Portlanders respond eagerly to the summons of the city's unofficial motto – "Keep Portland Weird" – and although the real deal is miles away from the grotesque version famously portrayed by Armisen & Brownstein in "Portlandia", some of the TV show does ring true. There is a lot of whimsy mixed in with Portland's thriving food, beer and coffee scenes: the city isn't only the hometown of James Beard, after all, but a place where self-expression and creativity culminate in gems like wedding ceremonies performed at a doughnut shop, "brew 'n' view" movie theatres, or a vegan strip club.

Riga greets visitors with a unique and breathtaking silhouette, beautifully reflected in the Baltic Sea. A stroll through the city centre offers a charmingly confusing mix of a modern metropolitan city with exclusive shopping, vibrant nightlife and international cuisine, and ancient traditions in a capital that has been multi-cultural throughout its 800-year history.

Valladolid breathes history. This is the place where King Felipe II was born, the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabel were married, and Christopher Columbus died. This was once the capital of Spain, and although it has lost this title, it's still the principal city of Castilla y Leon, the land of castles from which the word ‘Castilian’ is derived. Today, Valladolid is a bustling university city that thrives on its manufacturing industries. It is a down-to-earth, lively place that blends the old with the energetic new.

With exceptional natural beauty, mild climate throughout the year, friendly population and a top-quality hotel network, Madeira and Porto Santo, the two inhabited islands of the Madeira archipelago, are the perfect Islands for those seeking stress-free holidays. Here you can enjoy your holiday on the beach or at sea, in the mountains, in the countryside or in the city. The perfect spot for a getaway to experience unique moments like nowhere else.

Phoenix is in the unique position of having warm weather year round. While temperatures do reach upwards of 100 degrees in the summer months, it’s dry heat you can breathe—without the downfalls of humidity! Phoenix is also the most populous state capital in the U.S., which translates to a richly diverse collection of cultures and activities. And perhaps most spectacularly, every drive or stroll through the city is accompanied by a backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, sandy mountain ranges and eternal blue skies.