Краткое описание: Some parts of France are tried-and-tested, bona fide ‘dream destinations’ and as such require planning weeks, if not months, in advance in order to snag the best room in the house: be it a castle, a tree house or a golden stone mas (farmhouse).

Other areas scarcely score a sentence in newspaper travel sections and as such are perfect for travellers happy to fly by the seat of their pants with no itinerary or advance booking to speak of. Whatever your budget - France allows you to spend a farthing or a fortune - travel is straightforward and generally free of bad surprises.

Краткое описание: Travel in Finland is a pleasure. Buses and trains run on time, tourist offices are eager to please and full of at-your-fingertips information, and you can get by easily enough without even dipping into a Finnish dictionary. It’s not a cheap destination, but neither are prices as elevated as sometimes imagined, and accommodation in particular can be excellent value, with hotels chopping their prices in summer and at weekends.

Краткое описание: Blessed with some of the warmest people on the planet and a genuine zest for tourism, Fiji lends itself to all genres of travel. Honeymooners, divers, backpackers, families, bird-watchers, adventurers, independent travellers and tour groups all flock here to make the most of the stunning landscape and abundant sunshine. Luxury beachside resorts and private transport cater to tourists looking for pure R&R with minimum effort. But it’s also easy to get off the tourist trail and explore the archipelago independently, regardless of your age or budget.

Краткое описание: The movie Pulp Fiction was right: the thing about Europe is the little differences. Thanks to the continent’s huge global influence, newcomers find it foreign and, at the same time, reassuringly familiar. Often dubbed a ‘living museum’, this is a place rich in history and tradition. Fairy-tale castles cast their shadows over lush green valleys and Gothic churches stand proudly amid beautifully preserved medieval towns. Galleries overflow with masterpieces from the likes of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rodin, Van Gogh and Picasso. Festivals have evolved from ancient pagan rituals. Hell, even beer drinking has a time-honoured track record, especially in countries such as Belgium, the Czech Republic and Germany.

Краткое описание: There’s no denying that travelling in Ethiopia and Eritrea is not easy going. The roads, though improving, still batter your bottom for hours on end and hotels (both budget and midrange) are known to host a flea or two. Cheap internal flights can add years to your backside’s life, but they can’t save you from everything. Expecting to see the sights between lazing in first-class hotels? Please put this book gently back on the shelf for those willing to take some doses of displeasure with the bounty of treasure these countries have to offer.

Краткое описание: Astonishingly few people can pinpoint these three countries on a map, giving Baltic-bound travellers an instant head start. Accommodation is relatively easy to find (bar the capitals in July and August, which do get tourist-busy) and is still a steal compared with many other European countries. Dining is another unexpectedly tasty experience, in the capitals at least, with many meals at laughable prices. To top it all off, the arts scene is hot, young and vibrant.

Краткое описание: Throughout its long history, it’s been a green and pleasant land, a sceptred isle and a nation of shopkeepers. It’s stood as a beacon of democracy and a bastion of ideological freedom, as well as a crucible of empire and a cradle of class oppression. The Magna Carta, the King James Bible and the welfare state were all dreamt up here, but then again so were beer bellies, Bovril and Mr Bean. It’s a nation of tea-tippling eccentrics and train spotters, of dog lovers and footy fanatics, of punk rockers, gardeners, gnome collectors, free-wheeling city traders, pigeon fanciers, cricket bores and part-time Morris Dancers.

Краткое описание: A land of magnificent World Heritage Sites and a thousand tourist clichés, Egypt was enticing visitors millennia before Thomas Cook sailed his steamers up the Nile. It was here that the Holy Family sheltered, Alexander conquered and Mark Antony flirted. Napoleon stopped long enough to pilfer a few obelisks, the Ottomans paused to prop up the great and barbarous pasha Mohammed Au, and the British stayed around to get the train system running and furnish every spare nook of the British Museum.

Краткое описание: One of the most rewarding things about travelling through Eastern Europe is the rich variety of cuisine, customs, architecture and history. The flipside of course is that you’ll encounter a number of very different languages. Most languages spoken in Eastern Europe belong to what’s known as the Indo-European language family, believed to have originally developed from one language spoken thousands of years ago. Luckily for English speakers, most of these languages also use Roman script.

Краткое описание: You’ve bought this book, you’ve doubtless got lots of places you’d like to see, but what to do now? Whether you plan your trip from start to finish before leaving home or prefer to wait and see how you feel each morning before deciding what to do, there are some things you should definitely take into account beforehand. While Eastern Europe is a joy to travel round these days compared to how it was just a decade ago, you’ll still find a number of bureaucratic hurdles, largely manifesting themselves more clearly the further east you go.