Three main islands house the majority of resorts, hotels and other accommodation: Mahé, the main island, and its satellites of La Digue and Praslin. Luxury holidays in the Seychelles provide resorts and hotels of the highest quality, with well-appointed rooms and suites, spa treatment facilities to help relax and nourish the body and mind and restaurants which provide gourmet cuisine, often derived from the local bounty of the ocean. Fine aperitifs, wines and liqueurs can be enjoyed before, during and after the dining experience.

There are few better ways to enjoy the spectacular ocean sunsets than sitting on the veranda looking out over a pristine white beach and slowly sipping an exotic cocktail. Seychelles holidays provide the peace and tranquillity for the ultimate in relaxation.

As would be expected in an ocean setting, the islands provide a wealth of opportunities to take part in water sports. Scuba diving is particularly popular as the crystal clear waters of the ocean open up a fascinating undersea world. Shoals of brightly coloured tropical fish dart in and out of the reefs and fortunate divers may catch sight of manta rays or turtles amongst the marine life. Other popular pastimes include swimming, snorkelling and windsurfing and there always experienced instructors on hand for any assistance required.

Visiting football enthusiasts love to visit the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb. With a capacity of 40,000, the stadium has witnessed many victories and only one loss for the Croatian team. The Kantrida and Poljud stadiums are also worth a visit.

Since the early 20th century, when the Croatian Football Federation was formed, many local football clubs have sprung up, including Armada, Kohorta and Hajduk Split. Croatian football games are sometimes marred by violence, with around 60 per cent of the population being divided into followers of rival clubs, Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb.

On an international scale, football devotees from Croatia form one force against all comers. A Croatian game sees many fans turning out in their patriotic red and white attire, filling the air with chanting for their team. The Croatian National Football Team is currently placed eighth in FIFA’s official world ranking table.

Five of the top places to visit are outlined below:

1.    Ben Thanh Market.
For a slice of Vietnam it is well worth going to Ben Thanh Market.  It is a great spot to purchase souvenirs, t-shirts, or a tailor made outfit.  Be sure to haggle to try and get a better deal.  If you are after a cheap, tasty, quick meal or some coffee or nuts to take home, you can get them easily here. 
2.    War Remnants Museum (Nha Trung Bay Toi Ac Chien Tranh), 28 Vo Van Tan Street District Three.
In a city with several museums, this one is very popular with visitors.  It presents a pictorial history of the American War (as it is called in Vietnam).  Sometimes the photographs will challenge the viewer and give them a better insight into this tough era.
3.    Central Post Office – at the top of Dong Khoi Street.
The Central Post Office is more than just a place to post a letter, as the centrally located French Colonial building has much appeal.  Look out for the ATMs in old phone boxes and for colourful stamps to send postcards home.
4.    Notre Dame Cathedral, at the top of Dong Khoi Street.
This is a picturesque Cathedral, opposite the Central Post Office, with a beautiful statue of Mary.
5.    Reunification Palace.
There is nothing pretty about this old building that was once a Presidential Palace, but it is now a museum with displays documenting the history of the War.  It is recommended to take a guided tour when visiting the interesting monument.

Rooms and Facilities

The hotel’s 120 spacious rooms are set in a turn-of-the century Portuguese mansion with 10 suites and 10 independent cottages. Suites and deluxe rooms have traditional Goan paintings and terracotta sculpture to complement the olive green and sandstone decor.  Set amid green spaces, the hotel has a heated indoor pool, traditional ayurvedic massage spa and casino.  The hotel offers wired and Wi-Fi internet services, satellite television, international direct dial, a minibar, tea and coffee maker.  The poolside restaurant has two live food counters featuring traditional Indian and European cuisine.  The indoor restaurant has a delightfully Goan lunch and dinner buffet.  A short stroll down to the beach also allows guests to enjoy parasailing and jet skiing in the waters of the Arabian Sea. The private beach also has active and vigilant lifeguards although the water is red-flagged just a few meters out.

The Majorda Beach resort offers the elegance of Goa’s warmth and hospitality to its discerning clientele, without the kitschy ambience of a run-of-the-mill resort.

The holiday highlight for most visitors to the Maldives is being able to see exotic fish and the coral reef life with your own eyes.  Many pelagic creatures such as sharks, oriental sweetlips, rays, and blue-lined snappers can be seen.  The clear waters of the Maldives offer enough light and visibility so that diving to see these creatures is pretty straightforward.

