Dubai is a destination that mixes modern culture with history, adventure with world-class shopping and entertainment. Catch a show at the Dubai Opera, see downtown from atop the Burj Khalifa and spend an afternoon along Dubai Creek exploring the gold, textile and spice souks. If you’re looking for thrills, you can float above the desert dunes in a hot air balloon, climb aboard a high-speed ride at IMG Worlds of Adventure or skydive over the Palm Jumeirah.

It’s nicknamed the Eternal City for a reason. In Rome, you can drink from a street fountain fed by an ancient aqueduct. Or see the same profile on a statue in the Capitoline Museum and the guy making your cappuccino. (Which, of course, you know never to order after 11 am.) Rome is also a city of contrasts—what other place on earth could be home to both the Vatican and La Dolce Vita?

Everyone who visits Paris for the first time probably has the same punchlist of major attractions to hit: The Louvre, Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower, etc. Just make sure you leave some time to wander the city’s grand boulevards and eat in as many cafes, bistros and brasseries as possible. And don’t forget the shopping—whether your tastes run to Louis Vuitton or Les Puces (the flea market), you can find it here.

From Shoreditch’s swaggering style to Camden’s punky vibe and chic Portobello Road, London is many worlds in one. The city’s energy means that no two days are the same. Explore royal or historic sites, tick off landmarks from your bucket list, eat and drink in exclusive Michelin-starred restaurants, enjoy a pint in a traditional pub, or get lost down winding cobbled streets and see what you stumble across – when it comes to London, the possibilities are endless.

<p>Swansea, on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, is a great family friendly holiday destination. With miles of beaches covered in golden sands, medieval castles, craft shops, rolling hills and world-class museums, there is plenty to do in the area. The city itself is great for kids as the centre is small enough that it is easy to walk around, and quite pedestrian friendly. </p><p>There is so much to do in the area - from exploring the fishing village of Mumbles, to visiting museums such as the National Waterfront Museum (a look at the Industrial Revolution) and the Dylan Thomas Centre. TV fans can have fun spotting filming locations for series such as Doctor Who (Swansea doubled for Victorian Cardiff in 2005 episode The Unquiet Dead). For the more outdoors types, as well as exploring the coastline and countryside on foot, there are also several companies offering boat trips around the coast. The Gower Peninsula was one of the first areas to be designated as a site of outstanding natural beauty in the UK, and as such its woodlands and valleys are well worth exploring, and the area is also home to several parks and nature reserves, including Swansea Vale Nature Reserve - an exciting scarce wetland area which comes complete with bike trails and board walks. Sports fans might not often be excited to see Championship team Swansea City AFC play football at the Liberty Stadium, but Glamorgan County Cricket Club play at St Helen's Stadium. Keen shoppers can also head straight to The Quadrant Centre and Oxford Street for a mixture of chain stores and more independent outlets. Swansea Market, which lies between the two areas, is also the largest market in Wales. </p>

A round-the-year outdoor resort, Levi is one of Finland’s largest ski centers, with 48 slopes mostly for beginners and intermediates, but also including four very difficult black slopes. There’s a full range of other winter activities as well, including snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and dog sledding.