You see, back home, I run a guest house where people happily pay $100 a night to live like I do for a day.

In Belize, I experienced things from a different perspective: that of a permanent resident of a holiday destination. I noticed the inexpensive, temporary setups meant for tourists, designed to be closed half the year while the owners try to make enough money during the peak season to last all year. I’ve always disliked how holiday spots do this, charging exorbitant prices just to sustain them for the entire year.

While prices might seem reasonable to tourists from the US or Europe, living in a neighboring country gives me a good sense of actual costs, and it’s frustrating to be charged five times the usual amount.

Still, I tried to make the most of it. I went for early morning runs around the island, which was nice, but I expected sandy beaches and instead found mostly docks like the ones at home. The water was dirty, and being the sea, you had to shower off the salt afterward – unlike the clear water at home. We also had to rush to breakfast to avoid the morning crowd, while at home, we eat whenever we like with a stunning lake view.

This trip made me realize how fortunate I am to have my own beach and little paradise. But when it comes to choosing our next vacation spot, I’m at a loss. I prefer staying home now. I used to enjoy budget travel, eating market food, and camping, but after spending three days in Belize, which cost more than two weeks on the road, I didn’t see the value in it. I get better quality at home.

Since I know I’ll want to travel again eventually, here are some possible destinations:

1. Skiing: I haven’t skied in a while, and it would be a nice change from my usual environment. Snow sports are fun, and it’s a healthy way to spend a vacation, coming back tired but refreshed from the fresh air.

2. Somewhere Cold: Whenever I go to Guatemala City, the temperature drops about 10 degrees Celsius (30°F), which feels great. I’d like to visit a colder place, not too cold unless there’s skiing, somewhere I can enjoy a warm duvet at night and a sweater by day.

3. A City Break: I enjoyed going to Miami since we could shop for things not available or overpriced in Guatemala (like 100% cotton underwear and a new laptop). Spending two weeks in one city after traveling around Europe for six months, changing cities every few days, was nice. We’ve talked about visiting New York and Boston.

4. A European Road Trip: I could visit family, then take my motorcycle and ride around. I miss biking, and there are so many cool cities to see in Europe. We’ve talked about Ireland and Scotland, though I prefer Spain or Southern Italy.

5. A Diving Trip: If we head back to the beach, diving would keep me entertained. Maybe I’ll pass another PADI exam and dive twice a day. If not, I’ll stick with my lake, thank you.

Now, after getting a bit annoyed with me for being spoiled, do you think you’d get bored living by the beach all year round? Would you consider swapping houses with me?