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Limassol, Cyprus

Set on Akrotiri Bay, Limassol is the island’s biggest seaside town with plenty to offer its visitors. Whether you’ve come here in search of age-old sights or bubbling bars, the town’s a mixed bag of delights that never fails to impress.

• Head to Paphos to tick off some of Cyprus’ most famous sights. First off, there’s the Petra tou Romious – also known as Aphrodites Rock – where the goddess of love is said to have risen from the sea. The Odeion amphitheatre is well worth a look, too. It was made entirely from limestone and dates back to the 2nd century. Nowadays, it’s used for theatre and music performances.
• Head for Curium, a major archaeological site that was one of the old kingdoms of Cyprus. Sights to capture on film include a Greek temple and an impressive cliff-top theatre.
• Experience the old and new faces of Limassol. Stand in the shadow of the Medieval castle, then head for the modern Yermasoyia quarter and sample a few of the bars and restaurants.

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Corfu Town, Greece

Awash with colourful flowers, Corfu is big on beauty. It’s known as the Emerald Isle, and its golden beaches, lush green landscape and colourful villages will have you constantly reaching for your camera.

• Soak up the views at Bella Vista, Corfu’s most famous lookout point. From here, you can peer over sleepy seaside villages like Paleokastritsa, and the island’s entire west coast.
• In Corfu Town itself, stand in the shadow of two gigantic fortresses. See the 16th-century church of Ayios Spyridhon. And then wander round the interesting archaeological museum.
• Relax on the shimmering sands of Glyfada beach, one of the most popular sunning spots on the island. Top up your tan. Take a dip in the crystal waters. Or simply laze beneath a hot sun.

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La Romana, Dominican Republic

A Caribbean and Latin-fused favourite, it’s easy to see why Columbus labelled the Dominican Republic as ‘the fairest land under heaven’. It’s got all the tropical ingredients you could wish for. And this southeast corner is no exception. Shop for jewellery made of locally mined amber. Feast on the Spanish, African and Taino cuisine. Or explore the Chavron River, which landed a starring role in the film ‘Apocalypse Now’.

• Join in the creative buzz at Altos de Chavon, just north of La Romana. This unique artists’ village is a replica of a 17th-century Mediterranean village and gazes down over the gorge of the Chavron River. You’ll find artists’ studios, craft shops and restaurants here.
• It’s well worth the journey up to the bewitching Semana Peninsula. As well as having rainforests in every shade of green and angel-white sands, it’s the humpback whales that are the big draw here. They visit the area for some major speed-dating sessions during the mating season so you’ve got a good chance of glimpsing these creatures in their natural habitat.
• Set sail for Saona Island, just off the mainland. First discovered by Columbus back in 1494, it’s a top spot for swimming and snorkelling. Make sure you keep an eye out for starfish – they’re a regular feature here.

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Palma, Spain

Palma. Think leafy boulevards that echo with the stilettos of stylish shoppers. Tiny tapas bars tucked down narrow sidestreets. Architectural gold hidden in the historic quarter. With its trademark cathedral dominating the skyline, cosmopolitan Palma never fails to impress.

• Spend some time exploring the city, clicking snaps of the 14th-century Bellver Castle, browsing the boutiques and tasting tapas in the authentic bars that barnacle the backstreets
• Love to shop? Then make a beeline for Inca, the island’s biggest street market, which opens every Thursday.
• Don’t miss out on one last amazing view when you leave the city. When the ship departs after dark, make sure you’re out on deck to enjoy the unforgettable sight of Palma Cathedral magically lit up.

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Bridgetown, Barbados

A hypnotic calypso isle, Barbados is the ultimate Caribbean dream. And at just 21 miles by 14 miles, the island really is your oyster. Of course, it’s most famous for its palm-fringed beaches, but there’s more than talcum powder sands here. We’re talking a duty-free shopping scene and sights that are second to none. In a coconut shell, it’s the small island with a big fan base.