If diving is not for you then you can enjoy a tour of the creatures that reside in the coral reef of the Maldives through taking a passenger submarine.  This allows you to enjoy both the day and night creatures as tours operate at all hours of the day.  Passengers are treated to the sights of yellow boxfish, turtles, and yellow-blue stripped snappers and even tip reef sharks.

Visitors on Maldives holidays can see different kinds of marine life at different times of year.  The Maldives is ruled by two seasons, namely the north-east monsoon that dominates during the months of December to April, and the south-east monsoon, dominating the climate and seas during the months of May to November.

You can reach Rome by air from two airports, Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport and Ciampino International Airport.  Ciampino is served by UK budget airlines and is actually closer to Rome than the Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport.

A Roma Pass might be worth purchasing if you plan to stay for at least three days in the city.  This enables you to save on entrance fees to museums and attractions, also giving you free public transport.

If you want to shop in Rome, there is ample opportunity.  Fashion lovers are well provided for with numerous designer stores throughout the city.  There are also many independent boutiques giving you a new and refreshing shopping experience.  The Via Del Condotti is the main shopping thoroughfare for designer labels.

The Italians take their food very seriously and you will find a wide range of delicious Italian meals on the menu in the trattorias and bustling pavement cafés.  Whether it is a simple pizza or pasta dish, or the most exquisite dark chocolate ice cream, Rome will keep you coming back for more.

Combining cultures from East to West, Marseilles is home to a large population of North Africans, Spanish, Italian and other Mediterranean peoples. The third largest city in France, Marseilles was founded in 600BC, making it one of Europe’s oldest cities. It is, to this day, one of France’s most important port cities.

Terracotta roofed buildings, sunny walkways and a diverse selection of locals has led to a fascinating blend of cultures. The open air markets, which merge Provençal French markets with Moroccan souk-style bazaars, are the perfect place to see how this mix of people get along with one another and offer delicacies unique to Marseilles, such as their famous dish bouillabaisse and the beautifully perfumed soaps, which are milled in the city and scented with Provencal lavender and herbs.

Fans of the author, Alexandre Dumas, should not miss the opportunity to visit the Château d’If by taking a boat to the island prison, which held the Count of Monte Cristo in the novel of the same name.

For guests looking for luxury holiday dining, the most unique restaurant in the Maldives is the Ithaa Underwater restaurant on the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.  Serving contemporary fusion cuisine that mixes Asian and Western influences, this exquisite award-winning restaurant is situated 15 feet into the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a spectacular coral reef.  The coral reef offers a 270-degree panoramic view.  To reach Ithaa, guests walk across a wooden walkway from the oversea Sunset Grill Restaurant.  To ensure intimacy and privacy, only 14 lucky guests are admitted into the underground dining area.

The world’s first underwater restaurant itself is encased in clear acrylic, and this one of a kind restaurant is the only one where guests are surrounded by glass with fish swimming on the outside.  The flavours are proudly Maldivian, featuring traditional spices of Maldivian cooking in Western recipes.  Ithaa itself has become a top tourist attraction of the island.

The restaurant is open for cocktail hours, lunch and dinner, all served in elegant ocean themed dining ware.  Cocktail hour only includes drinks and canapés.

Firstly, any journey to and from this mountain city is an experience in and of itself.  Spectacular will not even begin to describe your assent and descent through this lush, green, undulating mountain range.  Dalat, famed for being the ‘city of eternal spring’, is significantly cooler than other places in Vietnam due to its high altitude, so be sure to pack a cardigan – not usual advice for those travelling through sub-tropical Southeast Asia.

The centre of this unique city is located on a lake where you can enjoy a coffee and watch the world go by, and even spot a Vietnamese cowboy and his horse posing for photographs if you’re lucky!  Also it is well worth taking a climb to, or even staying the night at, the ‘Crazy House’ if your budget allows, for a taste of the weird and wacky world of planning permission gone berserk in this hybrid of creative madness. 

However, the main must-do activity when visiting this city involves taking a trip to the mountains for a trek.  Be warned, it is not for the faint hearted, but if you can make it to the top of the 2,160 metre high Lang Bian Mountain, the views you are treated to will leave you breathless in more ways than one.