What readers did on their summer vacations

Newsday readers went on some great vacations this summer. Whether you traveled across the globe, or just across Long Island, you came back with lots of stories (and frequently a good tan). Here are some of your favorite moments and traveling tips.

ARUBA

WHO Doris Massari of North Massapequa

THE TRIP Family getaway to the Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

Catching rays on the beach was only part of the fun for the nine relatives who traveled to Aruba in early July with Massari, 69, owner of Sunset Travel in Bellmore. The family stayed at the Marriott, which has a water park and surf club. "My grandchildren went parasailing and had a great time," says Massari. "They also went Jet Skiing and tried to go fishing - but didn't catch anything." Oh, well. The rest of the week was spent swimming, shopping and dining out.

TRAVEL TIP Split your possessions between two bags. JetBlue lost Massari's luggage, which has yet to be recovered. "Being in the travel business, I did have a carry-on with a bathing suit, extra shoes and one outfit," she says. "I recommend you pack half of your clothes in a friend's suitcase and half in yours so you always have things to wear just in case."

EUROPE

WHO Jenna Brofsky of Lynbrook

THE TRIP Three weeks backpacking through Italy and Spain

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What better way to celebrate college graduation than to spend three weeks at large in Europe? That's just what Brofsky, 21, an international studies major, did with some friends. All are 2010 Brandeis University grads. The group went backpacking through Spain and northern Italy, staying in hostels along the way. "I really liked visiting historical sites and communities in southern Spain," Brofsky says. "It was too touristy where we went in Italy and took away from my ability to immerse in the culture."

TRAVEL TIP Choose the location of your hostel carefully. The friends booked their flights on Orbitz.com about a month in advance and found good deals. They booked their hostels three weeks before leaving home on websites including hostelworld.com. "Location is important," Brofsky says. "We booked a hostel that was very far outside the city and not what we were looking to experience." Brofsky also recommends that you don't book every night in advance, allowing some flexibility in your travels.

TURKS & CAICOS

WHO The McNally family of West Islip, and friends

THE TRIP A family-friendly getaway to the Beaches resort

Fun for the kids and relaxation for the adults were what Matt McNally, 40, an audio-visual technician, was looking for when he and a friend planned their joint family vacation to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort in the Caribbean. The two families spent five days at the all-inclusive resort, where their three children, ages 4, 5 and 6, played on the beach and in the pool all day. "The highlight of the trip is seeing your kids happy in paradise," McNally says. "This place is built for families." In addition to the water activities during the day, the resort had family-friendly activities at night, including a talent show and a "Sesame Street" performance.

TRAVEL TIP Go all-inclusive when you travel with children. Beaches Turks & Caicos has 16 restaurants on the resort's grounds. "We had unlimited ice cream and pizza - it was heaven for the kids," McNally says. "All-inclusive is the way to go. You don't have to take out your wallet. You can eat whenever you want, drink whenever you want and all you need is your room key and sunblock."

MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE

WHO Diane Cavallaro of Westbury

THE TRIP A seven-day cruise of the western Mediterranean

When you think of a cruise ship, you probably think of sun, shuffleboard and fruity cocktails. But when the Cavallaros stepped onto the Costa Pacifica, they were in for a week of unforgettable sightseeing. Diane Cavallaro, 49, a special-education teacher, flew with her family to Rome, where the ship departed for a tour of Spain, Greece, Italy and North Africa. "Each port was better than the one before it," she says. "We saw an ancient Greek theater, beautiful churches and beautiful scenery." Being in the English-speaking minority of the ship's 3,500 passengers was part of the experience. "We got used to hearing announcements in six different languages," says Cavallaro. " 'Signori e signore, mesdames et messieurs, ladies and gentlemen.' "

TRAVEL TIP Use a travel agent. The Cavallaros planned their vacation through an agent who took care of everything," Cavallaro says. "She arranged dinner seating and shore excursions."

ROAD TRIP

WHO Mike and Penny Greenberg of Wantagh

THE TRIP A cross-country excursion

Two months, 14,000 miles, 29 states and almost 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel added up to a memorable road trip for Mike, 67, Penny, 65, and Rufus, their Jack Russell terrier. By night the couple camped in a 24-foot Winnebago View Profile RV; days were spent visiting national parks and monuments. Favorite stops: Mammoth Cave in Kentucky; the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, N.M.; Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona; and Yosemite National Park in California. "This trip reminded us how glad we are that we can travel this wonderful country and always return to our own home."

TRAVEL TIP Meet people along the way. The Greenbergs reunited with old friends and made new ones at various campgrounds. "We discovered the wonderful nature of the American spirit," Mike says, "and learned much about this wonderful country."

THEME PARK

WHO The Wilson family of Smithtown

THE TRIP Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Fla.

