Краткое описание: Puerto Rico is where the easygoing Caribbean collides with the slick efficiency of modern America over syncopated Latin rhythms and rose-tinted tropical sunsets. The result is a colorful, diverse and culturally unique island that is often as confusing as it is cosmopolitan. Hip funky restaurants nestle next to 15th-century Spanish forts; sprawling concrete shopping malls encroach upon fecund tropical rainforests; and glitzy casinos lie juxtaposed against some of the most stunning beaches, caves and offshore coral reefs in the Caribbean.

Краткое описание: The blanket ban on smoking in public places, will go down with little fuss in affluent fat-cat Provence and the Cote d’Azur, where the living is laid-back and easy - and wholly outside in the shade of the hot Mediterranean sun for a handsome chunk of the year. Not that the chic, avant-garde clubs and café terraces on the Cote d’Azur won’t feel it - this is, after all, where Jean-Paul Sartre scrolled parts of Roads to Freedom, cigarette in hand, and where a sultry Brigitte Bardot (a Gitanes woman through and through) set the trend for gals to smoke Cuban cigars. This privileged stretch of celebrity-studded coastline smacks of everything the cigarette in France embodies: sex, scandal, cinema, more sex and Gallic chic.

Краткое описание: Beyond booking accommodation, you can do as much or as little planning as you like - Prague is one of those places best explored at random, discovering hidden corners on your own. Getting around is easy, food is served all day (and half the night) and there are treats aplenty for budgets big or small.

Prague caters for visitors all year round, so there’s really no such thing as a bad time to visit. The city is at its prettiest in spring, when the many parks begin to bloom with flowers and the budding leaves on the trees are a glowing green.

Краткое описание: Poland is a user-friendly country that even the most disorganised traveller should find relatively easy to navigate. While a little bit of planning never goes astray, at least to pinpoint a few must-see attractions, no huge amount of advance planning is needed. Plus anything you forget to pack can be picked up in-country, and English is widely spoken in the main tourist areas.

Краткое описание: There’s no question that the Philippines is a little more challenging to visit than some other Southeast Asian countries. For starters, it’s separated from the Southeast Asian mainland by several hundred kilometres of ocean. The people of the Philippines are as warm and friendly as you’ll meet anywhere, and the island and mountain vistas are truly superb - some of the best in Southeast Asia. And with over 7000 islands in the archipelago, it’s easy to get that off- the-beaten-track feeling, something that’s getting harder to do in most other parts of Southeast Asia.

Краткое описание: First things first - Western Australia is huge. Decide what you really want to see and then plan just how you’re going to manage visiting it. While it’s an easy destination to travel through, underestimating the distances between highlights can leave you feeling as if you’ve driven a stage of a car rally every day, with ridiculously long road trains (semitrailer trucks towing several trailers) and errant wildlife thrown in for good measure. Western Australia is a friendly state that ambles along at a relaxed pace - it’s best to do the same.

Краткое описание: Well informed, eloquent and oh-so-romantic, the “City of Light” is a philosopher, a poet, a crooner. As it always has been, Paris is a million different things to a million different people.

Paris has all but exhausted the superlatives that can reasonably be applied to any city. Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower - at sunrise, at sunset, at night - have been described countless times, as have the Seine and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between the Left and Right Banks. But what writers have been unable to capture is the grandness and even the magic.

Краткое описание: Travelling in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands can be challenging. With almost no tourism infrastructure and limited information available in books and on web- sites, it can feel like you’re stepping into the great unknown. But this is exactly why travellers find these places so compelling. Nothing is contrived for tourists and every experience is authentic. The striking natural beauty and myriad complex cultures offer some riveting and truly life-affirming experiences.

Краткое описание: Traveling is all about spontaneity, and plenty of people jump on the plane to Panama without making a single plan. However, although Panama is a fine country for spontaneous adventuring, you’ll get more out of your trip if you do a bit of planning before you go.

For starters, there are a few destinations in Panama where advance reservations are a good idea. This is especially true for the Comarca de Kuna Yala, where the demand for flights far exceeds the supply. Fortunately, you can book your outbound and inbound flights in advance. Advance reservations for Isla Barro Colorado, an outpost for the Smithsonian’s Tropical Research Institute (STRI), are also necessary.

Краткое описание: Tell your neighbour you’re off to the Arabian Peninsula for a holiday and they’ll probably think you have a death wish. Many people think of the Peninsula under the generic term ‘Middle East’ and immediately assume that it’s virtually a no-go area. For the most part, however, this is not the case. Even in countries that continue to give the visitor cause for concern and where it’s imperative to check with your embassy before travelling (namely, Saudi and Yemen), there is an overwhelming determination to increase tourism.