If you are into big cities and lots of nightlife then the Maldives are not for you. If on the other hand you love beautiful beaches clear blue waters and complete relaxation this is the ideal spot.

The best time to visit the Maldives is between December and April which is the height of the dry season. However, this is also the main tourist season and prices are higher than the rest of the year and resorts can be fully booked, especially over the Christmas and New Year period. Between May and November it is still warm but it is the monsoon season and it can be very wet and windy.

Tourism is strictly regulated and independent travel is actively discouraged. It is not the place for low budget backpackers. The importation of alcohol and any pork products is strictly prohibited. Alcohol is only available in the resorts.

Those wanting to see the Maldivian way of life can visit Male the capital city and make daytime visits to island communities close to the resorts.

Resorts can be as close as 5Km from the airport to 500 km away. Pick your resort carefully remembering that you may have a seaplane connection or a long boat ride to some resorts. Some resorts have only cold water and sand floors but if price is not a problem the Maldives is home to some of the world’s finest island resorts.

Scuba diving and snorkeling are the main attraction and there are hundreds of recognised and named dive sites. Most of the major hotels have dive schools where you can get PADI accreditation.

Thailand

What is there not to like about Thailand?

Well for many people the answer is Bangkok. There seems to be no middle of the road for the city. You either love it or hate it.

Yes it is crowded and polluted. The traffic is horrendous. Yes there are some really sleazy areas. But the people are wonderful, the street food is some of the cheapest and best in the world. The traffic on the Chao Praya river is fascinating and forget travelling by road, use the river buses or the monorail.

Bangkok and resorts such as Phuket, Koh Samui, Hua Hin and Pattaya have many standards of hotels and hostels.

Italy

Culture-vulture,foodie, wine lover?

Italy has something for everyone. From the magnificent lakes and mountains in the north to Sicily and Mt Etna in the south, the country has a myriad of cities, landscapes, coastlines,food and wine to tempt and please even the most jaded of palates.

I personally love Venice, the Amalfi Coast and Portofino.

In Venice don't be afraid to wander down the little alley ways away from the overcrowded tourist routes. You will find wonderful bars and restaurants at a fraction of the cost of those at St.Mark's Square or by the Rialto Bridge.

Remember in Italy if you stand at the bar prices are cheaper than if you sit at a table and far cheaper than if you sit at an outdoor table.

If you use any form of public transport in Italy make sure that you validate your ticket in the machines before boarding and especially on the buses in Rome keep a firm grip on any valuables...pickpockets abound.Also beware of pickpockets at the major tourist attractions especially in Rome and Florence.

Egypt

Egypt is probably one of the most fascinating and diverse countries in the world. Whether you are into archaeology/ history or not you cannot help but be awed by the magnificence of the pyramids, sphinx and myriad temples.

Cairo is the largest city in Africa and as such is extremely crowded and polluted. The city itself now threatens to engulf the pyramids and the sphinx and you take your life into your hands trying to cross a road.

A must is the Cairo museum.

Try to take a Nile cruise and see the wonders of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings and Aswan. Have a trip on a felucca. Alexandria is the largest Egyptian port on the Mediterranean coast and is very European in style. If you love diving and beaches the Red Sea resorts such as Hurghada (4 hours by road from Luxor) or Sharm el Sheikh on the Sinai Peninsula are the places to go.

Singapore

Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, Singapore since independence has become one of the world's most prosperous countries and sports the world's busiest port.

Combining the skyscrapers and subways of a modern, affluent city with a medley of Chinese, Malay and Indian influences, Singapore is a prime example of multiculturalism that works.

There are hundreds of hotels and hostels to suit all price ranges and the shopping opportunities are extensive.

If you are looking for a place to spend a quiet evening or just simply chill out, you’ll be surprised with what Singapore has to offer. You can certainly expect to be spoilt for choice because there’s an extensive array of dining and entertainment hotspots here to select from. Boat Quay and Clarke Quay are two places to start.

Two huge "casino" resorts have now opened: the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World on Sentosa.

Don't miss the Singapore Flyer and walk across the Helix Bridge, take a ride on a"bum"boat,walk through the Botanical gardens, visit the Singapore Zoo, ride the cable car to Sentosa and visit the infamous Changi Prison.

