Lovely town to walk around and get a feel for the real Mexico away from the crowded, tourist beaches of Yucatan. Stay in the Casa Mexilio - it's quirky! (www.casamexilio.com)

We drove from Cancun on lovely straight, empty roads!

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Wonderful detective novels set in Venice. Donna Leon is an American author living in Venice and her observations of the city and her affection for it couldn't be put to better use. Her books made me feel like I knew Venice before I got there and in fact give you some good tips if you want to experience Venice like a Venetian and not a tourist. Her descriptions of food will make your mouth water!

Any good book shop.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It tastes better in Venice than anywhere else. Have it as a mid-morning ombra with cicheti (small snacks in bars) or as an aperitif or with your dolci or just for the sake of it. Best drunk standing outside in the sunshine watching the world go by.

All over Venice!

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Attached to the La Calcina pensione this wonderful restaurant has great food at a fair price, which is not bad in Venice particularly given the view here. A good mix of meals and light snacks and good for vegetarians.

In Dorsoduro by the Zattere vaporetto stop.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Get away from the crowds and walk to the Arsenale. You can't go inside, but the gates are pretty spectacular with ancient lions guarding the shipyard that was once the lifeblood of the city.

Walk about 15 minutes East of San Marco into Castello - the arsenale is signposted.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

If you want to see art in Venice, it doesn't come any better than this. Tintoretto's painting of the crucifixion literally took my breath away. This has been described as the Venice equivalent of the Sistine Chapel in Rome and I wouldn't disagree. It is a real tour de force by Tintoretto and shouldn't be missed.

My other favourite place for his paintings is Santa Madonna dell'Orto in the north of Cannaregio.

Right by the Frari church in the lovely and quiet San Polo sestiere.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

We decided to be environmentally friendly and go to Venice on the train. Not necessarily cheaper than the plane, but you travel overnight from Paris (it leaves at about 9pm) and arrive in the middle of Venice in the morning. It's a wonderful and romantic way to get there.

Visit www.seat61.com for details.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Lovely little hotel, friendly staff, quirky rooms, great little restaurant and fantastic views!

www.casalbertina.it/camere_eng.htm

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

GO, it's wonderful!! Fly to Kochi or Trivandrum - both are great to visit anyway, especially the fascinating town of Kochi. But best of all, take a journey by boat through the backwaters and drop in on village life. It's magical. And you'll never get better food!

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

It's a very moving experience to visit the railway built by POWs during World War II and which claimed the lives of about 115,000 men.

It's also beautiful countryside. Try and find time for the excellent (private) railway museum next to the main war cemetery in Kanchanaburi.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

There are better beaches and cheaper hotels elsewhere in Thailand. We were on a liveaboard in the Similan Islands for three days, which was just awesome. But staying in Phuket was a comedown.

Kata is ok, Patong is just awful - I couldn't find a single redeeming feature. Other parts of Phuket are doubtless interesting, but not the beaches in the south.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Lovely island just off the coast near Pattaya. No commercial pressures or cars, just lots to explore in peace and quiet, including the ruins of a royal palace, a Chinese temple and great views of the sunset. Eat at Pan and David restaurant.

Boat from Si Racha, Chonburi

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Wonderful restaurant on the west of the river. Not cheap, but worth every penny for the great food, cocktails, service, view and private river boat. Has traditional dance displays at the weekend.

Opposite the Grand Palace next to Wat Rakhang in Thonburi.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Just the maddest restaurant in Thailand. It's an enormous German beer hall that brews its own (very good) beer and seats about 1,500.

They serve German and Thai food and have cabaret every night - a mixture of traditional Thai and pop music. It's mostly Thais who go, and they all seem to be there to celebrate something and the whole place ends up dancing - at least in part because the staff insist on making you dance. Good if you're in a crowd, it's a truly Thai, if unexpected, experience. You'd need to book - it keeps going until about 2am.

Rama III- you'll probably need a cab. See www.tawandang1999.com/en/eng/detail.asp

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

If you do stay in Quito you must stay in this wonderful hotel. An old hacienda with beautiful individual rooms covered in murals - many have open fires, four-poster beds, Victorian baths, balconies - and delicious food including home-made bread and preserves. Worth staying in Quito just to stay here.

www.cafecultura.com

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

Along with Ostia, Antica and the Parthenon one of my Rome highlights. Amazing site with gardens, mosaics, statues and ruins of a magnificent holiday villa, theatre and baths built by the emperor Hadrian. And like Ostia and unlike the sites in Rome itself, relatively crowd free.

Get there by bus from Tivoli

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

A wonderful restaurant serving a sampler menu of delicious African food. The waiters will tell you all about what you're eating and recommend wine. And they'll cater for vegetarians.

Heritage Square

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends