It’s easy to see why so many people think Barbados is paradise. As you approach Oistins’ fish market on a Friday night, your senses are awakened by the delicious aromas of fresh fish being cooked and the sweet strains of calypso – music so rhythmic you won’t be able to stop yourself from dancing along.

Berlin, Germany
Germany may be dotted with traditional Christmas markets but one of the capital’s hippest retail enclaves, contained in the 1950s Bikinihaus, has reinvented festive shopping with a contemporary Christmas market.

As the second smallest independent state on earth, the opulent principality of Monaco doesn’t require much exploring to discover the array of sports that take place in and around its winding streets and sparkling waterfront.  At only 1.95 square kilometres, it is barely bigger than London’s Hyde Park and trails only Vatican City, as the smallest nation in the world.  This is good for those who paradoxically, enjoy both sport and don’t want to hassle of having to travel for miles for it.

Best for Drama Vienna, Austria
The Austrian capital always oozes elegance, but in December, Vienna takes itself a little less seriously and gets its party clobber on.  They city’s prettiest squares transform into markets dotted with chalet-style stalls, while garlands of bulbs and ribbons are strung along the city’s streets.   And every year, giant chandeliers light the route to St. Stephens Catheral.

It’s has been given the nickname ‘the Gem of the Caribbean Sea’.  Whether you're looking to lounge on a pristine white beach, get a taste of local food or soak up lively Caribbean culture, your perfect holiday awaits you in Barbados. This picture-perfect tropical island really does have it all.  From a UNESCO World Heritage capital to a jaw-dropping coastline, and lush, wild interiors, it’s idyllic Caribbean scenery at its finest.  There’s  always something to entice visitors, including festivities, sport, music, nightlife, local traditions and delicious cuisine.

The Isles of Scilly could be a world away, but you don’t need to leave the UK to enjoy them.  Hop on a flight from Exeter Airport and you can touch down in paradise in just 60 minutes. Traffic, noise and deadlines all melt away as you take your seat on board a Skybus aircraft, for an experience that’s almost worth a trip on its own.

With fewer than twenty other passengers for company, the flight gives you space to reflect.  While you do, you’ll be treated to aerial views of Cornwall’s famous golden beaches and the rugged coastline of Land’s End.

If you try to conjure up your idea of paradise, chances are the Caribbean would some pretty close, sugar-white beaches, luxurious resorts and miles and miles of aquamarine seas make it one of the most idyllic destinations on earth.  And at around eight hours’ flight from London, it’s an ideal place to enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

But which of its many islands to visit? St. Lucia, Barbados and Tobago, with adventure, vibrant culture and movie-star coastlines wrapped into each one – should be right at the top of your ultimate Caribbean wishlist.

Kronplatz is one of Italy’s larger ski regions with more than a dozen towns and villages linked on to the huge Plan de Corones ski mountain. Plan de Corones/Kronplatz popularity in Europe is hard to ignore, thanks in large part to its astonishingly impressive facilities, including more than 20 gondola lifts, one of only a few resorts in the world to have so many of these fast, comfortable all-weather lifts.

Alpe di Siusi/Seiseralm, located right next door to Val Gardena/Gröden, has positioned itself as a winter wonderland for families, beginners, and anyone looking for a more relaxed winter holiday experience.  The largest high mountain plateau in Europe is also one of the most peaceful , safe and environmentally friendly, as cars have bee banned from the area and instead the ski lifts and gondolas form all necessary transport links.

South Tyrol, Italy’s most northernly region, plays host to the jaw-dropping beautiful mountains of the Dolomites.  And that’s not just our opinion.  The range was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2009.  The area boasts some of the best ski and snowsport runs in the world, as well 300 days of sunshine every year and a snow guarantee that runs from December to April.  This is clearly the place to be for discerning snow enthusiasts.