A Boston institution, where you can pick up a designer bargain in an oversized jumble sale. Filene came up with the Automatic Mark Down System, whereby price tags are marked with the date, and the longer an item goes unsold, the more the price is marked down by up to 75%. Simple, and hence sometimes the shopping frenzy of people scrapping over clothes, hiding items to secure a bigger markdown and getting changed in the aisles. This branch of Filene's Basement is closed for two years from September 2007, but the chain also has stores in Columbus, Paramus, Peabody and more. See www.filenesbasement.com for more information.

Downtown Crossing, corner of Summer and Washington.

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Newbury St is Boston's Bond St, a run of luxe boutiques in refined brownstones. Sonsies is where the ladies that shop refuel and meet their well-groomed other halves. There's a restaurant at the back serving pasta dishes, but park yourself at the front, where the tables face the street and watch the chic shop.

327 Newbury St
Tel: 617 351 2500
www.sonsieboston.com/

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The North End is Boston's Little Italy, chocca with delis, salumerias, bakeries, grocers, and the first Italian cafe in Boston, Caffe Vittoria. Sit and steep a while in the vintage atmosphere — antique coffee-makers adorn the windows, sepia prints line the wood-pannelled walls and little old boys suck down their espressos. Line your stomach with cappuccino and cannoli, and hum a Dean Martin tune in your head.

296 Hanover St
Tel: 617 227 7606
www.vittoriacaffe.com

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Right on the edge of the Burren, this is a four-storey medieval tower house that has been sensitively restored, but doesn't lack the mod cons - including a water bed. And it doesn't come at a king's ransom. If you really want to feel the mysticism of a place like the Burren, this is the place to stay.

Tel: + 1475 1632
www.elegantireland.ie/

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A pretty little village on the shore of Lough Corrib that has managed to retain its identity in the face of the roaring commercialism of the Celtic Tiger. It's famous for its fine trout fishing, so come in May, when the place is abuzz and local kids sell live Mayflies to the fishermen for dapping. Lots of good pubs and places to eat, and only 20 minutes from Galway City. It's a good base for exploring the area: wild walking around the 12 Pins of Connemara National Park, access to the Western Way, one of Ireland's great long-distance walks, Leenane (the setting for the film The Field), and some stunning coastline near the village of Roundstone, including Gurteen Beach and Dog’s Bay (prettier than it sounds).

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A few miles down the road from the super-refined Taormina is the much more gritty (though no less charming) fishing village of Letojanni (it's a short bus run from the bottom of the cable car at Taormina). Join the evening passegiata along the front, then take your pick from the run of beachfront fish restaurants.

We plumped for Da Nina, where a meal of fresh-catch giant prawns, squid, tuna and swordfish costs around €30 with wine. Sun set over the Straits of Messina was the pearl in the oysters.

Via Luigi Rizzo, 29
Tel: 0942 36147

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A restaurant perched high above Taormina (take a taxi there and back). Breathtaking views over the Gulf of Naxos and Etna. Excellent local food and wine. Romance on a plate.

Salita Castello, 98030 Castelmola
Tel: 0942 28180
www.ristoranteilmaniero.com/

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If you like a taste of salt in the air as well as on your cod and chips, then head to the Aldeburgh Fish and Chip Shop on the Suffolk coast. But be warned, the queues can be torture in summer (a sure sign that it's good though). Handily, you can pop into the cosy White Hart next door and wait till things quieten down. Then take your meal and sit and eat while looking out over the beach.

226 High St, Aldeburgh, Suffolk Tel: 01728 452250

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We wandered into the courtyard of the palace as a respite from the market over the road — and ended up staying. Some of the pavilions have been turned into hotel rooms, but like no other hotel room you’ve ever stayed in: huge carved wooden doors, pagoda roofs supported by gilt pillars, painted masks, brocaded chairs. Some of the Sukawati family, who own the palace, were lounging on daybeds in other salons, one surrounded by birds of prey. And you can hear the music from the traditional dances from the comfort of your room. Surreal.

Ubud Palace, Jl Raya Ubud, 036 975057 $65 a night.

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I urge you to take as many taxi rides as you can. They're much more fun and better value than any theme park ride or virtual arcade game. Basically, they weave at breakneck speed in and out of traffic, creating a third and fourth lane when there are only two. The first ride will be disconcerting and have you calling out for your mother, the second will see you addicted.

