Newly opened by an extremely friendly mother and son team, is one of the finest gelaterie in Sardinia, if not all Italy. A large range of flavours are available and reasonable prices, and unlike many ice cream parlours, you really can taste the ingredients in every flavour, from fresh fruit to rich dark chocolate and Italian coffee.

Its location on a pretty little square in the heart of Cagliari only adds to its appeal, with various spots to perch and enjoy your gelato right outside.

Piazzetta Savoia, Marina, Cagliari - just 2 minutes walk from the main Largo Carlo Felice and Piazza Yenne

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Less than an hour by bus or car from Cagliari and Sardinia's celebrated coastline, the Monti dei Setti Fratelli show a completely different side to this beautiful Mediterranean island.

Lush, forested slopes laced with a network of footpaths afford stunning views over scenes straight out of rainforest documentaries. There are walks and hikes for all abilities, and ample shade prevents the threat of heat exhaustion. A refreshing break from sunbathing.

Monti dei Setti Fratelli National Park, between Cagliari and Muravera in south-eastern Sardinia.

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The Bay Area has numerous beautiful panoramas to appeal to even the most cynical visitor, but Indian Rock in Albany, next to Berkeley, offers perhaps the most spectacular views of the Bay - in fact, the views are up there with the best in the world. Its location in the middle of leafy suburbia, far away from any other major tourist draws does make it something of an effort to get to. But it also means that, a few locals aside, you'll have the place pretty much to yourself a lot of the time. And believe me, it is worth the effort. Directly opposite the Golden Gate Bridge, the view from Indian Rock encompasses almost the entire Bay Area. The shimmering skyscrapers of downtown San Francisco, the gridiron of the East Bay (mesmerisingly illuminated at night), the waters of the Bay, the far-off glistening Pacific, the coastal mountains including the forest-clad hills of Marin County. A world-beating feast for the eyes that you can hardly believe. Come and witness the spectacular sunsets and have your breath taken away. The memories will last a lifetime.

A couple of miles north of downtown Berkeley, a car is the best way to get there, as it's more than half an hour's walk from North Berkeley or El Cerrito bart station. Indian Rock Park, 950 Indian Rock Ave, Albany, CA.

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In the middle of the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside, the twin attractions of this world heritage site are the perfect day out. The beautiful ruins of the cistercian abbey are a lovely walk from the lake and gardens of Studley Royal with its rolling deer park. Indulge your inner Regency bourgeois.

Fountain's Abbey, Studley Royal, North Yorkshire. A few miles west of Ripon, or 10 miles north of Harrogate (30 from Leeds). Off the B6265 and close to the A61.

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Slap bang in the centre of Madrid near to many of the major attractions, the old town, main shopping areas and a block from the Plaza Mayor is 100 Montaditos. It's your best bet for cheap lunch on the run in the city. Take a ticket and wait for your turn to order from the extensive menu of bocadillos (small Spanish sandwiches), starting from just a Euro, there's something for all tastes.

Calle Mayor 22, 5 mins from the Sol metro station

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A bus from the centre of Marseille will take you to the head of the trails (through some unsalubrious bainlieues) that lead over craggy limestone peaks to one of the Mediterranean's most beautiful coastal features, the calanques. A little under an hour's walk will lead you to beautiful Sormiou and Morgiou, with pint sized beaches and tiny hamlets sandwiched between dramatic cliffs strewn with shrubs, cedars and maritime pines. The water is crystal clear and sheltered so that it is calmer and warmer than the open sea. On summer weekends, the calanques can get busy with daytrippers, but the rest of the time they are a picturesque treat to enjoy with only a few other people. There are other calanques more easily accessed by boat or from the neighbouring town of Cassis.

Calanque de Sormiou and Calanque de Morgiou, south of Marseille. You can drive the whole way along winding, precipitous, unpaved roads, but as the weather is usually good, it's best to walk - though remember to bring lots of water in summer time! Buses no22 & 23 run to Morgiou and Sormiou respectively from the Rond Point du Prado metro stop.

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Idyllic Elafonisi is the sort of beach that dreams are made of. Soft, white sand; warm, shallow waters; a little islet that can be swum or waded to. Thankfully, it's also very isolated. People do know about it, but as the only ways to get here are by a lengthy drive along windy low-grade roads through the hills, or a relaxing boat ride (far preferable), numbers are limited. You won't have the beach to yourself but neither should it be overrun. The perfect place to relax in the warm Mediterranean sun.

Elafonisi is at the far south-western tip of Crete. There are regular boats from nearby Paleohora.

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Not only is Hansa's one of the finest Indian restaurants in Leeds (indeed, restaurant of any kind), it is also entirely vegetarian - as much Indian cuisine traditionally is, or in Britain, was at least. The finest ingredients, lovingly prepared, go into making subtle, complex Gujarati dishes, whose flavours can all be made out even in the hottest of dishes. The staff - including Hansa herself - are extremely helpful and friendly, eager to explain the dishes to you, if you need any help after the thorough and interesting menu. A real treasure.

