This area of Spain has been slammed for its concrete tower blocks and non-existent town planning. However, for every Torremolinos there are several stunning white villages nestled into the hillsides, not to mention vibrant, Spanish towns and cities with great architecture.

These cities’ treasures are no more than two or three hours away by car from the Costa del Sol and make fantastic day trips to spice up any Costa del Sol holiday itinerary.

There are also a host of water sports to take advantage of the warm Mediterranean Sea, such as sea-kayaking, windsurfing, scuba diving, kite surfing or even learning to sail. Or if you want something potentially less wet, you can take to the sea for a spot of fishing, or enjoy a catamaran cruise to try and spot some of the native dolphins.

If you are a nature lover or budding photographer, Madagascar should be at the top of your bucket list. In this vast and luscious island, 90 per cent of all animal and plant species are totally unique. It also has a vibrant culture, with festivals celebrating all things Malagasy  throughout the year.

July marks the start of Madagascar’s peak tourist season, so it’s advisable you book everything well in advance to avoid disappointment. By now we are in the midst of Madagascar’s winter so temperatures drop to a cooler 15-20°C and it is also much dryer.

After 3 months of rainfall, April comes as a relief to the residents of Madagascar. While there may still be some downpours, there will also be plenty of sunshine – the perfect combination to entice the island’s wildlife out of hiding.

While you can visit Madagascar in the first three months of the year, you are likely to get very wet. In January rainfall can reach up to 340mm and in February there is a high risk of cyclones, particularly in the northeast of the island.

If you are a nature lover or budding photographer, Madagascar should be at the top of your bucket list. In this vast and luscious island, 90 per cent of all animal and plant species are totally unique. It also has a vibrant culture, with festivals celebrating all things Malagasy  throughout the year.

A black pebble turns out to be an explosion of cheese and pistachio cream as you bite into it. What appears to be plastic bag containing dried shrimps is all edible. You suck up a margarita through a straw poked into what looks like a Venus fly trap.

Lying in the north eastern corner of Italy, next to the border with Austria, the Dolomite mountains are a paradise for walkers, with views of their thrusting pale spires changing at every turn.

When you feel like an escape into nature with a dollop of culture thrown in, perhaps consider an Autumnal road trip to America’s Great Lakes. Nature herself provides you with visual entertainment with an abundance of lushly hued foliage of orange, red, purple, browns and yellows.

It’s a four-and-a-half hour drive to Traverse City, a farming area in Michigan with plenty of cherry trees and, unexpectedly, rows of vineyards. The scenic 65-acre Chateau Chantal Winery is located on top of a ridge on the Old Mission Peninsula.