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Mercado de Triana, over the river great little market in what was once the poor gypsy quarter of the city. You can pick up lush fruit and stop for a little pick me up at one of the small stall bars.

In Triana itself, there are plenty of good untouristy good tapas bars where you can pick gambas al pil pil etc. And you can wind your way back via a few of the little bars that line the banks of the river Guadalquivir.

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Simple, clean and perfectly placed in the Santa Cruz district near the cathedral. More importantly, it has air con and is cheap (from €55 for a double). I've stayed here over the past 10 years, and have never felt the urge to put up anywhere fancier.

C/Mateos Gago
Tel: 00 34 954 211 170
www.hostalgoyasevilla.com

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Up in the newly regenerated Fountainbridge area, once home to the city's many breweries, Cargo is tucked away in a shiny glass-and-steel building with all the charm of an office block. But walk inside, and out back, and you'll find yourself transported as the bar backs onto the canal. In a nice way. It can get a little overrun with office drones from the nearby insurance companies come 6pm but during the day, it's a real sanctuary.

Edinburgh Quay
Fountainbridge
EH3
0131 659 7880

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Four tunnels carved through the cliffs lead to a secluded beach and tidal pool. Very safe for children and bliss for adults over the crowded summer. Snacks available from the cafe so you can make a whole day of it.

Open all year. July and August, 9am-7pm; the rest of year, 10am-5pm or 6pm;
Entrance fee: £1.75 for adults and £1.25 for children.

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Brilliant fun, which I never thought I'd say about a museum visit. Sleeping with mummies - of the Egyptian variety - is a much easier way to sell the kids on a trip to the museum, too, and when the lights go off and the torches come out everyone turned into a mini Indiana Jones. Dressing up — tabards in our case as it was medieval theme — and lots of activities made it a really memorable outing. But remember to take a good roll-out mattress.

tel: 0207 323 8195; www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk;
The next sleepover is a Bengal theme on Sept 16-17, 2006;
Cost: £27.50, but you have to be a Young Friend of the Museum (membership £20) or a full member to book.

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Not the prettiest part of Dorset's Jurassic coastline, but you're not here for the photo album; you want dinosaurs. You'll find tips on fossil collecting at the Heritage Coast Centre next to the beach: there's a short film on what to look for, or ask one of the wardens what to do. Alternatively, there are regular guided walks. Best check for tides before you go and rest assured: you WILL find fossils.

tel: 01297 560772; www.charmouth.org

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Corfe Castle is a story-book medieval ruin, set on a hillock above a village on Dorset's Isle of Purbeck - not, in fact, an island, but a peninsular. You could easily spend a couple of hours in the castle and its surroundings, but if the children have enough energy afterwards, you could combine it with a walk over Ballard Down to Swanage (about 5 miles, so take snacks to keep them going). While you wouldn't describe this seaside town as sleepy - chip shops on every corner - there's still something wonderfully old-fashioned about the place, epitomised by the steam railway, which runs up and down the coast, and will get you back to Corfe Castle in about 15 minutes.

Swanage is around 8 miles from Poole.
Corfe castle: tel: 01929 481 294; www.corfecastle.org.uk
Swanage railway: tel: 01929 425 800;
www.swanagerailway.co.uk

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The place to head for poseurs and hipsters, this is Vancouver’s Bondi. Canada’s largest sea-water pool is behind the beach – great for families.

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The coolest place to stay in Ibiza. Art Deco building, super-stylish rooms and a decked pool area to lounge in with a cocktail bar close at hand. Utter bliss. Don't miss the Electric Cabaret Bar at night for some naughtier action.

c/Carlos Roman Ferrer
www.hotelesvive.com

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Bill Bryson called it ‘an outpost of comfort and graciousness', and it's a fantastic place to escape to: flawless setting (on a bay overlooking the Isle of Skye), fine food (local scallops and the like eaten in the bar sitting on old fish crates), romantic rooms (the master bedroom looks out over the Sound of Sleat to Skye) and a cracking atmosphere (the ebullient landlord sets the tone). Rooms from £89 B&B.

Glenelg, Kyle of Lochalsh, Ross-shire, The Highlands.
01599 522273
www.glenelg-inn.com

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