Pining to buy a wand at Ollivander's Wand Shop or try a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks? Daniel Wilson, 47, and his wife, Denise, 45 - along with daughters Emma, 15, Sarah, 13, and Heather, 9 - visited these magical locations during four days at the Harry Potter theme park at Islands of Adventure in Universal Studios. "I read all the books and saw all the movies, and they hit the bull's-eye," says Sarah. The Wilsons say there were excited crowds - and long lines - at the park, which debuted in June.

TRAVEL TIP If you stay at one of the three Universal Hotels, your room key lets you access an express line for the Harry Potter attractions. "The Harry Potter exhibit was completely overwhelming - there was an unbelievable sea of people," says Daniel. "If you stay at the Universal] hotel, you get into that section of the park an hour early, and you could do a lot by the time the general public got in."

FRANCE

WHO Claudine Vacirca of Hempstead

THE TRIP An exploration of family heritage

Learning about her family's heritage while on vacation was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Claudine Vacirca, 63, who traveled with her 90-something mother, Alberte Vacirca, of Franklin Square. Their destination: the town of Vourdan, where Alberte was born and married. "We visited the church and . . . walked around the Wednesday Market that is still there from the days when my mother was a child," Claudine says. The Vacircas also stayed in a hotel housed in a 12th-century château and took a river cruise from Arles to Lyon.

TRAVEL TIP Get a history lesson as you travel. "My mother told us stories of the evacuation of Paris when Hitler invaded," Claudine says.

TEXAS

WHO Hilda Pezzotti of Hicksville

THE TRIP Nine-day trip to Kingwood, New Braunfels, Gruene and San Antonio

Two family birthdays inspired Hilda Pezzotti, 68, to brave the Texas heat in late July. Eleven family members spent three days in Kingwood, outside Houston, where they tasted Tex-Mex at Chachi's Mexican Restaurant and enjoyed poolside parties with family. Then they drove to New Braunfels, a German town known as the Water Recreation Capital of Texas. "We floated down the beautiful tree-lined Comal River in tubes," Pezzotti says. "Tubing is very relaxing, exciting and a great way to keep cool." Then it was on to San Antonio, and the Alamo. "There was this beautiful town around it," she says, surprised to discover the fort was right downtown.

TRAVEL TIP Visit San Antonio in early fall, spring or summer. Pezzotti and family spent a lot of time outdoors - tubing, walking the San Antonio River Walk, visiting shops and cafes. "Take advantage of all the outdoor activities and water activities," she advises.

INDIA

WHO Sidhartha Nathan of Port Washington

THE TRIP A spiritual journey across the subcontinent

When you travel, you feel a variety of emotions, but overwhelmed, sad and mystified are not typical. These emotions washed over Sidhartha Nathan, 25, the public information officer for the Town of North Hempstead, during his trip to India, and they made him realize that what we take for granted in the United States is often considered a luxury in India. "Traveling to India will also leave you spiritually awakened and culturally invigorated," says Nathan, who immersed himself in the changing languages of the country, from Tamil in Chennai to Hindi in Delhi. "The diversity of language, food and climate from one end of India to the other is simply staggering and undeniably exhilarating," Nathan says.

TRAVEL TIP Bring lots of water and bug spray. Nathan recommends India to anyone who craves adventure and can accept the country's mystery, poverty and wonder. Though it's hard to ignore the "suffocating heat," Nathan says traveling in India is a cultural experience.

MOROCCO

WHO The Ratnam family of Oyster Bay

THE TRIP Runi and Dev Ratnam journeyed with their son Basu, 23, and his friend, Adam Koplewicz, on a 10-day trip around Morocco. Among the highlights: Donning caftans and headdresses for a three-hour camel ride in the Sahara Desert, where they slept outside. "There were so many stars, the sky was just pulsating," says Runi, 59. "It was truly one of the most spectacular sights I've ever seen." The lone disappointment: Casablanca, the country's largest city, was "a dirty port city with a lot of traffic and skyscrapers."

TRAVEL TIP Dress modestly. Morocco is an Islamic country, so shorts and tight T-shirts aren't appropriate, says Runi. You also have to take your shoes off a lot, so wear something comfortable that's easy to slip off.

STUDY ABROAD

WHO Najee Simmons of Hempstead

THE TRIP A monthlong program in Montpellier, France

Simmons, 20, a junior journalism student at Stony Brook University, started his weekdays with class, but had evenings and weekends free to roam. He spent lots of time cooling off in the ocean - and eating out at the region's many outdoor cafes. Favorite dish: moules-frites, or mussels with a side of French fries. Among his favorite memories: watching World Cup soccer on a big screen with locals in the plaza.

TRAVEL TIP Translations aren't literal, so when eating out, always ask exactly what you're getting. Simmons discovered that the French word for "smoked" actually means "uncooked." If you indicate you want to learn, Simmons found, people will help you out.

Sylvia King-Cohen contributed to this story.