Awe-inspiriting architecture, free-flowing vodka, hearty cuisine and fairy-tale castles. Sprawling expanses of forest and icy planes. Hip bars, opulent cathedrals and high-end shopping precincts. There’s a reason travellers are becoming increasingly intrigued by a trip to Russia.

As winter comes to an end in Australia and monsoonal rains make way for tropical sun in Asia, there’s no better time to leave the cold behind and make a quick dash to every Aussie’s favourite island – Thailand.

Kuta really is a melting pot of different flavours and, from a culinary point of view, there really is something for everyone in Bali’s colourful playground.

From the Colonial charm of the Old Quarter to the delectable street food begging to be devoured; Hanoi’s frenetic pace will leave you breathless and hungry for more.

The next few years are big for Paris, with a surge in urban renewal leading up to the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics: think plenty of new restaurants and bars, as well as blockbuster exhibitions in freshly minted museums.

There are some national parks that are in the essential- to-see-before-you-die category: Yosemite (USA), or Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (China), for example. And then, there’s Torres del Paine in Chile’s Patagonia region.