Oman

The Sultanate of Oman is an Arab country in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates on the northwest, Saudi Arabia on the west and Yemen on the southwest.

Oman is famous for its historic forts which are the country's most striking cultural landmarks. There are over 500 forts and towers which were the traditional defence and lookout points to deter potential invaders.

Some of the best examples are conveniently located in the capital, Muscat. Jalali and Mirani forts stand at the entrance to Muscat Bay and date from the early 16th century.

Bahla Fort at the base of the Djebel Akhdar highlands is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has 7 miles of walls. It was built in the 13th and 14th centuries when Bahla was a thriving oasis town.

Oman offers a variety of accommodation from five star deluxe down to simple rooms, studios and apartment suites. Some of the resorts have differing standards of accommodation within the resorts themselves. A lot of them are on the most beautiful unspoilt beaches with stunning vistas.

Visit the old town of Nizwa.

Omanis are very friendly people and are very helpful to tourists. In turn, tourists should respect the ways the and traditions of the Omani.

Greece

Greece is a famous country, popular for its clean beaches and its long history. There are hundreds of archaeological and historical sites to visit in Greece that gloriously depict the country’s past.

Athens is the capital and has a recorded history of 3000 years which makes it one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is the site of the Acropolis and the Parthenon.

Its landscape is mainly mountainous and the terrain is not very fertile, except for some valleys scattered along the Greek mainland. However, Greece is surrounded by water, in particular the Aegean and the Ionian Sea. The country consists of more than 1,400 islands and islets, but only 169 of them are inhabited.

A popular way of travelling to the islands is by ferry. There are 3 sorts: the ordinary ferries and the high speed catamarans and hydrofoils. The ordinary ferries are the cheapest whilst the catamarans and hydrofoils can be really expensive.

Australia,

I live in Australia and think I am lucky to have such an choice of places to go. All of the major cities are vastly different. The climate varies enormously and I truly believe we have some of the best beaches in the world.

Also we have two of the most amazing natural wonders. The Great Barrier Reef and Uluhru.

At the moment the Australian Dollar is strong which makes this an expensive place for most tourists. It is expensive to live here..in the last couple of years prices have rocketed. If you can afford to, come and visit us. You won't regret it.

Malaysia

Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia’s top travel destinations, possessing an endless range of attractions and activities that cater for the cosmopolitan shopper, cultural enthusiast, historical buff and nature-lover.

It is divided into Peninsular Malaysia in the West and East Malaysia, part of the Borneo archipelago.

It is a nature lovers paradise with 75% of Malaysia's land area remaining forested, with approximately 60% of that being virgin rainforest.

Malaysia's National Parks offer a huge range of outdoor activities, from as challenging as white water rafting and rock climbing to pastimes as calm as bird watching and river cruising.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital city, a mixture of old and new with the iconic Petronas Towers and the newly opened Museum of Islamic Art.

The islands of Penang and Langkawi situated off the West Coast are very popular tourist destinations, whilst the island of Sipadan is rated as one of the world's top 5 dive sites.

If you visit Sarawak you can see the Orangutans in their natural environment.

There are also some cities not within these countries which are also a must for me. They are London, Paris, Barcelona, Hong Kong, New York and San Francisco.

Also I have some favourite "sites".

1 Petra, in Jordan is absolutely amazing.

2 Persepolis in Iran

3 Grand Canyon. Need I say anything about it!.

I am again often asked about the airlines I opt to fly with. I firmly believe that the standards of service on the Far Eastern and Gulf State airlines are of the highest quality. Singapore Airlines and Thai Airlines are hard to beat with the former being voted Best Airline numerous times. Emirates used to be very good but I think recently their standards have slipped and that they have been outclassed by both Qatar Airways and Etihad.

If you are going on a cruise make sure that you pick the right style of cruise to suit your lifestyle. Some of today's liners are massive catering for some 3000+ passengers. Yes they have all sorts of facilities on board, but remember that if the ship anchors outside of a port in which they are too big to enter it takes quite a while to ferry 3000+ to the shore.

If you have the budget opt for a cabin with balcony.

If you are taking any form of medication ensure you carry it in your hand luggage and ensure you have ample supply to last throughout your journey.