72-74 North St, Leeds, LS2 7PN - a fifteen minute walk from Leeds City Station, or ten from the bus station.

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It sounds like a romantic way to cross the vast open spaces of Russia, leaving Moscow one evening and awaking to the Romanov's splendid Baroque capital. However the beds are cramped and uncomfortable, the train rattles far too much to get much sleep, and the toilets are disgusting. There was a certain charm to watching snow-covered fields and forests pass by in the half-light, but I suspect the view (particularly of a vast lake at one point) would have been all the more stunning during the day, and I wouldn't have felt like a zombie the day after.

Leningradsky Station, Moscow

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Is this the coolest transport interchange in the world? A sight in its own right, Atocha station is definitely worth visiting when you're in the area - which you will be as it is just minutes from the Prado and Reina Sofia art galleries. The juxtaposition of grand nineteenth century industrial architecture with the recently added tropical arboretum is striking, bold and beautiful. And on a rare rainy day, it's a great place to picnic!

Atocha Station, Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, Madrid

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Melrose Avenue is one of LA's longest and most celebrated shopping streets, home to designer boutiques, hip restaurants, street wear, thrift stores... you name it. It's also a great place to find bargains. Near to some of America's most affluent and fashion concious communities, the second hand vintage shops on Melrose are a cut above your average thrift store. It's not hard to spot designer jeans, couture dresses and other items, ranging from almost new to decades-old classics, and all at a fraction of the original price. Many of the independent boutiques in the area also sell brilliant, unique pieces for prices that are extremely reasonable for what you are getting. The Marc by Marc Jacobs boutique at Melrose & La Cienega is also surprisingly affordable.

Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (the best section, retail wise, is in Hollywood and West Hollywood, between La Cienega & La Brea)

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One of several high quality museums in a city that isn't known particularly for art and culture (but probably should be); the Musée de Grenoble is one of the best collections of art outside Paris in the whole country. The 20th century collections are especially impressive, and it attracts some of France's best touring exhibitions.

5 Place de Lavalette, Grenoble.
Two minutes from the Notre Dame-Musée - line B from the main train station.

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Lacanau isn't one of France's most appealing beach towns and pales in the shadow of grand Arcachon with its Dune du Pyla to the south. However, it lies in the heart of the Landes pine forest, between the Atlantic and a chain of lakes, and the surrounding area's natural beauty is well worth exploring. Numerous establishments on the main road, Avenue de l'Europe, hire out bikes for the day or half day at very reasonable prices, and it's easy to get hold of a map of the extensive biking trails around the town from the tourist information centre (on the same street). Head south along the coast for views of the seemingly endless sandy beaches and atlantic breakers in either direction, or inland to explore the beautiful pine forests (some of Europe's most extensive). Dappled sunlight and the scent of pine and wild flowers add to the peaceful magic of leisurely riding through almost entirely flat back country. A perfect alternative to lying on the sand, and a healthy way to redress indulgence in local wines.

Lacanau Océan, Gironde, France. An hour's drive west from Bordeaux.

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In the heart of the home city of pesto lies this delightful, traditional trattoria that gives a truly authentic taste of Italian dining. No private tables, no pretentions, just amazing pasta alla genovese and other mouth-watering delights, particularly the fresh fish.

14 Vico Testadoro
Genoa, 16123, Italy

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Located in an old fishing shack, complete with corrugated iron roof, next to a power plant, Phil's doesn't have the most select location on the California coastline. However, its reputation as one of the finest seafood restaurants in the area keeps it full throughout the week. Order at the counter and sit down at a table in the simple yet pleasant dining areas and before long a feast will be delivered to you. Massive portions of the highest quality fish and seafood (and a few other options) provide you with a meal that manages to be both subtle and hearty, and ensure before long you'll have forgotten the location and fallen in love with the food.

7600 Sandholdt Rd, Moss Landing, CA 95039. Off Highway 1 halfway between Santa Cruz & Monterey.

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There are many places to sample Iran's fine cuisine and even cheap kebab stalls are a huge step up from the greasy late-night kebab take-outs found in the west. Nayeb of Vozara is one of Tehran's most celebrated restaurants, famed for its chelo kebab but offering far more. It isn't cheap by Iranian standards at around 50,000 tomans for a meal for two (about £40) and you may have to wait for a seat but for quality Iranian cuisine in some of the capital's most opulent surroundings, this is the place to come.

On the Eastern side of Park-e-Saee, on Vozara St at 11th Avenue. A second branch on Val-e-Asr avenue does not share its prestigious reputation, but is still good.

