Hidden gems

Cape Verde's unique geographic location, tumultuous history of slavery and invasion, and fascinating mix of transatlantic cultures have given rise to a place unlike any other on the globe. A place as joyful as it is full of longing, a fact perhaps best reflected in Cape Verdean music and the hauntingly beautiful 'morna'. The sometimes harsh, drought-prone conditions of this mid-Atlantic scattering of islands have seen the flourishing of a fascinating Creole culture and the most stable democracy in Africa.

Classified as mountain resort cities, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are situated along the Great Smoky Mountains. Booming attractions like Dollywood and the Smoky Mountain Opry draw tourism to Pigeon Forge, along with its collections of music theatres and shopping malls. Gatlinburg features Tennessee’s lone ski resort, Ober Gatlinburg, and quaint, mountain-themed specialty stores. Both cities provide gateways to North America’s most visited national park, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Liberia, both the capital and largest city of Guanacaste province, is — despite its lower profile — the country's major centre for tourism, as well as a regional hub of Costa Rica's northwest. The town attracts visitors from all over the world thanks to its beautiful natural surroundings, interesting architectural heritage, and a rich culture.

Pinetop - Lakeside, Arizona, beckons visitors to “come celebrate the season.” This is fitting, for every season seems to smile upon the small town with ample sunshine in the summers and coquettish snow in the winters. People come each year to this veritable Promised Land of natural beauty. Outdoor activities abound: adventurers are fond of hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, and trailblazing in the warmer months, and skiing and snowboarding in the cooler seasons.

Destination Cap d'Agde Mediterranean Cape of Agde Mediterranean Alliance between land and sea Cap of Agde Mediterranean is located In the south of France, in Occitania, a region that enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year; everyone agrees that it is a great holiday destination. It is made up of 3 complimentary seaside resorts:Cape of Agde, Vias and Portiragnes, with fine sand and volcanic beaches, beaches bordered by pine forests, and an authentic hinterland with towns and villages with a well kept heritage, with living tradtions and varied arts and crafts professions. Featuring Pézenas, the town of Molière, Agde, the Ancient Phocaean trading post or Montagnac, the great mediaeval fair town. The Canal du Midi is the backbone of the Cap d'Agde Mediterranean passing through it from one end to the other. There are so many entertainment and cultural events on offer that you’ll keep wanting to come back throughout the year. It also offers 20km of coastline, partly wild and partly developed, fine sandy beaches, a natural environment made up of parks, pine forests, closely protected marine areas, historical monuments, astonishing heritage, top quality sporting facilities and is a and is a permanent whirl of activity.

As the capital of the Emilia Romagna region, Bologna is an art city, a university centre and a place renowned for its excellent cuisine. It hosts important international trade fairs and is one of the world’s greatest motor cities. Ducati, Lamborghini and Maserati were all born in Bologna and Ferrari’s headquarters can be found in nearby Modena.

Bogotá is the sprawling, high-altitude capital of Colombia. In fact, it is the third highest capital in the world! Cradled by chilly and lush Andean peaks, the city features colonial-era historical centre La Candelaria. Colonial buildings and cobbles streets attract visitors to explore the pre-Colombian Gold Museum, Fernando Botero's art and ornate churches. Bogotá’s monumental government buildings and human-scale brown brick houses are a real treat for architecture lovers. Another major attraction is the city's vibrant and varied nightlife.

Cartagena is the undisputed queen of Colombia's Caribbean coast and easily the most attractive city in the region — this given its apparent shortage of attractions in the classical sense of the word. Instead, what draws travellers in is the city itself: a microcosm of the Caribbean, walled in by defensive ramparts built to ward off unwelcome visitors, the likes of Sir Francis Drake, who held Cartagena de Indias captive for months during his 16th-century raids on the Spanish New World.