Washington’s mountains rise from the ground like the mighty, mythical gods of lore. Stretching upwards with little regard for the communities of people peppered around them, such grand indifference captures our imaginations and awe. We strive to scale and conquer them, to master their trails and hills, and their magnificence allows us to transcend who we are in some magical way. Grand Mound, Washington places you within reach of the state’s majestic mountains, and thus its main attractions.

Cayo Coco's spectacular white sandy beaches remained untouched for centuries. Despite recent development, they still retain that same feeling, with untamed mangroves, beautiful coral reefs and colourful flocks of flamingos dotting the turquoise waters. Together with nearby Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Santa Maria, Cayo Coco has become Cuba's third most popular destination after Havana and Varadero, and it's not hard to see why.

Sydney is Australia’s most iconic city, known for the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and beaches like Bondi. But there’s more beneath the postcard views: diverse neighbourhoods, a buzzing food scene, and a strong connection to culture, sport and the outdoors. The weather’s good most of the year, and the vibe is laid-back without trying too hard, which makes it easy to feel at home, even just for a while.

Klosters-Serneus offers snow-capped mountains, bright blue skies, and crisp fresh air, along with a peaceful and scenic getaway from the buzz of city life. With the various activities on offer such as horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowboarding, curling, ice hockey, ice skating, paragliding, an 8.5 km sledding route and top-class restaurants, you will be hard pushed to run out of things to do amidst the breathtaking Swiss scenery.

It is easy to overlook this small island nation, having, as it does, such powerful and flashy neighbours like Qatar and the Emirates. However, ignoring Bahrain would be a huge mistake. It is an emerging power in the region, with all the luxury and worldliness of a cosmopolitan destination and all the charm and personality of a small island. Add to this the growing art scene and burgeoning international cuisine in the country, and you have the newest prime travel destination in the region, and the most socially liberal one.