The most succulent Patagonian lamb grilled to perfection asada style, or huge tasty steaks. The pampas-reared animals taste a world away from northern hemisphere fattened stock. This is a stylish large modern restaurant with expert staff full of banter to guide you through the menu. You may need to book.

28 Coronel Rosales, by the river at east end of the main street, Ave del Liberador.
www.welcomeargentina.com/latablita/index.html?i=8520ec1ddc3eb176719d12ba4822f401

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If you've got some time to spare between excursions in this trendy tourist boom town, and don't fancy the huge new casino, a walk down to the nature reserve on the shore of the immense milky blue Lago Argentino is well worthwhile.

There are hawks skimming the reed tops, flamingos, all sorts of ducks and waders, geese and other water fowl. It's run by a small volunteer group and welcomes visitors as it holds out against the enveloping town. On the way back have a delicious local 'calafate' berry ice cream on the main street for a perfect afternoon.

North of Ave del Liberador on 9 Julio, and over the river to the lakeside

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Under its dazzling coloured tiled roof and ironwork is a huge array of specialty foods and preserves, liqueurs, caviar, berry jams, and some tourist tat. Wander round the many stalls, and if nothing else, at least buy a colourful string or two of chillies to take home. Take a little care of your possessions, but get stuck in.

Vamhaz korut, right by the river across the green Szabadsag Bridge from Gellert

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A tiny cosy traditional patisserie and coffee shop on Buda hill in the castle close to the exuberant neo-gothic Mathias church. After a walk round the Royal Palace or the cobbled streets and quirky aristocrats' houses, indulge in a cherry brandy chocolate and cream coffee, with raspberry torte, and drift back a century or two. Especially nice in winter, and more chance of getting a table.

Szentharomsag Uta, opposite St Mathius church.
www.frommers.com/destinations/budapest/D42331.html

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Tiny, cosy traditional seafood restaurant nestling in the old market hall, in the centre of town. Puerto Varas has lots of good seafood fresh from the nearby coast, and caught by local fishermen, and this is up there with the best.

Intimate, popular with locals and excellent value for beautiful fish and pisco sours. The coffee is very ordinary as often in Chile, so stick with the very good wine.

Market Hall, on Del Salvador and San Bernardo. 2 mins up from the lake front

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A great laid back vegetarian and local food cafe, relaxing, comfy sofas, teas, decent espresso, juices, pastries, great cake, soups, and light meals. Good place to read the paper, plan your excursions or wind down after hiking. In fact there are lots of good cafes and eating places in this up and coming frontier tourist town.

Arturo Prat - opposite the church and facing the Plaza de Armas

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An excellent microbrewery, bar and eatery in a log cabin in the beautiful Los Glacieres National Park, nestling below Cerro Torre and Fitzroy in this fast growing frontier tourist town.

After a days hiking or climbing, the dark or pilsener style beers, the honest home cooked food, and relaxed atmosphere are perfect. And in summer it's still light up to nearly midnight so you don't feel guilty having an extra glass.

Main street in El Chalten, towards the campsite
www.elchalten.com/cerveceria/index.php

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A stylish all purpose cafe-bar with good bar food, lovely cakes and pastries, excellent local brewed Beagle Ales, and low key jazz and other live entertainment.

It's all in a 100 year-old corrugated tin house on the dockfront crammed with prints and paraphernalia which tells the compelling history of the settlement.

Avenida Maipu, close to the docks
www.ramosgeneralesushuaia.com/

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Great rooftop drinks and fantastic views of historic HCMC centre from this 20th floor bar and terrace, and one of the pluses is that because you're in it, this modern edifice isn't spoiling your view as it towers over the Opera House, Post Office, Rex Hotel and Notre Dame Cathedral. Hang on to your money in the breeze for the sake of the waiters. A couple of notes we were leaving for a tip blew through the balustrade, and the waiter leapt over onto a narrow 20th floor ledge to rescue them before we could offer replacements. Good service or madness?

On Dong Khoi, the French and Americans famous Rue Catinat, at Lam Son Square
www.fivestaralliance.com/luxury_hotel/ho_chi_minh_city/caravelle_hotel

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Here in Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan, the sporting obsession is archery. Teams face each other over 100m apart and aim at a target no more than 35cm across. They are surrounded by the opposition archers who heckle and dance, shouting insults as the steel tipped arrows fly in, and leap out of the way as the arrows thud into target or ground.

A series of near misses is celebrated with a dance, and the chance to shoot back at the opposition target, again shrouded in archers. As a spectator it takes time before you can even see the arrows approach, let alone have the eagle eye and agility to leap to safety.

Elsewhere, in isolated monasteries in the hills, young monks improvise the same game with hefty steel tipped wooden darts, likewise defending the target with dancing and heckling.

In Thimpu the archery ground is below the town by the river, and competitions are on most days.

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While lots of the camps in the Delta are upmarket, there are some great community-based rough camping options. You just pitch up on an island with locals as polers and guides, and share this natural wonder with its elephants, hippos, eagles, tiny frogs and dark camp nights with a million stars. It's an assault on all your senses and as far from city life as you can get.

Etsha, on the west road, is a string of small, friendly villages set up by former Angolan refugees, and the community trust runs trips of as many days as you want to stunningly beautiful locations away from any car, plane or motorboat. Our Etsha guides knew everything there was to know about the place and how best to experience it. We went from Guma Lagoon camp, 11km off the metal road, but there are other places to be picked up or to get help arranging things.

