Prosperous and lively, Brescia is Lombardy’s second biggest city, a university town with a modern business area (Brescia Due). Located between two of Italy’s most famous lakes, Lake Garda and Lake Iseo, Brescia is often overlooked by visitors who bypass the city itself and head straight to the undeniably beautiful lakes. A great pity, as Brescia boasts one of the most beautiful historic centres in the region, and some of the best Roman and Lombard remains in northern Italy.

Situated at the crossroads of three great rivers – the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac – Phnom Penh is the heart of a country steeped in tradition, overflowing with rice paddies, jungles, and rural communities. Once a sleepy backwater, Phnom Penh, now, buzzes with commercial activity as the country develops after years of isolation. Old French colonial mansions stand alongside newly emerging designs, which make the city’s mixed architecture and communities fascinating to explore.

Providenciales is the primary tourist destination of the Turks and Caicos archipelago, which sits just north of Hispaniola. Its popularity is hardly surprising: this Caribbean island offers long stretches of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters, perfect for extended snorkelling sessions. That's why so many upscale resorts and restaurants have come to line its shores, and a plethora of boutiques and galleries greet tourists that stroll around the main plazas: everything is in place for a welcoming and fun-filled stay.

With its unique mix of Creole culture and European cosmopolitanism, the French overseas territory of Martinique, and in particular its capital Fort-de-France, has just the right blend of tradition and sophistication. A fast-developing city boasting first-class shopping and dining as well as a bustling urban life. But the main draw to this Caribbean island remains its surrounding natural beauty made up of lush tropical rain forests, an active volcanic mountain, and picture-perfect beaches, which have captivated visitors for centuries.

Long known for its old-world charm, from the historic Faneuil Hall to the Freedom Trail that celebrates Boston’s preeminent role in the American Revolution, Boston has come a long way towards staking its claim in the 21st century. With the completion of the “Big Dig” that buried Boston’s vast network of highways underground, Boston has hit the new century running. Attractions span beautiful public libraries, fascinating museums and plenty of sports. Boston is destined to grow ever more beautiful as more and more of the ungainly elevated highways are replaced with lush parks.