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Perhaps Iran's most famous export is its celebrated Persian carpets and no trip to Tehran would be complete without a visit to this veritable temple to the art of carpetry. Hundreds of beautiful, intricately designed carpets hang in an airy, spacious and well laid out museum, including some incredibly large and ancient examples. Even if Persian Carpets aren't to your taste, the range and detail is both staggering and fascinating.

In Park-e-Laleh, near the Fatemi St entrance.

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Tucked away on a narrow street just yards from the Ramblas and Placa Reial, Cullertes is not only one of Barcelona's finest restaurants, but one of its most historic, and best value. Its traditional Catalan interior of dark wood features is entirely authentic - Cullertes is over 200 years old, and remains atmospheric. The food is traditional catalonian fare, with a strong emphasis on game, pork and seafood, and despite what you might expect for the quality and location, the prices are extremely reasonable. The food is, it goes without saying, delicious. But it does get very busy and only has limited evening opening hours so booking is advisable at weekends and in summer.

www.culleretes.com/
Calle d'en quitana, 5, 08002 Barcelona, Spain
+34 933 176 485
Google map: bit.ly/nUXRzs

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Justly, one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, with its endlessly rich heritage of art, architecture and archaeology, not to mention fantastic food and wine, Rome is a city that everyone wants to visit. It has a massive range of accommodation for all pockets, and if you're on a tight budget, you could do far worse than the Hostel des Artistes.

Less than a 10-minute walk from the city centre's main arrival point, the Termini station, Hostel des Artistes is located in an old apartment building on a quiet backstreet. It isn't luxury, but it is extremely cheap, and for your money you get security, good standards of cleanliness, impressively large bathrooms, and a lovely roof terrace.

It may not be in the Centro Storico but its transport connections are fantastic - you can get to almost anywhere in the Eternal city easily by bus or metro from the nearby Termini. There are also a handful of cheap eateries and minimarkets nearby for bargain breakfasts, pastries, or to make a packed lunch.

Hostel Des Artistes, Via Villafranca 20, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Metro: Castro Pretorio is right around the corner, or Termini is less than ten minutes walk. From the Termini, buses connect to the heart of the city, and trains to the airport and the rest of the country.

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Alongside all the usual high street culprits, Leeds' compact city centre has a fantastic range of independent boutiques that really set it apart from many other shopping destinations. While long-time bastion of alternative and independent retailing, the Corn Exchange, is now being transformed into a luxury food emporium (there are a clutch of tempting little foodie stores in the intimate basement level), the surrounding streets of the Exchange Quarter are thriving. Blue Rinse, on Call Lane, is an old stalwart of Leeds retail and continues to be one of the best, and most reasonably priced vintage shops in the area. Newcomer Best Vintage, round the corner on New Market St really does what it says on the packet, with high quality and interesting pieces. Next door is fantastic organic minimarket Out of this World, and one of England's four fabulous Pop Boutiques selling bargain priced retro-style fashions (both new and vintage) is diagonally opposite on Central Road. Along Duncan St-Boar Lane from the Corn Exchange are several independent stores including ever popular streetwear shop Ace and poster/wall art mecca Off the Wall, amongst others. While down Lower Briggate is one of the city's biggest vintage emporia, Ryan Vintage, crammed to the ceilings with one-off finds.

Further up Briggate, opposite the opulence of the Victoria Quarter, are Queen's and Thornton's Arcades. They might not be as spectacular as their designer-filled counterparts across the street, but are still lovely examples of Victorian architecture offering rain-free environments in which to explore a wealth of mainly independent shops (and several high-end hair salons). Accent, award-winning White Label Clothing, Sugar Lump and No15 Boutique are amongst the many treasures to be had here. A personal favourite - though not really a shop - is Pickle & Potter, a delicatessen and café that not only offers a huge and mouth-watering selection of sandwich fillings but is home to what many - myself included - hold to be not only Leeds' but the world's best chocolate brownies.

If you tire of the hustle and bustle of the city centre but aren't quite done scouring the indie boutiques, a twenty minute walk (or 5-10 minute bus) journey away up Woodhouse Lane is Hyde Park Corner. Here you will find a small but brilliant clutch of stores and eateries, including vintage couture and evening wear at the Final Curtain, and best of all, the temple of vintage and antique treasures that is Retro Boutique. Two floors of clothes, jewellery, furniture, antiques and anything else you can imagine, immaculately laid out so that it ressembles something between a home you wish was yours and Aladdin's Cave, Retro Boutique is perhaps the zenith of Leeds' independent shopping experience, yet somehow is never as crowded as you might imagine.

All over Leeds city centre, particularly around the Corn Exchange (Call Lane) and Queen's and Thornton's Arcades, between Briggate and Lands Lane; Hyde Park Corner is at Woodhouse Lane/Headingley Lane, a mile and a half north-west of the city centre. Bus no1, 28, 95, 96, 97.

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