Miami to New York

Famous for sea, sun and swaying palm trees, Miami is a young and trendy city which dazzles visitors with its subtropical climate and cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Quiet, silky white beaches, excellent shopping and an array of water sports are all on offer throughout these popular Caribbean islands.

On Colombia’s Caribbean-facing coast, Cartagena is a handsome and historic city, with distinctive Colonial architecture dating back to the sixteenth century.

Puntarenas, which means "Sandy Point" in Spanish, is the capital and main city in the province Puntarenas, Costa Rica, at the Pacific coast. The oddly-shaped province has its largest section in the South, far from the capital. A mountainous country, Costa Rica ranges from sea level to peaks as high as 13,000 feet and a succession of white, sandy beaches follow one another along the Pacific Coast. The country was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502.

One of Nicaragua’s most popular vacation destinations, San Juan del Sur offers an exciting mix of local culture and tourist activities. Enjoy horseback riding, sailing and fishing along the Pacific coastline. Sail above the forests on a tree canopy tour located in the foothills behind the city or simply spend the day relaxing on the beautiful beaches.

Drive into the mountains to beautiful old Antigua, once the country's colonial capital, and discover its lovely bougainvillea draped buildings and breathtaking views of emerald volcanoes.

Acapulco is a resort destination with extensive history, a beautiful natural setting, a wide variety of recreation opportunities and fabulous shopping. It's also known for its almost perfect weather – sunshine 360 days a year on average.

On the southern tip of the Mexican peninsula that borders California, its dramatic coastline, protected marine reserves and fun-filled bars make it a popular destination for sun-kissed adventure.

San Diego is living proof that a big city can still feel like a small town. Its Spanish heritage is evident at popular sights like the Junípero Serra Museum, where the first mission was founded, and at Point Loma, which is dominated by a statue of explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. The breathtaking point is also a great spot to watch for migrating Pacific gray whales. Other noteworthy attractions include the thought-provoking San Diego Museum of Man, the peaceful Botanical Building and Lily Pond, and the signature San Diego Zoo, where rare species such as giant pandas and lowland gorillas are exhibited. Ship buffs will enjoy the maritime museum, where you can board and tour the vessels

Los Angeles is a hub of glamour, ambition and hard-work. Enjoy its laid-back beachfront living, prestigious museums and galleries, fashionable celebrity haunts and exhilarating theme parks.

Follow in the footsteps of The Beach Boys and fall in love with incredible Hawaii.

A mixture of enthralling cultural attractions and magnificent natural phenomena, Hilo offers some of the best sights in Hawaii.

Visit the entrancing Vaipo Waterfalls and Cascade Tevaipo, which is one of the world’s tallest falls at over 1,100 feet. Wander the black sand beaches, marvel at the giant tiki at Piki Vehini, or get adventurous on an all-terrain vehicle excursion around the craggy island.

Stunning, beautiful, this South Pacific atoll is a "natural aquarium," its lagoon filled with colorful undersea life. Visit the pearl farms, dive with manta rays, explore the atoll's unique winery or just choose a calming respite on a pink sand beach.

Explore the breathtaking beauty of Tahiti with its vast mountains, white sandy beaches, turquoise ocean and glittering coral reefs.

Bora Bora appears to be of another world, with pretty sand-edged motu (islets) and rainforest-covered ridges, while its fabulous coral reef is a joy to explore.

Remote, verdant and stunningly beautiful, this island is pure and pristine. Visit one of the many tuna canneries or snorkel in the crystalline waters of one of the protected lagoons. Find a fale, a gazebo where locals perform for visitors.

Explore a lush rainforest, feast at a lovo before trying Kava, or simply unwind on an uninhabited atoll without a care in the world.

Nicknamed "Sugar City," it's in the heart of the soft coral capital of the world. Snorkel, scuba, take a boat to a nearby deserted island; visit lush rainforests, local potters and orchid farms.

Stretched over a volcanic field on New Zealand's North Island is multicultural Auckland. The country's largest city, this thriving hub offers everything you would expect.

Spend time admiring the marvelous Art Deco architecture for which Napier is known. Enjoy the picturesque countryside, tour superb area vineyards and sample the vintages. Visit a huge nesting colony of gannets near the spot where Captain Cook landed.

New Zealand’s capital city is a veritable hotspot of food, fun and culture situated in one of the planet’s most beautiful countries.

