Look for spicy dishes flavoured with tamarind and coconut in Kochi, and don’t be surprised if your dinner is served up on a banana leaf. The region is a major banana-growing area, and traditional Kochi cuisine employs the fruit in many dishes, both sweet and savoury. Coconut water provides a refreshing and sweet contrast to the piquant food.

The tourist village of Kumarakom is relaxed and refined, featuring lush flowery landscapes and a multicoloured plethora of bird species, best enjoyed at the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Glide along an intricate web of lagoons, lakes and rivers on a fully-staffed private houseboat, or settle in at a cozy B&B for some well-deserved R&R. Don’t miss the famous wood carvings at the peaceful Shiva Temple at Ettuman. Local cuisine will delight your taste buds with fresh, rich flavours and a variety of spices.

Sprawling tea plantations surround the serene hills of Munnar, which attract adventure travellers hungry for paragliding, treks to Anaimudi (South India's highest peak) and hikes originating at the confluence of three mountain streams. The stone Christ Church, built by the British in 1910, is adorned with renowned works of stained glass, and Eravikulam National Park, about 10 miles away, is home to equally colourful wildlife, including the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (ibex), ruddy mongoose and 120 bird species.

Phuket offers a rainbow spectrum of spectacular holiday sights from blue lagoons and pink sunsets to orange-robed monks. Three wheeled-Tuk Tuks, taxis, buses and long tailed boats transport visitors between these marvels. Phuket's south coast offers its most popular beaches. The north is more tranquil. Koh Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay and Patong Beach are popular spots. Diving, snorkeling, wind surfing and sailing are just a few active options. Inland, forested hills, mountains and cliffs wait to be explored.

Famed throughout Asia for its heady mix of eastern cultures, Penang Island is Malaysia’s prime melting pot. Roadside vendors serve some of the world’s best street food; its national parks offer white-sand beaches and wildlife; and UNESCO-listed George Town is full of colorful heritage houses.

Escape the heat and visit a tea plantation in the rolling hills of the Cameron Highlands.

Resorts and reefs are the draw on Israel’s skinny Red Sea coastline, and Eilat tempts visitors with sun that lasts all year round. Sandy beaches, warm waters, and nightlife complete the package, along with desert scenery that’s just beyond the crowded coast.

Your biggest daily decision in Side may be whether to head east or west. The town’s West Beach is closer to hotels, has calm water and fine sand, offers watersports, and is (not surprisingly) popular. If you’re craving a more relaxed day, though, head in the opposite direction. The East Beach is a bit rockier, but it’s less crowded—you’ll find the locals here.

Glamourous Santorini is deliciously different. Geographical newness is in part to thank. The island’s popular black volcanic Perissa and Kamari beaches are big draws, as is its arguably most famous Red Beach near Akrotiri (which is the place to go for archaeology buffs). Santorini curves round a giant lagoon in the Cyclades islands, offering stunning views from sky-high towns, eclectic cuisine, lovely galleries, thriving nightlife and excellent wines.

Vlad the Impaler stated his claim to Bucharest in 1459. His citadel on the Dambovita was the first of a host of palaces, many of which still stand. Four metro lines and a modern bus network transport visitors and commuters. Nicknamed "Little Paris", Bucharest's elegant early 20th-century architecture shows French influences. Don't miss the Village Museum, Romanian Athenaeum and the Peasant Museum. You can't miss the Palace of Parliament, the second-largest building in the world after the Pentagon.