Cultural

The Elizabethan manor of Longleat, with its grand dimensions and adornments has a radical element - the West Wing. Here, numerous doors camouflaged by a sweeping mural punctuate a grand corridor. I'm overcome with giddy suspense each time our guide clicks over the key, knowing that no single room has been spared the creative stroke of its owner's paintbrush.

Through the centuries, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians and the Austro-Hungarians have all left their mark on Croatian art and architecture. You could include one or more of the following mainland port cities in your sailing itinerary, or arrange sail and stay holiday, combining a week of sailing with a week of cultural sightseeing. 

Burma has been long over looked for its Southeast Asian neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam. So, we have put this 10-day guide to share with you the best of this beautiful country.  Read this 10-day itinerary and you'll be booking Burma in no time.

North Africa has some of the most exciting and exotic cultures and landscapes in the world. The region has an edgy energy - almost a breathless quality - about it: the intense, relentless heat; surreal, mystical labyrinthine souks and medinas, some of which look so unearthly they have been used in films set in space (some star wars scenes were set in Tunisia); ruins and temples scattered about the land like sweets waiting to be discovered afresh.

On holiday I want to recharge my batteries, turn off my mobile and leave work at home. It's all about sun, books, swimming and eating. Out of summer, I enjoy short city breaks in small boutique hotels where the museums, galleries and public places are a walk away. Seville, Paris, Tallinn and Prague are great cities with good public transport - less hassle than hiring a car. Istanbul has long been a place I wanted to see, so I decided to head over and spend a few days exploring the city. 

Sheltered by mountains of red sandstone, surrounded by the Negev Desert to the north and bordered by the Red Sea to the south, the Israeli city of Eilat is enviably placed. "Eilat is unique," says Ben Julius, founder of Tourist Israel, an online travel organisation that helps visitor plan their explorations of the country.

Goodness knows what the people of Salzburg made of my family and I careering round their city on bikes, singing Edelweiss at the tops of our voices. But Salzburg is intrinsically linked with The Sound Of Music and The Fraulein Maria bike tour is possibly the most memorable way to immerse yourself in it. To be honest, it wasn't really music and we didn't quite make it up into the hills, but the streets were definitely alive with the sound of our hollering.

There's nothing quite like a family road trip, and one of the best ways to see France at its finest is behind the wheel. What is surprising is how much of the country's most traditional attractions - gourmet food, the world's best wine, astonishing history and stunning architecture - are within a doable drive from other parts of Europe and the UK via Eurotunnel Le Shuttle terminal in Folkestone.

One of the most popular tourist destinations on the Costa del Sol is Torremolinos, a former fishing village that gained fame during the 1950s and 60s due to the showbiz personalities that flocked to the fashionable scene that once existed in the town.  Torremolinos is conveniently located just 14 kilometres from Malaga and three kilometres from the Malaga Costa del Sol international airport, and the urban train line that runs from Malaga to Fuengrilo connects Torremolinos with several of the other popular resorts along the coast.

One of Europe's most beautiful sailing destinations, Croatia offers calm turquoise waters and a host of islands, each with its own identity and idiosyncrasies. Yacht charter bases are located in marinas, the most popular ones being on the mainland, in or near Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar and Pula, all of which are conveniently served by summer flights from the UK or elsewhere in Europe.