This is the start of the busiest time of year for the beautiful castles of the Loire, and the time when they are at their best as they host festivals, exhibitions, theatrical performances and all sorts of other cultural activities in their colourful grounds and well-tended gardens.
One of the great pleasures of travelling is discovering the local cuisine and culture, but it isn't always easy for a foreigner to get to know the people of the places they visit. In Holland, 'Dine with the Dutch' offers you the chance to meet a local family and learn about Dutch culture in a unique and personal way.
The white sands of a tropical beach, a mountain peak, or the wide plains of Africa: these are some of the places the hotel reservation site hotels.com has named as their choice from which to view the most spectacular sunsets the planet has to offer.
If you fancy getting away from it all and taking the family for a few days hiking in a beautiful natural setting, why not try the verdant Madriu Valley in Andorra?
Set on a 6,000 acre private reserve, just five minutes from the Amboseli National Park, everything about this environmentally-conscious luxury lodge reminds you that you are in Africa.
Medieval walled towns and villages, arches and churches, picturesque castles with slate-roofed towers and turrets, dazzling halls decorated in gold and adorned with frescoes... the Romantic Road through Bavaria offers a wonderland setting for your own personal fairy-tale romance.
This Saturday, the annual summer season of pyrotechnical displays over the River Rhine kicks off, offering the chance to see the River Rhine as you have almost certainly never seen it before.
Instead of taking the kids on holiday to the beach yet again, why not pull out all the stops and take them on safari? Let them see the great beasts of Africa in their natural habitat, stay in Masai-style accommodation and discover the world of the 'dark continent.'
San Francisco, considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is a don't-miss destination on the itinerary of anyone who loves travel, architecture, gastronomy and the good life in general. Its welcoming people, the stunning landscape and temperate climate make a visit irresistible.
This new 'top level' five-star hotel, rising high above the vibrant city of Hong Kong, boasts 312 deluxe rooms and the very latest in modern facilities.
While in Europe the cities of Turku and Tallinn are sharing the honour of being Capital of Culture this year, on the other side of the planet, Quito has taken the title of American Capital of Culture, 2011.
Pink flamingos and white horses, fields of sea lavender and wild marshlands tufted with thistles... the Camargue, set on France's Mediterranean coast and held in the arms of the Rhone delta, is an area of great untamed beauty.
Romance, mystery, adventure, thrills... all hotels have their own tales to tell. Here, though, are some whose stories are five-star scripts: hotels that have not only welcomed Hollywood stars as their guests, but have also served as backdrops to some of the biggest box-office successes of recent years.
The pace of life flows slowly on this Mediterranean coast; the Roman ruins give witness to past glories while the Algerian jet set enjoy the pleasures of fine seafood, a leisurely water pipe, blue skies and sunshine.
Corsica, the birthplace of Napoleon, is an island paradise set amid crystal clear waters, where the spectacular natural setting is enhanced by the historical and architectural legacy.
First published in 1967, 'One hundred years of solitude' has sold more than 20 million copies. Now it is possible to visit the places immortalised in this classic of Latin-American literature, following the so-called Macondo Trail to the Colombian author's birthplace, Aracataca.
In a verdant setting close to the Orlando theme parks, this resort offers the excellence of fine hospitality together with luxury facilities that will appeal particularly to golf lovers.
The ancient pharaonic tomb retains its vivid colours to the present day; now, in order to avoid the deterioration caused by so many visitors, it is to close and in the future only replicas will be available for public viewing.
The centuries-old winding streets and alleyways of the 'medina' of Fez, Morocco's ancient imperial city, reveal the debt of culture and refinement that so much of the Mediterranean owes to Arab civilisation.
Just outside the pretty coastal town of Altea in the Spanish province of Alicante, the award-winning Sha Wellness Clinic offers a perfect setting for an peaceful – and healthy – getaway.
The timeless desert of Jordan is home to many marvellous sights. Chief among them are the man-made stone city of Petra, one of the modern wonders of the world, and the natural monolithic rockscapes of Wadi Rum, known as The Valley of the Moon.
Recession? What recession? That certainly seems to be the question over in the United Arab Emirates where the new Ferrari theme park has just opened in Abu Dhabi. It's the first of its kind that celebrates the internationally renowned Italian sports cars, and a true paradise for Formula 1 fans.
Who hasn't wondered what it would be like to live in a treehouse? If you visit the beautiful village of Harads in northern Sweden, you have the chance to find out or, at least, to discover what it's like to stay at a Tree Hotel. Here, a new concept in luxury hotel accommodation has just opened offering guests a top-of-the-trees experience in complete harmony with the environment.
Set high on the sandstone cliffs, the Greek Orthodox monasteries of Meteora have looked out over the valleys of Thessaly since the fourteenth century, but the religious history of the place is far older.
If you're an art lover and get a chance to travel to Milan in the up-coming months, don't miss out on this exhibition that explores the surreal world of the great Catalonian artist.
Putting cliches and prejudices to one side, anyone who wants a personal experience of the Arab world could do a lot worse than to start by visiting Tunisia. Here, in a modern African country open to the western world, a host of enchanting towns await discovery. And the most delightful of all could well be Sidi Bou Said.
Kilts and tartans, bagpipes and malt whisky, misty scenery with heather-clad hills, mysterious lochs and ancient castles... all things Scottish are waiting to be discovered from the comfort and splendour of the Royal Scotsman train.
To visit the Colca Canyon in Peru is to discover a land of superlatives: the second deepest canyon on the planet, it's home to the magnificent Andean condor, a New World vulture with the largest wingspan of any land bird, and one of the world's longest living birds.
The famous Italian designer may no longer be around to welcome you to his home, but the dazzling South Beach mansion has been transformed into a luxurious boutique hotel, and the doors of La Villa are waiting to welcome you.
Losing yourself in the Ankarana reserve in the north of the island of Madagascar is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Its great limestone massifs have been carved by the rain into intricate landscapes that will leave you gasping in amazement.
In the heart of the Tyrol, the 'Crystal Triangle' has become one of Austria's main tourist attractions. Grown ups and kids alike can enjoy the trails and workshops connecting three types of crystal.
For singletons or for couples, perfect for an all-girls' holiday or a chance for the inexperienced to finally get to grips with the cooking pots... all of the cookery courses at Villa San Michele offer the opportunity to discover the secrets of Italian cuisine; there are even courses suitable for kids.
Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, the Bremen Town Musicians... which is your favourite? Get ready to be bewitched - parents as well as children - as you stroll through the streets where these mythical stories are set and discover the scenes that inspired those great story-tellers, the Brothers Grimm.