Краткое описание: It seemed like a lark. When Peter the Great built this city on a swamp, his subjects humoured the Emperor. When he declared it the new capital, they were less

But history has shown that the forward-thinking, Westward-looking tsar was inspired. Gradually, St Petersburg evolved from a swampy backwater into a modern European city, Russia’s “window to the West”.

St Petersburg has always been a city of ideas. Petersburgers incited the Russian Revolution, ushering in 70 years of communist rule. And it was St Petersburg that encouraged democracy when the tide began to change.

Краткое описание: While Sri Lanka is arguably the easiest place in which to travel in all of South Asia, a little advance knowledge and planning will go a long way towards making your trip more fulfilling, hassle-free and fun.

For the most part you’ll find that larger towns - and even smaller towns with a highly developed tourism infrastructure - cater to all travel budgets. In places more off the beaten track, especially those in the Hill Country and in the North, luxury accommodation and high-standard dining are relatively hard to find, but the offerings are usually sufficient for all but the most finicky travellers.

Краткое описание: Getting the most out of a visit to Spain is partly a matter of timing. You need to plan around the weather if you hope to enjoy the outdoors (walking, skiing, diving and so on) but avoid the crowded seasonal peaks. You may want to witness some of the country’s extraordinary festivals. Some visitors aim for a taste of luxury and gourmet indulgence: in this case it is worth planning which castles to stay in and which avant-garde restaurants to book. Whether it’s a lazy beach holiday or a strenuous cycle tour, anything is possible, and on most budgets too.

Краткое описание: Southern Africa varies tremendously; it’s suitable for backpackers getting by on packets of chewy biltong, right through to those who prefer their cocktails by the saltwater pooi. It all depends on the country you want to spend time in and the activities you pursue.

Anyone with limited time will want to plan their trip carefully, while those with more time may prefer to just follow their whims and take life at a leisurely pace, stopping whenever something takes their fancy. Remember that the right attitude is what’s most important - take precautions but don’t be paranoid, whether in Johannesburg or sunning yourself by Lake Malawi.

Краткое описание: Thai belongs to the Tai language group, meaning that it’s closely related to a number of languages spoken outside the borders of present-day Thailand. Some of these are Lao (Laos), Khampti (India) and Lue (China). It has borrowed a number of words from languages such as Mon (Myanmar) and Khmer (Cambodia). Ancient languages also continue to influence Thai.

Burmese is part of the Tibeto-Burman language family. As the national language of Myanmar (Burma), it has over 40 million speakers, of whom more than 30 million use
as their first language. The variety of Burmese of Mandalay and Yangon, which is spoken throughout the central area of Myanmar, is considered the standard language and is taught in schools everywhere.

Краткое описание: Southeast Asia sticks to you. The tropical climate is so humid that the air becomes something akin to goo. The red dust of Cambodia steals through the open bus windows and settles into the fibres of your clothes. The joss sticks lit for the household shrines in Thailand impart a sweet perfume to the thick air. The pungent stench of a durian orchard in Sumatra follows you for days. And without noticing, you’ll begin to shuffle between shady patches, as the locals do, rather than marching through the sun.

This is a spiritual place infused with the gods of past and present: the ancient spirits of the land and the family, the deities of Buddhism and the rules of Islam. In a parched corner of Cambodia is Angkor, one of the world’s greatest monuments to heaven on earth.

Краткое описание: There’s nothing quite like daydreaming about long, white beaches, long, cool drinks and long days lying in the sun. But to lose your head in the clouds and end up arriving in the South Pacific with no preparation is folly. With a good plan, you won’t break the bank every time you hop from one Pacific nation to the next, you’ll know which islands are easily accessible and which are way off track, and you’ll know where to find the best match - not just for your wallet but also for your style. We’ve outlined the basics to get you going and to help you get the most out of your Pacific dream, including tips on when to go to avoid cyclones, what to bring and how much it’s going to cost.

Краткое описание: South Africa’s infrastructure is well-developed, with an excellent network of tarmac roads, ready access to ATMs and the Internet, and an extensive selection of good-value, high-quality accommodation. Except during school holidays (when accommodation in popular areas is invariably booked out), it’s possible to visit almost on the spur of the moment. Swaziland and (especially) Lesotho have less-developed infrastructure than South Africa. In Lesotho, for example, only a few major roads are paved, and in both countries, ATM and Internet access are only available at a handful of places in or near the capitals. Yet, both countries are small and easily navigated that it is usually no problem to sort things out as you go.

Краткое описание: Slovenia is a dream destination for many reasons, but among the most obvious is that it requires so little advance planning. Tourist literature abounds, maps are excellent and readily available, and the staff at tourist offices, travel agencies, hotels, train stations and so on are almost universally helpful and efficient. And most speak English very well. Yes, Slovenia is so well developed and organised that you don’t have to plan much of anything before your trip; almost everything can be arranged on the spot.

Краткое описание: Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, this perennial stopover city is reinventing itself as destination in its own right.

Most people know about the shopping and the eating, but Singapore has taken a serious look at the subject of fun, decided that it is good, and set about converting itself into the ultimate 21st-century metropolis. And in a city for which constant change and improvement are almost a religion, decisions quickly turn into reality.