Yanbu has long been known as little more than an industrial centre with a busy port, but with some of the country's best diving spots and ever more luxury resorts in the area, it is quickly transforming into a coveted vacation destination. The desert beaches are beautiful, captivating and solitary enough to make your visit a unique experience. There has never been a better time visit, as the crowds have not yet caught on to this emerging city, and travellers can still have huge expanses of pristine beach all to themselves.

Idre is covered in winter snow and ice for several months of the year, which allows visitors to make the most of everything winter has to offer: from frozen lakes and snow-covered forests to cross-country trails, skiing slopes and snowmobile trails. During summer, numerous outdoor activities are also possible. In-between adventures, you can recharge your batteries in one of Idre's picturesque restaurants, cafés and pubs.

Moscow is a city of contrasts, where the bohemian and the glamorous merge in an idiosyncratic fusion – do not be surprised to find a golden-domed 16th century church next to an ultra-modern glass skyscraper or a Soviet block house. Here, salty fish eggs (caviar) are washed down with bubbly champagne and worn-out commuters travel by the elaborately decorated, elegant metro, one of the city's main attractions.

Cancún's white sandy beaches and warm, crystal waters make it a paradise for all beach and water sports enthusiasts. Add a vibrant nightlife and the closeness to the breathtaking Mayan ruins and you have Mexico's most popular tourist hot spot. Caring for four million tourists yearly, it's hard to understand this beautiful resort was a sleepy fishing village just a few decades ago. Its colourful buzz and ancient traditions co-existing with ultra-modern developments enchant everyone, from backpackers to luxury travellers.