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Medieval German architecture. With buildings dating as far back as 1405, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Stadel Art Institute and Municipal Gallery, which has a fab collection of European paintings from the 14th to the 20th centuries;

Frankfurt Zoo, the most attractive in Europe; Palm Gardens, a tropical oasis of exotic plants and birds; Sachsenhausen, an area of quaint drinking houses; a cruise along the Rhine to soak up the city’s sights.

Pubs serve the standard German pork chop, sauerkraut and potatoes. Lodging is aplenty from swanky hotels to boarding houses. Butwhen trade fairs are on (which is almost all the time) lodging is tight and hotels will sell off rooms that haven’t been prepaid even if the guest arrives just one minute after check-in time!

Central Australia
Aboriginal heritage, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park:Kings Canyon, Standley Chasm, Alice Springs and unique animals such as shy wallabies and the notorious dingos. The region holds most of Australia’s Aboriginal culture and the sights will overwhelm you! This is also the best spot for star gazing!

Ayers Rock, the world’s largest monolith, is one of Australia’s most recognised symbols. The rock is considered sacred by the Aborigines so you’re not allowed to climb it, instead walk around it for a breathtaking showcase of Aboriginal paintings along the way! One of the highlights is its magnificent colour change during sunset and sunrise so make sure you allocate time for that! The Olgas, which is just 32km west of Ayers Rock, is made up of 30 brilliant red monoliths scattered across lush green plains – the view is simply awesome! The Olgas require you to do a fair bit of walking, but it’s well worth the trip! Don’t forget to check out The Lost City as well when you are there!

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Hiking to the summit can be hard work. To ensure you’re up to the task, practise these tips at least six weeks before departure:

Devise a workout plan made up of cardiovascular exercise such as running, cycling or dancing so your body is fit enough for the climb.

Practise climbing a hill, so you’ll get used to hiking an incline, which is different from walking or running a marathon. If there is no hill nearby, try climbing the stairs in your building instead. Try to get in at least three practice sessions a week.

Get a sturdy backpack for the hike, weigh it down and train with it to get used to the heavy load. For the first practice, put in water bottles weighing about 10kg. Increase the weight gradually so that by the end of training, the pack will match the weight of the items you’ll be lugging on the trip (about 30kg if you’re bringing all the essentials). This will help simulate the conditions of the actual climb and get you used to it.

Invest in a good pair of hiking boots at least one month earlier. This way, you’ll avoid having to break them in during your climb.

Lay off the training two days before the date of departure to give your body time to recuperate from the rigorous training.

A historical gold mine. Also, two famous films were shot here: Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade in Petra and Lawrence of Arabia in Wadi Rum.

At the capital, Amman, visit the Jordan Archaeological Museum and The Folklore Museum to get an overview of Jordanian culture and history. Then be wowed by architectural wonders the Temple of Hercules, Omayyad Palace and Byzantine Church in The Citadel. Head south to Madaba, “The City of Mosaics”, known for its brilliant Byzantine and Ummayad mosaic floors, the most famous being the 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem. Be sure to stop by Petra, an ancient city of tombs, temples, baths, etc. It’s also home to The Treasury, an elaborate building once thought to contain a huge treasure! In reality it’s the tomb of a ruler of the Nabatean Arabs. If you like Crusader legends, go to Karak Fort, a maze of tunnels and passages that’s a testimony to the Crusader’s architectural genius. Also, be sure to visit the gulf of Aqaba for its amazing marine wildlife, and the famous Dead Sea!

The three-star Firas Palace Hotel in Amman offers a double-room for great price. For a quick bite, grab a kebab at Shawerma Reem.

Plug it.
Cheap and readily available, earplugs mean you don’t have to put up with crying babies, loud passengers or startling pilot announcements, leaving you to catch 40 winks or read in peace.

What’s that smell?
If you get stuck next to a fellow traveller with less than pleasant body odour on a long-haul flight, save yourself by dabbing a little menthol lip balm under your nostrils.

Bring your own stuff.
If you know you won’t be able to sleep on long-haul flights without a personal effect – your own blanket, say bring it with you. That way, you won’t be deprived of a restful flight if the airline doesn’t provide the same.

Cover your laptop.
If you must work or play solitaire mid-air, close the cover whenever any form of liquid approaches. Many a computer has been ruined by accidents, turbulence and clumsy flight attendants in-flight!

Home to music acts – Oasis, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead – and of course, football team, Man U.

