Thailand

You could just lie by the brilliant turquoise sea, sipping a multi-colour cocktail and breathing the warm, scented air – jasmine, with a hint of ginger – or instead you could try some of the transport options here. Sounds dull? Then how about swaying through the jungle on an elephant? Or braving the Bangkok traffic on the slippery seat of a clattering tuk-tuk? Or gliding serenely along the Chao Phraya River in a luxurious converted rice barge?

Bangkok offers high-tech or lo: the futuristic SkyTrain from one modern shopping mall to another; or traditional long-tail boat through the canals where the real people live. Getting there is half the fun – but when you arrive, it’s even better, whether it’s an ornately beautiful temple, the fabulous flower market, or the Sky Bar at sunset, 64 storeys high.

In Phang Nga Bay, off Phuket, spend a day exploring the spectacular water-sculpted islands, some of which hide a fascinating secret, and visit the sea-gypsies. Then finish at Baan Rim Pa, savouring fresh seafood cooked to recipes once prepared for the royal family in Bangkok’s Grand Palace.