CORFU Greece That classic holiday combination of endless sun, sea and sand make Corfu one of the most popular, as well as one of the largest Greek islands, but it offers a lot more besides. Head inland, through heavily-scented pine woods, and you will fi nd tiny villages like Sokraki where only Greek is spoken and time appears to have stood still. And the capital, Corfu Town, is Greece’s largest ‘living’ medieval town, home to cobblestone streets and alleyways, historic buildings, statues and fountains. The stand-out is the Venetian-built Old Fortress, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. For the best beaches, head for Paleokastritsa, Glyfada or, if it is history you want, head for Gastouri to visit the lavish 19th century Achilleion Palace.
COZUMEL Mexico The world’s most popular cruise port, Cozumel, is just a small (12 miles long) island off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula but it has a vibrant, pulsating Latin heart. Probably the best beach is at the Chankanab National Park which also boasts a beautiful botanical garden with 800 plant species. Best of all, though, is that it has a pool linked by an underground tunnel to the sea where you can swim with the dolphins who come and go freely there.
CURACAO Netherlands Antilles The largest island in the Dutch Antilles, Curacao is home to more than 50 nationalities so has a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Its lovely capital, Willemstad, is full of 17th, 18th and 19th century Dutch and Spanish Colonial architecture. The two sides of the city are divided by Santa Anna Bay, a narrow channel fl anked by pastel- tinted, gabled houses and spanned by the spectacular swing-aside Queen Emma pontoon bridge.
DARWIN Australia Cruise into Darwin and it is ‘welcome to Crocodile Dundee country,’ for this is the gateway to the legendary Kakadu World Heritage Park. If you can tear yourself away from bushmen’s tales in rip-roaring pubs, you will fi nd a cultural side to Darwin, in excellent art galleries, an outstanding Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory and stunning Botanical Gardens with manicured lawns and more than 400 species of plants.
DOMINICA
Dominica is an island of breathtaking natural beauty with crater lakes and waterfalls, forests and gorges, many with evocative and unusual names like Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls. Offshore, there are coral reefs teeming with fi sh of all colours, shapes and sizes to amaze swimmers, snorkellers and scuba divers. You are also welcome to visit the last surviving community of Carib Indians, the original inhabitants of the entire Caribbean, who still follow the old ways – fi shing, carving and basket-making.
DUBAI United Arab Emirates With a mix of traditional architecture and glittering modern buildings, Dubai is a place of fascinating contrasts. It is also the home of sand, sea and sun. Designed to resemble a billowing sail, the famous Burj Al Arab hotel stands at a height of 321 metres, now small in comparison to the 828 metre high Burj Khalifa, Dubai’s newest icon and the world’s tallest building. Don’t miss the Spice Souk and the glittering Gold Souk – overfl owing with exquisite jewellery. The nearby emirate of Sharjah, with its captivating architecture and spectacular souks, was selected by UNESCO as the cultural capital of the Middle East and is well worth a visit.
DUBLIN Ireland
The Irish capital, Dublin, has undergone an incredible transformation in the last decade with many modern buildings springing up to add to its historical and cultural appeal. A visit to the Guinness Storehouse and Brewery provides an insight into the history of Ireland’s favourite tipple. Grafton Street is a shopper’s paradise. The library at Trinity College is home to the 8th century Book of Kells, with the National Museum housing exhibits dating back from the Irish Bronze and Iron ages. The city’s literary heritage is celebrated at the adjoining National Library with works of famous Irish writers such as Beckett, Joyce, Swift and Yeats collected together.
Dubrovnik Charlottetown
Casablanca
DUBROVNIK Croatia Sailing into the beautiful 12th century Croatian walled city of Dubrovnik is one of life’s great experiences. The spectacular Old Town, with its pretty harbour, towering ramparts, creamy stone pavements and red-roofed buildings, is crammed with architectural wonders like Onofrio’s Fountain, the 14th century Franciscan Monastery and the world’s oldest pharmacy (est. 1391). Visit too, the magnifi cently gothic Sponza Palace and the 18th century baroque Church of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik’s patron saint. You will fi nd pretty restaurants and cafés tucked away on Dubrovnik’s narrow side streets – worth exploring as they also contain offbeat shops and art galleries.
NEW FOR 2012 DURRES Albania Durrës has long been a favourite seaside resort for Albanian families. Beyond the beach however, you’ll fi nd a fascinating city of antiquities, museums and theatres. Founded in the 7th century BC, the port became an important merchant centre on the route linking Rome with Byzantium. Ruins dating back to Roman times can be still be seen today including the amphitheatre, one of the largest in the Balkans seating up to 20,000 spectators; an early Christian chapel with rare wall mosaics; and baths. The remains of its fortress date back to the early Middle Ages with the archaeological museum exhibiting further reminders of the past. The city, which is also home to King Zog’s palace, remains an important seaport connecting travellers to Western Europe via ferry routes to Italy.
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