Surrounded by the remains of an ancient volcano, Akaroa contrasts its pretty French colonial architecture with the rugged natural beauty.

Known for its unique fusion of Scottish and Maori heritage, vibrant Dunedin is the second largest city of New Zealand’s South Island.

From the Sydney Opera House to Bondi Beach, man and Mother Nature contribute in equal measure to this splendid city.

Boasting stunning art, a vibrant music scene and excellent food, wine and coffee, it’s little wonder that Melbourne regularly tops ‘most liveable city’ rankings.

Whether you're visiting for the day, or stopping for a few nights, this welcoming destination has much more to offer than you probably expect from an isolated Western Australian city.

Beautiful Bali is everything you imagine it will be; humbling temples, tranquil lakes, traditional villages, idyllic sands and thriving paddy fields.

Enjoy a drive through this fascinating city past the beautiful mosques with their glittering domes and minarets and the Sultan's palace, the largest in the world. Visit the Brunei Museum, a repository of Malay culture and priceless Islamic art. Or take a riverboat through the city's canals and experience its daily life. Travel into the primitive Borneo countryside to a Dayak village where warriors dance in the longhouse.

Enjoy the sights in this bustling, ethnically diverse city as you see the gold-domed mosque, unique high-rise architecture and the Heritage Village. Or venture into the interior and astonishing Kinabalu Park. Stroll past rare plants along a nature trail and through a garden of rare orchids. Or ride Borneo's last train into the lush countryside of farms, water buffalo and villages. Spend time on the glorious beaches.

Dynamic Manila never slows down, so go with the flow by delving headlong into the attractions, including the elegant Malacanang Palace, the National Museum of the Philippines, verdant Rizal Park and the poignant American Cemetery and Memorial. The walled medieval district of Intramuros is also well worth exploring.

Explore this beautiful island and visit imposing Shuri Castle, home of the Ryukyu royal family for 400 years. Enjoy the scenic countryside, the WWII memorials, the magnificent limestone caves and a reconstructed Ryukyu village where the island's heritage and crafts are on display.

A city where you’ll find centuries-old culture jostling for position next to cutting-edge technology – a fabulous blend of history and modernity that has to be seen to be believed.

Visit the breathtaking temples and shrines of Japan's old imperial capital, Kyoto, or explore ancient Nara, the cradle of Japanese arts, literature and crafts, with its magnificent shrines and temples that predate Kyoto's. Stroll through Nara Park, famed for its deer and impressive Kasuga Grand Shrine. Then travel on to Osaka and its famed castle. In Kobe, visit historic Himeji Castle, a huge edifice built entirely of wood and tile.

Visit the skeletal A-Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Park and Museum and the statue dedicated to the children who died after the atomic bomb was dropped on this city in 1945. Stroll through beautifully landscaped Hiroshima Gardens, visit the rebuilt Hiroshima Castle or journey to the exquisite sacred island of Miyajima and see the extraordinary Itsukushima Shrine.

Visit the exquisite Iso-Teien Garden and its villa, built in 1660, and enjoy its gorgeous views before a short ferry ride to smoking Sakurajima for a close-up view of the volcano and its lava fields. Or journey into the countryside to Chiran and its well-preserved streets lined with samurai homes. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of Lake Ikeda and the stunning vistas of the Satsuma Peninsula.

Discover remnants of old Nagasaki beside the modern city. Visit the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum. Or travel to Arita, home of magnificent Japanese ceramics, and tour famous Kakiemon Kiln, which continues a 400-year-old tradition. Experience feudal Japan and the natural wonders of Shimabara Peninsula with its volcanoes and hot springs.

China’s second most populous city embraces its history, future – and visitors – in an equally delightful fashion. Architectural treats from centuries past remain, with influences from all corners of the globe.

Xiamen has been a major seaport since ancient times and is known today as one of China’s most livable and most romantic cities. The natural beauty of the island and the clean environment have attracted thousands of egrets to the area. Visit South Putuo Temple, a beautiful complex built in the 17th century, and Gulangyu Island, a lovely and serene community that only allows electric-powered vehicles.

From the exceptional views across its famous harbour to the sizzling dishes in its glamorous restaurants, you’re sure to fall in love with Hong Kong.

