At the center of Trois Vallees, the world’s largest ski area, Meribel gives easy access to the entire vicinity and its more than 400 miles of pistes. Within Meribel itself, the Altiport is for beginners while Saulire and Tougnète are mixed use, and Mont du Vallon serves up long, steep advanced runs against a gorgeous backdrop.

Romance is the lifeblood of Annecy, a town in the Rhone-Alpes region of southeast France that’s replete with castles and cathedrals and softly curving architecture. Stroll hand in hand with your paramour across Pont des Amours (the lover’s bridge) before taking in the Imperial Palace and the baroque Cathedral of Saint-Pierre. A walk down the Rue Royale will be rewarded with prime shopping, dining and people-watching, especially at the fountain of Saint Jean.

Hugging the Swiss border, this stylish resort gets over 26 feet of snow each winter. Villages des Enfants, for kids and young teens, is the perfect place for learning. Softski is for adult newcomers or those who’ve been away for a while, while The Stash is Europe’s first giant ecological snowboard park.

One of the most heart-pumping stretches of the Tour de France is always the 21 hairpin curves at L'Alpe d'Huez. Doesn’t sound so hard? They bike up the mountain. Every summer, hundreds of amateur cyclists flock to this resort in the French Alps and make the same climb. It’s more famous as a warm-weather destination, but L'Alpe d'Huez is also one of Europe’s top ski destinations. The nearby slopes appeal to beginners, but they get more challenging a bit farther away. More experienced skiers and snowboarders can literally travel for miles on some of the most challenging runs. And there are plenty of off-piste areas, too.

On the Swiss Riviera, Vevey is perched between Mount Pélerin and Lake Geneva. Writers, artists and intellectuals have long been attracted to the village: Henry James's "Daisy Miller" is set here (you can still stay at the Hôtel des Trois Couronnes) and Charlie Chaplin made nearby Corsier his home. Today it's the headquarters for Nestlé, yet retains its old-world charm. To see for yourself, meander the alleys of Old Town, visit the fine art collection at the Musée Jenisch and shop at the weekly market.

A rare year-round resort on the Island of Winds, Alghero makes an atmospheric destination. Occupying armies have all left their marks on the old, walled city; Italian kingdoms, Carthaginians, Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabs and Catalans have all come and gone. Offering an irresistible combination of history, architecture, culture, stylish shopping, fine food and wine, and water sports, Alghero's cobblestone streets can be explored on foot or by bus. Don't miss spectacular sea cave, Neptune's Grotto.

Romantic Naples, two hours south of Rome, is the largest city in southern Italy. It has some of the world's best opera and theatre houses and is often called an open-air museum, due to its many historic statues and monuments. Join families on the promenade as the sun sets on the Bay of Naples. View finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D., at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale or revel in the art and architecture of Museo Cappella Sansevero, built in the late 1500s.

The shining jewel of Qatar, Doha is a multicultural city, home to most of the country's population as well as expatriate communities from a range of origins. Shopping abounds in the city's plentiful malls, while the Corniche impresses visitors with picturesque architecture and dazzling views of the harbour. Doha boasts myriad cultural facilities, including the futuristic Education City and the National Museum.

The Zanzibar Archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean 15 miles off the coast of Tanzania, is a breathtaking spot to escape from the world. You’ll enjoy clear, turquoise-blue water; shallow sandbars perfect for wading; and many small, nearly deserted islands virtually unvisited by tourists. Explore the World Heritage Site of Stone Town, Zanzibar City’s old quarter. Or just go beach to beach between tiny fishing villages—each one's better than the next.

Lonavala is one of the twin hill stations located near to each other, the other being Khandala. These hill stations are very popular getaway spots for people from Mumbai and Pune, which are very well-linked with Lonavala by road and rail. Monsoons are the best time to visit Lonavala/Khandala.

An hour or two south of Recife, Porto de Galinhas was made for the not-so-extreme tourist. Raves one traveller, "It's what it doesn't have that makes it great:" no heavy traffic, no nightlife to speak of. Explore the natural tidal pools that form in the reef, feeding fish that swim all around you; or ride a dune buggy to romantic Muro Alto beach. Or skip all that and doze in a hammock by the warm, green, clear Atlantic.