Dynamic dubai

If ever there was a place of contradictions, it’s Hong Kong. A frenetic city with excellent public transport, smaller islands with their ancient traditions are just a ferry ride away. All this and mor

A new generation in this storied Chinese megacity is eschewing the fast-paced lifestyles of their parents and embracing fun, freedom and living life to the full — and Shanghai is adapting in interesting ways

Stretching across two continents separated by the Bosphorus Strait, this ancient Silk Road city was once the capital of both the Christian Byzantine and Islamic Ottoman empires. Crumbling hammams rub shoulders with striking contemporary buildings, while the call to prayer from Hagia Sophia mosque can be heard from the 15th-century Grand Bazaar, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants. Istanbul is sewn together by a series of storied districts, which results in a varied hotel scene. Relive the Ottoman heyday in a Sultanahmet townhouse; book a boutique stay fuelled by cafes and galleries in Karaköy; or check in among the designer stores of Nişantaşı.

Do you dream of picture-perfect islands, long, pristine beaches and endless sunshine? Then put the Maldives at the top of your once-in-a-lifetime travel wish list. Comprising 1,192 islands dotted acro

Snap up bargains and one-off finds while enjoying a holiday too

Head to Mauritius for powder-soft beaches, jungle waterfalls and Creole charm