Simply put, Iceland’s famous Golden Circle is a popular route between three of the island's most visited attractions. Usually done as a day trip, the route starts in Reykjavik and takes you south and inland, to the Þingvellir National Park. There you enter the Geyser geothermal area with the Strokkur Geyser being most eager of the bunch. Finally, you arrive at to the 32-metre tall Gullfoss waterfall in the canyon of the roaring Hvítá river. Many tour agents and travellers themselves like to make extra stops along the way to see a geothermal power plant or spend a few hours at one of the spas. You could rent a car and drive between the landmarks at your own speed. In summer, you could even use the long daylight hours to avoid the crowds that tend to come earlier in the day. If you can pick your own route, don't miss the Kerid Crater Lake — a scenic lake that occupies a 3,000 years old volcanic crater that you can easily reach on foot.

Enjoy the sunshine at Bluewaters, an island destination that's making waves for its blend of shopping, dining and entertainment attractions. Highlights include the lifestyle district of The Wharf, pristine Cove Beach club with luxe cabanas and Ain Dubai — the tallest and largest observation wheel. It's also home to the Banyan Tree hotel, that boasts a sparkling outdoor swimming pool, signature hospitality and incredible restaurants, including the Chinese and Pan-Asian Demon Duck, as well as the Japanese TakaHisa and Tocha.

One of the world’s greatest urban transformations, the Dubai Water Canal is a 3.2-kilometre-long waterway which extends from the Creek in Old Dubai through Business Bay, before finding its way to the Arabian Gulf. It effectively turns a significant part of the emirate into an island. Board a water taxi to Marasi Drive, home to a sparkling marina, water homes and cool dining venues such as Bella at Grand Millennium Hotel and BASTA! at The St. Regis Downtown.