We thought it would be a good idea to rent bikes for a day and venture out to the Palmerai. Unfortunately, after cycling what seemed like the right number of kilometres in the requisite direction, we found nothing except for dusty building sites. Our time (and money!) would have been better spent catching a petit taxi to the palmeraie, or probably better, to one of the beach clubs to relax, rather than getting stressed out as motorbikes and cars whizzed past us, churning up dust. Not recommended!

We rented our bikes from a motorbike parking spot near the Hotel Ali, which is near the Place Djemaa Al Fna.

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This National Trust site has a manor house, with attached farm and gardens which can all be visited. The farm is especially popular with kids - petting areas, a playground with toy tractors, feeding time (hear the pigs oink and squeal as the food approaches) and all the usual farm animals are there - horses, cows, sheep, pigs, poultry, goats, with a few guinea pigs and rabbits thrown in. There are cafes and a restaurant too.

8km southwest of Cambridge, www.wimpole.org

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This farm is not huge, but has a choice selection of snakes, with informative shows twice a day. It's about 60 baht if you go at the time of the show, otherwise it's free. Watch out, it can be gory if you go at feeding time. Also go here if you get bitten by a dog or snake during your stay - the Institute Pasteur on site provides anti-rabies vaccinations and other anti-venoms - bring the offending snake or a description of it if you can.

At one end of Henri Dunant road; take a short cut from Saladaeng Skytrain station across Soi Thaniya and cross Rama 4 road. Also near the subway station - the stop before Hua Lampong station.

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You will find everything under the sun - antiques, pets, plants, clothes, books, food. Get there before the proposed plans to raze it and build another air-conditioned shopping centre become a reality.

Take the skytrain to Chatuchak station. Market open on weekends only.

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La Rochelle is a beautiful port town - I recommend a lunch in one of the portside fish restaurants (Place de La Chaine) followed by an icecream from Ernest's, where you'll be faced with a tough choice with seemingly endless flavours. After a visit to the picturesque old port, walk down to the Port des Minimes, one of the biggest leisure ports on the Atlantic coast where you'll be faced with a sea of masts. The aqaurium is also worth a visit, as is shopping under the arcades, and if you have time take a trip to the neighbouring Ile de Re for pleasant beaches. Out of season is the best time to visit these places as in the summer they are both rammed with holiday-makers.

La Rochelle and Ile de Re airport can be reached on Ryanair and Easyjet flights. La Rochelle port is the town centre.

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