This tiny island cluster in the narrow strait between Chios and Turkey is said to be one of the wealthiest spots in Greece – several millionaire ship owners have their roots and family homes here. They prize their peace and quiet, so the islands are pleasantly unspoiled and there are good (but tiny) beaches next to the main island's small port village. There is also a Maritime Museum which celebrates the island’s seafaring traditions.

Find out how people once lived on Gotland at one of Sweden’s biggest open-air museums. Here you can meet farmers, fishermen, crofters, stone workers, craftsmen, school teachers and paupers in houses and on farms dating from the mid-17th century to the end of the 1920s. The Play House has toys and games from olden times, and young and old can walk on stilts, make log-house puzzels and toss the caber. You will find the dates of markets, tournaments, and other fun events at:

'Vinpearl' spell out the giant white letters across the bay from mainland Nha Trang, marking the location of a massive theme park and recreation area that is best reached via a scenic cable car ride (the world's longest sea-crossing cable car at 3.3km long). There is plenty to discover: from thrilling 'dry' rides such as the Sky Wheel and ZipLine to the extensive offerings of the water park, to seeing the park's animal residents (most notably on Monkey Island) at the on-site zoo and aquarium. There is a namesake resort here in case you want to stay close to the action, plus a few beaches that are much more pleasant for swimming than the public beach in Nha Trang city.