Asia

The first thing you see landing into Macao is the towering silhouettes of the casinos, dozens of glass and concrete behemoths looming over the horizon,  shrouded in sickly neon mist, firing laser over the sky.  There's the hulking, lotus-shaped Grand Lisboa, the rust-coloured reproduction of Las Vegas' Wynn, the opulent towers of the Galaxy. Unlike mainland China, gambling has been legal in Macao since 1850, an industry that makes up more than half its local economy.  Most people you speak with will have come to either gamble or to watch a sporting event.

To experience one of the most exciting culture-packed destinations in the Far East, look no further than Macao.  With rich history, vibrant nightlife and great food, Macao has something for everyone. Located 40 miles from Hong Kong Macao's  Portuguese-Chinese heritage is a must-see for avid travellers looking for a cool alternative twin-centre stop off when exploring Hong Kong, Thailand and  the rest of Asia.

Pick from our list of great places to visit for your next short break.   If you have not select your next short break destination yet, then checkout these places.  We have destinations in Europe, Asia,  South America and the Middle East.

When you close your eyes and think of paradise, what do you see? An island hideaway, with white-sand beaches kissed by gin-clear waters? A place covered in virgin rainforest, bordered by tropical reefs? If so, what you’re thinking of is Song Saa, a private island resort in Cambodia’s Koh Rong Archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand.

There seems to be some dispute over how the island got the name that means ‘Elephant Isle’ in Thai.  Some say it looks like an elephant from above, others say that it looks like an elephant as it rises hump-backed out of the Gulf of Thailand.  There is also a folk-tale that two of Buddha’s elephants escaped and waded into the sea: the mother was inexplicably ‘fossilised’ to form Koh Chang and the baby become tiny Koh Chang Noi.

Rarely has the cultural collision of East and West been as evident elsewhere in the world as it is in Macau. For nearly half a millennium, this Special Administration Region of China has been a fascination melting pot of Chinese and European influences.  Visitors to modern Macau will find plenty of this still of this mix today, alongside a frequently spectacular sprinkling of contemporary style.

Many of us had wanted to visit Burma/ Myanmar at some stage but because of the political situation were deterred.  Following the released of pro-democratic leader Aung San Suu Ky in 2009, her party is asking ethical tourists to visit. Burma is where it neighbour Thailand was before mass tourism - many areas are in their natural state waiting to be explored.

If you thought Thailand was just a beach holiday destination, then think again. With its incredible diversity, it’s hard not to love Thailand. From a vibrant metropolis to a hammock on a deserted island, bustling streets to a digital detox in the world of meditation – in Thailand there is something for everyone.