Etsha Villages midway on the road between Caprivi and Maun. Easily reached too from Namibia.
guma-lagoon.com/
www.botswana-tourism.gov.bw/travel_agents/travel_agents.html

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If you're arriving at San Marco airport, do splash out the 12 euros to get the blue line Alilaguna boat to your nearest stop. Day or night it's the only way to arrive, but once you're there, enjoy Venice most by just walking and getting lost in the quieter backstreets, and seeing a glimpse of what's left of the life of a diminishing non-tourist resident population. Small shops, bars, galleries and markets will welcome you.

Try Arsenale or around Campo Santa Margherita and the beautiful Del Frari Church for a start. If it's raining or misty, so much the better. If it's December, the Christmas market near Accademia Bridge will warm you up. For half a euro cross the canal by shared traghetti gondala and stand like the locals.

www.alilaguna.it/
Then have a map handy for use in emergencies only

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Well-located in the town centre to walk around the markets and museum, and close to the spaciously gardened embassies.

A bit dated but a nice pool and secluded grounds. Service is good and the Panorama restaurant on top has great views over the relatively quiet and modest town centre.

Try to get a garden-facing room as the others are a bit noisy. Inevitably full of challenging history.

In the old town centre on one of the '1000 hills', 30 minutes' taxi from airport. www.millecollines.net/

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Forested Himalayan foothills, rushing rivers, Tibetan hamlets of timber houses with prayer flag-bedecked cantilevered wooden bridges, and a steep climb to C17th Cheri Gompa monastery with its temples and houses founded by Bhutan's first ruler. Sip butter tea, and picnic with the locals and lots of dogs.

15km north of Thimpu along the Wang Chu River, beyond Dechencholing, the Queen Mother's Palace.

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Kootenay follows the Great Divide, west of Banff, bought up for a railway scheme but eventually sold to the government. It's a long winding valley with fine mountains and lots of local as well as backcountry trails.

It's largely ignored compared to Banff and Louise probably because it doesn't have big hotels and tourist infrastructure. But what it does have is fantastic mountain scenery and some quirky sights like the old paint pots, iron laden clays used for dyes, and marble canyon where the river rushes through tight gorges.

The hike up to Stanley glacier is magical, and you'll have plenty of pikas (rock rabbits) whistling you on the way. Kootenay Park Lodge has 10 historic but simple log cabins and good home cooking at affordable rates. Waking up to the sun rising on the mountains here is worth any journey.

Kootenay national park, 2 hours west from Banff, follow the quieter scenic Highway 1a before turning west towards Radium Hot Springs and you're soon in the Park. Lodge details at www.kootenayparklodge.com/

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Lake Louise is stunningly beautiful, if only you can ignore the enormous and ugly Fairmont Chateau hotel and its $65m refurbishment, the car lot the size of several hypermarkets and the crowds. If you walk for an hour or two up one of the well-laid trails you might get some tranquility.

But my tip, if you're still reading, is to stay on Highway 1, just a few more miles over the Great Divide, and visit Yoho Park across the provincial border. If you can get on the parks bus (book in advance) up to Lake O'Hara, or walk the car-free 11km trail in, you will have delightful lakes and mountains to share with a handful of campers and the lucky few at the lodge built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in Swiss chalet style.

There are miles of beautiful trails and more challenging alpine routes, glaciers and waterfalls, and the odd bear. Bliss! And if you've time to spare, Emerald Lake is great too.

Highway 1 from Banff heading west to Lake Louise, good tourist office for advice on everything. But right next door is Yoho and its well worth the few miles extra

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Lots of excellent beers often in the British style locally brewed, available in bars (such as the Sport Bar on Main St) and stores to take back to the bungalow/cabin/camper. Mind the elk if you're walking back late. Burgers the size of an elk.

Jasper town, on the Athabasca River

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Cosy tea room/bistro/restaurant (mind your head!) at beautiful Cramond on the quayside of the River Almond and Forth. A great selection of home cooked local recipes, soups with home made bread, full meals or just a tea, coffee or chocolate and cake.

The stone built artisans cottage was once a cooperage for the long gone brewing pub next door. Lovely walks along the beaches and fields away from the Edinburgh crowds, but within walking distance of the city (four-five miles).

On the waterfront at Cramond, watch the boats swans and seabirds. Buses and a big car park up the hill. www.cramondbistro.co.uk/index.htm

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Little visited and close by, Arusha Park is scenic with great views of (and includes) Mt Meru, and has its own crater, forests and lakes, some laden with salts. There are giraffe, buffalo, colobus, flamingo and lots of birds, and a few hippo left in what was once their biggest home in Tanzania. Quiet and peaceful compared to the main parks.

A few miles east of Arusha on the Moshi road, lots of local safari operators will do a full or half day, or you can climb Meru on a 3 day tough trek

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Much more than the Treasury famously visited by Indiana Jones (fantastic facade but no interior), Petra is a whole hidden city later overlaid by a Roman town. The walk down the narrow siq gives no clue as to the scale of what's in store. It takes at least two days to see it all. The red and pink striped colours of the soft sandstone are astonishing. After a glass of mint tea make the climb up to the monastery, or hire a donkey or camel to get you there.

It's worth visiting Little Petra a few kilometres away with more intimate streets and cave houses. Plenty of hotels of all grades in the busy small town that has sprung up to cater for visitors, and excellant levante food.

A few hours north of Aquaba via Wadi Rum, or half a day south of Aman. Plenty of buses or tours

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