Drink in the exquisite beauty of Ha Long Bay with its breathtaking monolithic limestone islands and famous morning mists before traveling along the Red River to Vietnam's capital city, Hanoi. Enjoy the broad boulevards, French colonial architecture and wonderful Old Quarter. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Vuon Bach Thao park where locals practice Tai Chi.

Visit the intriguing Cham Museum, filled with wonderful artifacts of the Cham culture, and famed China Beach. But Hue, the former imperial capital on the Perfume River, beckons. Enjoy its lovely temples, pagodas and imposing citadel protected by a moat.

Primarily known for its pristine beaches, Nha trang serves as a wonderfully serene prelude to the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. The almost transparent waters are warm year-round. The humidity is the lowest in all of Vietnam. And the lush, mountainous backdrop only adds to this picture of tropical paradise. It's tempting to do nothing more enterprising in Nha Trang than snorkeling and lying about the beach in the shade of a casuarina tree. However, if you wish to explore, there are several noteworthy attractions. One of the most fascinating is the Po Nagar Cham Towers, which were built with baked bricks between the 7th and 12th centuries. Of the original eight sacred towers, four remain, perched atop a granite hilltop overlooking the peaceful countryside. Another revered religious monument is the 19th century Long Son Pagoda, dominated by a massive white Buddha that can be seen from afar.

Cruising along the Mekong River past hidden villages, mystical jungles and towering mountains affords a southeast Asian experience like no other

A busy, cramped and frenetic city, Bangkok has a reputation of bombarding your senses. Centuries of history collide with a fast-paced modern lifestyle.

Explore this idyllic, forested island and its pristine beaches. Visit the giant Buddha at Wat Phra Yai, the elephant camp where these intelligent animals display their work skills and a plantation where monkeys harvest coconuts. Head to the interior and see majestic cascading waterfalls and how rubber trees are tapped. Enjoy the gorgeous beaches.

Diamond-shaped Pulau Ujong is Singapore's main island and it's bursting with colour, energy and culture.

Experience the many aspects of beautiful Phuket, from its lush landscape and gorgeous beaches to its 19th century Chinese and Western architecture and stunning temples. Visit the fascinating Sea Shell Museum, see the ornate Wat Chalong, watch elephants go through their paces at the elephant camp, and explore the unique and breathtaking Phang Nga National Park. Or just play on one of the island's fabulous beaches.

Nestling on the Irrawaddy river delta, the city of Yangon is a fascinating fusion of historic traditions, glittering religion and intriguing everyday life.

Cultural Cochin - ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’ - is surrounded by historical towns and considered the regional centre for the arts.

Made up of 26 ring-shaped atolls, this picturesque Indian Ocean nation is exceedingly romantic and an ideal place to get away from it all

Gorgeous and romantic, the Seychelles define tropical beauty. A mountain range runs through the spine of Mahé, the largest island, and scenic national parks have sprung up around it, attracting hikers. Still, it's the idyllic beaches that have immortalized Mahé and its laid-back capital of Victoria, where the Seychellois speak a mellifluous Creole patois.

The most tranquil and relaxed of the Seychelles islands, La Digue allows you to step back in time, to appreciate a slower pace, to dive or snorkel the untouched reefs, enjoy the white sand beaches, hike into the stunning mountains of the interior for bird watching.

The palm-fringed archipelago of Zanzibar lies about 20 miles off Tanzania. It's a sensual paradise of aromas from locally grown spices, vistas of idyllic beaches, and the sounds of commerce echoing through the Arabic alleyways of Stone Town. Don't miss the Anglican cathedral, built on the site of the slave market to commemorate its closing in 1873

Unique plants and animals, a staggeringly impressive landscape and inviting bays make Madagascar a must-see destination.

Take an excursion to one of the nearby game reserves or simply gaze over the surrounding waters, where you might get a glimpse of dolphins, whales and kite-surfers. The best view is from the lookout point at Alkantstrand Beach. Richards Bay is a busy port and the myriad of specialized ships will intrigue marine buffs.

With an average of 320 sunny days a year, Mossel Bay has the second mildest climate in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Enjoy walks along the beautiful beaches, horseback riding and whale and dolphin watching. Track big game on a thrilling safari or take a cruise to Seal Island, populated by over 2,500 Cape fur seals.

With its spectacular scenic views, wonderful wildlife and fantastic food and drink, Cape Town is a dream destination for any travel enthusiast.

