Berlin
Berlin boasts some of the finest museum collections in the world. Since 1990 many of the collections previously split between East and West Berlin have been brought together in new venues.

Berlin is also undoubtedly one of Europe's greenest capital cities, with the sprawling Tiergarten at its centre. However, most of Berlin's districts have their own smaller parks and gardens too, some of them with children's play areas and nature trails. To the west of the city is the vast Grunewald, a beautiful area of Forest which contains mountain bike trails and scenic paths for walkers and cyclists.

Budapest
Often described as "Little Paris of Middle Europe", Budapest is famous not only for the monuments reflecting its own 1,000-year-old culture, but also for the relics of others who settled here. Remains from both Roman occupation, and, much later, rule by the Turks can still be seen in the city.

Budapest is also one of the great spa cities of Europe. Numerous natural hot springs pour out over 80 million litres of richly mineralised water every day. Today there is a wide choice of therapeutic and recreational baths and pools.

Croatia
Croatia forms a meeting point between the Mediterranean and central Europe, and between the Alps and the Pannonian Plains. Its relatively small territory is made up of a wide variety of landscapes. A stunningly beautiful country, it is slowly re-emerging form the difficult years of conflict and regaining its role as a popular holiday destination.

The Istrian Peninsula, nestling at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, and the islands that tumble down the Kvarner gulf are some of the most sought after holiday destinations in Europe. The coast is spectacular and the towns and cities are fascinating. Three National Parks: the Brijuni Islands, the Plitvice Lakes and Risnjak preserve the natural charm of the area.

Maui
The island of Maui - off Hawaii in the Pacific - is known as the 'valley isle'. Most of its population nestles in the low-lying isthmus between the lush western mountains and the dustier slopes of Haleakala to the east. Skiting the coast are some of the world's finest beaches, from the popular resorts on the southwestern fringe to the wilder surfing beaches on the north and eastern shores.

Maui's administrative group also includes the islands of Moloka'I and Lana'I with more magnificent scenery and even greater remoteness.

Portugal
Most visitors to Portugal head for sandy coves, rocky coastline and manicured gold links of the Algarve. But beyond the south coast resorts lies the least explored corner of Western Europe: a country of rugged landscapes, sophisticated cities, rural backwaters and sharply contrasting traditions.

Portugal appears to have no obvious geographical claim to nationhood, yet this western extremity of the Iberian Peninsula has existed within borders virtually unchanged for nearly 800 years. For such a small country, the regions of Portugal are immensely varied.

Sicily
The island of Sicily is Italy's largest region and is also its most varied. In terms of geography, there are offshore islands, endless coastline, rugged mountains, rolling wheatfields and volcanoes, but its history and architecture are also of note. Sicily formed a significant portion of the Greek empire, was strategically vital to Rome, and was invaded in succession by the Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, French, Spanish, and Bourbons, before unifying with Italy. Each conquest left its mark, to create a palimpsest of cultures on the island.