I would strongly suggest working with a travel agent to book a guided tour package to the destination of your choice.

Not only would your travel agent be helpful in presenting more options than perhaps you'd come up with on your own, but the agent might be able to give you pointers to make the trip you select more enjoyable and worthwhile. Travel agents often take what are called "fam" (short for "familiarization") trips, which are, as the name suggests, to provide travel agents with first-hand knowledge of the places and services to help with the marketing effort.

The airfare, accomodation, meal, transportation, etc., provisions that come with many tour packages are almost always more competitively priced than booking the portions on your own. So you're one up as far as getting a decent deal.

Just like different makes of cars are marketed at different price-points, so are tour companies and the various types of packages they offer.

So do check with your travel agent. A guided tour package could be the ideal solution to make your first trip abroad - what sounds like a honeymoon *and* retirement trip - as enjoyable and memorable as possible.

Also, the planning process of your trip can be an enjoyable and educational experience in itself, so make the most of it by asking a lot of questions, making mental notes of alternative places to go as future trips, and having fun.

Congratulations, and good luck. Have a safe and happy trip.