The little town of Boquete offers a good selection of restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets. Since Boquete is an agricultural town, chefs have access to the freshest organic vegetables and herbs. One praiseworthy local restaurant, The Rock, is located on the banks of the Palo Alto River, just outside of central Boquete. The large windows allow for fantastic views up the valley, and the fireplace seating area is a cosy spot at night. "Food without pretences" is their motto, and the menu focuses on locally available produce and meats. Steaks and ribs are cooked to perfection and may be accompanied by artisan beers made exclusively for the restaurant or the perfect wine. Thursday is All-You-Can-Eat Rib Night. If you are in Boquete, a meal at The Rock is a must.

Often voted the world’s most luxurious hotel, the Burj Al Arab rises 321 metres above the Arabian Gulf, its sail-shaped silhouette perched on a private island just offshore. Beyond its grand design, it’s famous for its helipad—scene of jaw-dropping stunts from tennis matches to F1 doughnuts. For the first time, the hotel has opened up with a butler-guided, immersive tour, giving visitors a rare peek inside its gilded interiors and behind-the-scenes tales of its extravagant history.

This red-stoned traditional royal Khmer building from the 1920s offers a glimpse of the Khmer Empire’s rich heritage. With artefacts dating back to pre-Angkorian times, the museum’s pieces are some of the only remaining historical items that survived the Khmer Rouge.

Samarra is a small yet historically rich city located approximately 125 kilometres north of Baghdad. Founded in 836 AD by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mu'tasim, it holds deep significance for Sunni Muslims and features some of Iraq's most iconic Islamic architecture. The easiest way to visit Samarra is on a day trip from Baghdad. Head to the Alawi garage to catch a shared taxi or minivan. A one-way journey in a minivan costs around 10,000 Iraqi dinars. Shared taxis are slightly more expensive but offer a faster and more comfortable ride. Samarra’s most famous landmark is the spiral minaret of the Great Mosque, which was once among the largest mosques in the world. The minaret stands at 52 metres and features a distinctive spiral ramp that winds its way to the top. Climbing the minaret is not always allowed and it is unclear when it's possible to climb it and when it's not. There's also another similar minaret nearby called the Abu Dulaf Minaret, located 28 kilometres from the Great Mosque. Samarra is also home to the Askariyya Shrine, an important site that is sacred to Shia Muslims due to the tombs of the tenth and eleventh Imams. Non-Muslim visitors are allowed inside, but modest dress, respectful behaviour, and compliance with local customs are expected. Due to the shrine’s religious importance, security is very tight and includes several checkpoints. As a predominantly Sunni city in a complex religious landscape, Samarra maintains strict security protocols, particularly for foreigners. If you're not part of an organised tour, expect to be the only foreigner on the journey. This may result in added scrutiny at checkpoints, including detailed passport checks and questions about your travel plans.