• Take a tram ride through a labyrinth of underground caverns at Harrison’s Cave in St Thomas. A natural phenomenon that has to be seen to be believed, it’s all sparkling streams, playful waterfalls and stalactites and stalagmites that shimmer in shady tunnels.
• Go snorkelling in search of hawksbill and green turtles. Once endangered because of over-fishing, these creatures are now protected and monitored throughout the island.
• Take it easy on Carlisle Beach, one of the island’s best stretches of sand. Or, if you’re feeling energetic, slip on a pair of flippers and propel your way past the underwater shipwrecks just off the shore.
• The Atlantis Submarine lets you scuba dive without getting wet. As this underwater ship descends into the ocean, you can look out the portholes for tropical fish and sea turtles.

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Las Palmas, Spain

Golden dunes drenched in year-round sunshine. Rugged mountains hiding pretty whitewashed villages. Bays and coves linked together like a magnificent sandy necklace. Nature’s been kind to Gran Canaria so little surprise it lures sun-worshippers back year after year.

• Take a trip to the Bandama crater. Standing over 3,000ft high, it’s one of the few inhabited volcanic craters in the world.
• Discover the island’s cosmopolitan capital, Las Palmas, where chic boutiques and tempting tapas bars are tucked in among some breathtaking architecture. In the old town, or Veguetta district, you’ll come across the Christopher Columbus Museum, which is well worth a visit, too.
• Feast your eyes on the incredible wind-sculpted sand dunes of Maspalomas. Then pick a patch of sand and soak up the sun.

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Malaga, Spain

Set on the sun-drenched Costa del Sol, Malaga is a Moorish delight. During the Arab occupation of Spain, the city was the principal port of the Moorish kingdom of Granada. So what does that mean for you? It means the city of Granada and its striking Alhambra Palace are just a short drive away. Prepare to be blown away.

• See Malaga’s 16th-century cathedral. It’s known as ‘La Manquita’ or ‘one-armed woman’ because lack of funds meant only one of the two planned towers was completed.
• Take in the views from the Alhambra Palace in Granada. This pink-gold, Arabian-style building sits on a hilltop, surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
• The caves in Nerja, an elegant old town on the edge of a cliff, are among the largest and most spectacular in Europe.

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Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

Santa Cruz is one of the Canary Islands’ biggest hitters. It shares its capital city title with Las Palmas, on the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria, and more than lives up to the role. In the space of just a few streets, the bustling port area melts into an inviting old town. A century-spanning mix of church towers and hotels peeks above the rooftops, and the whole town’s backed by the silhouette of a mountain range. You’ll find one of the Canary Islands’ most futuristic buildings by the harbour – the Auditorio de Tenerife, which looks like an edgier version of the Sydney Opera House. At the more historic end of the scale is the Basilica of Candelaria, which is dedicated to the patron saint of the Canary Islands. Further afield, you’ll find beaches hugging the south coast and the mighty Mount Teide rising up in the island’s centre.

• You’ll have to travel to Hawaii to see a volcano that’s taller than Mount Teide. Tenerife’s snow-capped giant is the third highest in the world, when you measure from the ocean floor. Head to the national park that surrounds it, and you can explore the wildlife-lined walking trails.
• Take a drive through the Orotava Valley, stopping at the Humboldt viewpoint. There’s a bronze statue of the naturalist it’s named after – look over his shoulder, and you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the island’s vineyards and banana plantations.

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Dubrovnik, Croatia

Ancient city walls. Higgledy-piggledy red rooftops. Cobbled streets worn by time. That’s Dubrovnik, a heart-stealing city that you just know you’re going to love the moment you arrive.

• Check out the 17th-century cathedral in the old town, with its striking gold and silver ruins. Then make tracks for Rector’s Palace, the former residence of Dubrovnik’s Republic Rector. It houses an impressive collection of artefacts and furniture.
• Leave the city behind and set sail for the nearby Elaphite Islands. All pine forests, beaches and olive groves, this trio offer up plenty in the way of Kodak-worthy scenery.

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