Dine on freshly-caught fish and home-grown oysters as you explore Walvis Bay's outstanding conservation areas and its Germanic history.

Off the beaten path, São Tomé and Principe is a tropical paradise that offers lush rainforests, birdwatching, secluded waterfalls and pristine, isolated beaches. Enjoy spectacular views on a hike to the peak of Pico de São Tomé, go in search of the 109 species of orchid that decorate the landscape, or marvel at the impressive Boca do Inferno blowhole.

Wedged between a lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean, Togo's convivial, beach-rich capital of Lomé has emerged from its colonial past as pure African. For a glimpse of its history and unique Togolese art, visit the National Museum. The spired Lomé Cathedral is also noteworthy.

The twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi was Ghana's first deepwater seaport and has prospered greatly. Still, the ambiance is rather laid-back, especially in the inviting beach areas. Monkey Hill, a tropical reserve for primates, lies in heart of city. Nearby Fort Orange was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and now serves as a lighthouse.

The Ivory Coast's largest city and former capital, skyscraper-studded Abidjan curves around placid Ebrié Lagoon. Being one of the world's largest French-speaking cities, it's often referred to as the "Paris of Africa." Abidjan's more affluent Le Plateau and Cocody neighborhoods exude a palpable European ambiance.

Although the capital of Gambia, Banjul remains one of Africa's smallest cities. Nestled on St. Mary's Island at the mouth of the Gambia River, it exudes a village-like atmosphere. Spend a carefree day admiring the 19th century architecture in MacCarthy Square or visiting the landmark King Fahad Mosque with its twin minarets.

After three centuries of French rule, Dakar can't help but exude a certain French flair, especially architecturally. Senegalese attire tends to be rather formal and conservative, but the city is full of life. Art galleries are plentiful, the beaches inviting, and the views fantastic from the Les Mamelles Lighthouse.

Enjoy charming São Vicente and the amazing landscape here and on nearby Santo Antão. Stroll through town past vibrant markets and the replica of Lisbon’s Belem Tower. Visit the stark but lovely lunar-like beach at Catfish Bay. On Santo Antão see lush and rugged landscapes and picturesque villages.

Once the holiday destination of choice for Queen Victoria, the perennially popular island of Tenerife continues to draw in millions of tourists year upon year.

Lanzarote is an island destination which promises to leave you awed by the majesty of nature, thanks to its volcanic geology which dates back a mere 15 million years.

On the western shore of Morocco, 2km south of the ill-fated city of Casbah you’ll find sun-drenched Agadir. Along the coast, this popular seaside resort flaunts a golden bay and palm-shaded promenade, while its urban heart hums to the beat of busy marketplaces. Outside the city, flamingoes flock to the Massa lagoon and climbing goats perch upon sought-after Argan trees.

Follow in the footsteps of the world’s greatest explorers as you wind your way through Lisbon’s cobblestone streets. Take in the tree-lined squares, ancient castles and colourful cityscape of Portugal’s capital city.

Explore picturesque, historic Oporto and the Vila Nova de Gaia quarter, home of its famed port wine industry. Or discover Portugal's scenic countryside and visit Guimaraes with its impressive medieval castle and beautiful Braga with its Bom Jesus Shrine and superb cathedral.

Thanks to its museums, galleries and popular beaches, bustling La Coruna is an ideal location for those wanting to throw themselves into Spanish culture.

Set sail to some of the much-loved destinations of the world without the hassle of flying from London Tilbury

Although equally famous for its rebellious contemporary edginess, Amsterdam is a picturesque city with a fascinating history and rich artistic heritage.

Stroll through this 1,100-year-old Viking town and admire Rodney's Tower, still in use, and see the exquisite treasures in the museum. Visit the Waterford Crystal Visitors' Centre, where you can see how the artisans cut their famous designs. Or enjoy the beautiful Irish countryside as you pass majestic abbey ruins, stroll through quaint villages and see remnants of Viking heritage.

Head to the Irish capital to see some of the world's finest Georgian buildings, to enjoy the freshest pint of Guinness from a rooftop bar, and to learn about the many great writers who once called this charming city home.

The famous Irish hospitality and, indeed, the ‘craic’ can be well and truly found in Belfast, the riverside capital of Northern Ireland.

From the Statue of Liberty to Broadway theatres, you’re spoilt for choice for things to see and do in the Big Apple.