Set against a backdrop of historical buildings, Matsuyama is a vibrant city of living traditions. Here, haiku poetry still holds a significant place in daily life. With a jam-packed calendar of seasonal festivals, visitors are guaranteed to find something captivating to experience all year round. Getting around the city is easy with a network of vintage trams and steam trains at your service. In addition, Matsuyama boasts miles of sandy beaches, which provide a scenic view of the Seto Inland Sea, filled with beautiful islands.

Hungary has no marine coastline, but it does have the largest freshwater body in Central Europe, Lake Balaton. The lake has been popular since the Magyar tribes first galloped into the Carpathian Basin in 896, and it shows no signs of losing its appeal. A collection of resort towns and an interesting bicycle route ring the 77 km long lake. Hévíz-Balaton Airport is 20 km from Keszthely at the southern end of the lake. From there, you can hire a car or take a bus and explore some of the resorts.

The small Mediterranean island of Corsica encompasses a bewildering diversity of landscapes, experiences, and delicacies. Though its southern counterpart often steals the spotlight, the region of Upper Corsica lacks for nothing in terms of entertainment, character, and natural beauty. And savvy travellers would do well not to ignore its unmistakable allure, from the peak of Monte Cinto to the island's numerous picture-perfect coastal and hilltop villages.

Olbia is the gateway to the pearly white beaches of Sardinia's northeast coast and the sparkling Costa Smeralda. This is where jet-setters, film stars and the ‘glitterati’ arrive to indulge in 'la dolce vita' Sardinian-style. With a Greek name meaning ‘happy’, Olbia used to be a little fishing village but has now grown to become Sardinia’s busiest ferry port, complete with an international airport and tourist amenities. The countryside is cloaked in aromatic wild herbs, the macchia, and the surrounding sea glows in every hue of electric blue, in a little known and exclusive place waiting to be discovered.

The butterfly-shaped islands of Guadeloupe are one of the Caribbean's best-kept secrets. Travelers in the know have caught on and begun visiting this mesmerizing archipelago and the city of Pointe-à-Pitre to enjoy the fascinating mix of French tradition and Creole culture, the overwhelming natural beauty found in these islands, and the relative scarcity of tourists. With a burgeoning hotel infrastructure and an important cruise port welcoming seafarers, there has never been a better time to visit.