First stop, Old Trafford, home to the Man U FC, for a tour of the grandstand, dug out, players’ tunnel and dressing room. One for the scrapbook is the Urbis, a stunning hi-tech gallery that starts with a fantastic ride on a glass elevator taking you through a series of interactive exhibits. Itching to shop? Try King Street if you’re into designer gear; Picadilly and Oldham streets for bargains galore; and Affleck Palace for mod, street wear. For good music, check out the Academy on Oxford Street, which has hosted acts like Placebo and Bjork.

You’ve googled it, gotten hold of all the brochures and guidebooks, and interrogated everyone who’s been to your next travel destination. So how will a tour guide offer you anything more? Follow this lead:

No worries about getting lost. Your guide knows the local district like the back of his hand. Plus, he’ll probably provide transportation, making for a more convenient and comfortable trip.

What’s worth seeing – or giving a miss? If pressed for time, your guide should be able to give you a priority list on places to visit. They’re hoping you’ll recommend them to your friends for future trips, so they’ll try their best to show you a good time.

You’ll be well-treated at restaurants, markets and other tourist spots. Guides with good rapport with people in the industry usually strike up an agreement with business owners to give special discounts in exchange for a steady stream of business.

You’ll have better bargaining power. There are usually two prices at markets or bazaars: A low price for the locals and a much higher one for tourists. A good tour guide must be able negotiate so that you pay closer to the local price.

You’ll understand local customs better. You don’t have to worry about offending the locals by first asking your guide on what’s appropriate or not.

The job: Researching new and exciting travel destinations and activities. You also propose story angles for coverage, plan the travel itinerary and execute photo shoots to convey information in the most enticing way possible. Writing, of course, is a major part of the job.

The challenge: You get to enjoy luxury hotels, fine dining, spa treats, you name it. To sound less like a free-loading vulture, you have to travelling to unusual places, discovering a different side of destination, including diving in some of the most pristine marine havens on earth. Nothing beats the feel of the wide open road and the adventures that lie around the next bend.

Downside: Getting stung by jellyfish and polishing off a can of insect spray in an attempt to ward off leeches in our beautiful rainforest. Long hours on shoots are to be expected of course.

The income: If you’re in it for the money, you’re in the wrong job. But, the experiences gained are priceless. Freelancing is a good way to supplement your pay. But this requires funds to subsidise travel expenses.

The customer: Travel writers may either go on to write for international publications or become editors of travel mags. One could even release a book, travel guide or brochure or start up a travel website.

Ideas if your Bags are Lost by the Airlines:

Cross pack. If you’re traveling with a friend, leave two sets of clothes in her bag and keep two sets of her togs in yours. This way, if either of you lose your suitcase, you’ll have a spare set of clothes for a few days.

Directions. Write down on the suitcase tag the name of the location where you’ll be staying during your vacation so it can be sent directly to your hotel instead of back home.

Snap a photo. Take a picture of your luggage and all its contents. This will help the airport or airline personnel locate your belongings should they go missing. Alternatively, give your bag a unique identifying feature such as an unusual decal or sticker.

Items you won’t miss. It’s bad enough having to make do without your necessities, but to lose your new designer tee or pair of bejewelled thongs? Don’t take all your new or expensive items. Instead, pack a few things you wouldn’t mind losing like a pair of old socks or faded tee to minimise your loss in case your suitcase is permanently lost. Another benefit if you pack this way? When it comes time to leave you can chuck the old stuff to make space for new purchases!

It’s been mentioned in numerous songs and books including “Marrakech Express” by 60s band Crosby, Stills and Nash and George Orwell’s Marrakech. Also, the Djamaa-el-Fna is the largest and busiest market square in all of Africa.

The Majorelle Gardens, a botanical paradise owned by French couturier Yves Saint Laurent. Nearby is the Majorelle Museum of Islamic Art, which houses beautiful North African and Islamic artefacts. The Bahia Palace, with its resplendent courtyards and mazes is breathtaking while the Saadien Tombs is a necropolis with 66 imperial tombs covered in intricate mosaic. Shop for fine dyed leather goods, wooden craft items and gorgeous kaftans at Souks Smarine, El Kebir and El Atarin, but you need to bargain hard to get the best price! The markets get more exciting after sunset. At Djamaa-El-Fna, check out stalls offering exotic Moroccan dishes while snake charmers, Berber acrobats, musicians and fortune tellers engage your attention.