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.

Краткое описание: There’s a rich history behind Sicily’s complex character. Nearly 25 centuries of foreign domination have had a massive impact on the island’s cultural output: the Greeks built elegant classical structures, while a unique mix of Byzantine artistry and Norman severity endowed Sicily with some of the most unusual and beautiful buildings in Europe; in later centuries the Spanish topped off this exotic composition with a flourish of baroque. Sicily also has a natural beauty that’s astounding: grapevines stretch from the slopes of brooding Mt Etna to the parched landscapes of the west, and the aquamarine waters off the 1000km coastline are splashed with volcanic islands.

Краткое описание: The most dynamic city in the world’s fastest- changing nation, Shanghai is an exhilarating, ever morphing metropolis that isn’t just living China’s dream, but is setting the pace for the rest of the world.

Once a playground for foreign adventurers and socialites, the one-time whore of the Orient is now where home-grown tycoons build soaring monuments to capitalism and the locals party all night. But despite a past as evocative as it is notorious, Shanghai has dispensed with the rear-view mirror, pushed the pedal to the floor and is roaring towards its imagined future so fast that keeping up is almost impossible.

Краткое описание: Nothing is permanent in this fashion-filled, helter-skelter city that completely rebuilds itself every decade and vibrates with energy night and day. Every evening a tsunami of Seoulites sweeps into entertainment districts, where smoky barbecue restaurants, goblin-sized teashops, plush mugwort saunas, DVD minicinemas and more are stacked up 10-storeys high along narrow alleys. Seoul spreads a virtually unknown culture and cuisine at your feet.

Yes, the future has already arrived, but the past has not been completely uprooted - Seoul’s mighty fortress wail and gates still stand, as do World Heritage palaces, royal shrines and tombs.

Краткое описание:

As an old Scots saying has it, “guid gear comes in sma’ bouk” (good things come in small packages). And despite its small size, Scotland certainly has many treasures crammed into its compact territory. There’s something for all tastes, from sophisticated cities, fine food and malt whisky to wild mountain scenery and sparkling, island-studded seas. Wildlife watchers will find otters, eagles, whales and dolphins, while hill walkers have almost 300 Munros to bag. There’s turbulent history and fascinating genealogy, castles and country pubs, canoeing and caber-tossing, golfing and fishing and all-round good craic (lively conversation).

Краткое описание:

Rugged and breathtakingly beautiful one minute, flat and featureless the next - there’s something undeniably cool about Scandinavia. There’s a purity to the air, blondness in the hair and a sense of space you won’t find anywhere else in Europe.

There’s so much natural beauty in Scandinavia it’s difficult to know where to start. Iceland is a volcanic hotspot of lava flows, waterfalls and glaciers. Norway has an overwhelming coastline of dramatic steep-sided fjords and mountains. Finland is a patchwork of lakes and pristine forests. Spy on puffins from clifftops, spot whales breaching at sea or pause as a herd of reindeer crosses your path in Lapland.

Краткое описание:

Figuring out how much time to allow for a trip is the main issue confronting travellers to Samoa, American Samoa and/or Tonga. Think carefully about your priorities before settling on an itinerary. Are you happy to sit on a single beach for a few weeks? Do you have an irresistible urge to explore every hiking trail in one particular island group? Or are you interested in combining relaxed tours of the main islands with brief excursions to smaller, outlying places that take more time and flexibility to reach?

Краткое описание:

Your experience of Russia will depend very much on where you choose to go. While our Itineraries chapter can help you sort through the multiple options, the following should also provide a clearer idea of how best to spend your time. In short, those interested primarily in Russia’s cultural and architectural highlights, and those whose need for creature comforts is high, should stick to European Russia, which is all of the country west of the Ural Mountains.

Friendly Belarus is a country with few traditional attractions to offer tourists. The best way to enjoy Belarus is to sample city life but spend as much time as possible in the countryside or in small towns, getting to know the locals. Some parts of the country retain a haunting beauty, especially when fields of birch groves are interspersed with wooden villages that seem frozen in 19th-century isolation..