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The capital of Hungary is Budapest. It has an area of 525km squared and a population of 1.73 million as of 2012.

Bahrain

• Bahrain, small Arab state situated in a bay on the southwestern coast of the Persian Gulf.
• It is an archipelago consisting of Bahrain Island and some 30 smaller islands.
• Its name is from the Arabic term al-baḥrayn, meaning “two seas.
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Bahrain has so much to offer, here are some of the things Bahrain is known for.

• Manama Souq: Exploring the narrow streets and alleyways that possess all the energy and nostalgia of an ancient souq.
• Pearl Diving Tours: Plunging into the azure waters like a seasoned pearl diver and seeking your fortune.
• Haji's Cafe 1950: Putting your feet up and enjoying street food with a 70-year vintage.
• Bahrain National Museum: Immersing yourself in this museum to understand Bahrain, past and present.
• Bahrain National Theatre: Enjoying world-class performing arts in a world-class building.
• Bahrain Fort: Admiring the 16th-century battlements atop the ancient Dilmun capital.
• Formula 1 Racetrack: Sampling life in the fast lane at Bahrain's annual glamour gig.
• Al Areen Wildlife Park and Reserve: Meeting Bahrain's desert inhabitants in the country's national park.
• Dar Al Naft Oil Museum: Seeing where Bahrain – and the entire region – first struck black gold.

Jamaica

• Jamaica, island country of the West Indies.
• It is the third largest island in the Caribbean Sea, after Cuba and Hispaniola.
• Jamaica is about 146 miles (235 km) long and varies from 22 to 51 miles (35 to 82 km) wide.
• It is situated some 100 miles (160 km) west of Haiti, 90 miles (150 km) south of Cuba, and 390 miles (630 km) northeast of the nearest point on the mainland, Cape Gracias a Dios, on the Caribbean coast of Central America.
• The national capital is Kingston.

Jamaica has so much to offer, here are some of the things Jamaica is known for.

Reggae Grooves

If there’s any cultural trend that defines Jamaica to the rest of the world, it’s reggae music – quite literally the soundtrack of the island. The reggae calendar is dominated by two huge events that celebrate the country’s love of ‘riddims,’ both worth planning your trip around – Rebel Salute, held every January in St Ann, and then Reggae Sumfest:, held in Montego Bay in the middle of the broiling Jamaican summer. Break out a sweat amid the throbbing mass of bodies and the nonstop dancing.

Best Beaches

Jamaica’s beach experiences are as varied as the island’s topography. The tiny, delicate Lime Cay, only reachable by boat from Port Royal, is perfect for snorkeling and picnics. Hellshire Beach heaves with Kingstonians and reverberates with loud music, its wooden shacks doing a roaring trade in fried fish. The north coast’s Winnifred Beach: draws the locals with its azure waters and weekend parties, while Negril’s Seven Mile Beach is crisscrossed by Jet Ski riders and its long crescent of white sand is lined with the bodies of sun worshippers.

Climbing Blue Mountain Peak

A night hike to reach Jamaica’s highest point: by sunrise, your path lit by the sparks of myriad fireflies, is an experience unlike any other. As you climb, the vegetation becomes less and less tropical, until you’re hiking amid stunted trees draped with old man’s beard (lichen) and giant ferns. In the predawn cold at the summit, you wait in rapt silence as the first rays of the sun wash over the densely forested mountain peaks all around you, illuminating the distant coffee plantations and Cuba beyond.

Kingston Nightlife

Whether you’re attending a nightclub: or a street dance, expect a sweaty, lively, no-holds-barred event. Dress up to the nines and follow the locals’ lead. At a street dance, two giant speakers are placed facing each other, the street pounding with the bass, while nightclubs provide a similar experience indoors. Expect to be pulled into the melee as the locals will want to see how well you can dance, and bump and grind to some dancehall riddims or slowy skank to the deepest dub.

Negril

So you’ve walked on the snowy sands of Negril’s: Seven Mile Beach, wandered past the nude sunbathers, seen the sun sink behind the horizon in a fiery ball, plunged into the ocean to scrub your soul and fended off all the hustlers. How about topping off all of those experiences by snorkeling or scuba diving in the cerulean waters that lap against the cliffs, doing a daredevil cliff dive at Rick's Cafe and then rocking out to reggae or dancehall at one of Negril's many music nights?

Reach Falls

On Jamaica’s east coast, past stretches of jungle and beach that are completely off the radar of most tourists, you’ll find, up in the hills, one of Jamaica’s most beautiful waterfalls: – and this is an island with a lot of beautiful waterfalls. Hire a guide (you’ll need one, trust us) and clamber up slippery rocks, over neon-green moss and into cool mountain pools of the freshest spring water. In some areas you can dive under watery tunnels and through blizzards of snowy-white cascading foam.

Bob Marley Museum, Kingston

Marley’s creaky Kingston home: is crammed with memorabilia, but the visitor is drawn to his untouched bedroom, adorned with objects of spiritual significance to the artist, the small kitchen where he cooked I-tal food, the hammock in which he lay to seek inspiration from the distant mountains, and the rather austere room riddled with bullet holes, where he and his wife almost died in an assassination attempt. The intimate surrounds and modest personal effects speak eloquently of Marley’s turbulent life.

Offbeat Retreats in Treasure Beach

The greatest, most interesting varieties of accommodations: in Jamaica can be found in Treasure Beach, on Jamaica’s south coast. Here, instead of huge all-inclusive resorts, you’ll find quiet, friendly guesthouses; artsy enclaves dreamed up by theater set designers; Rasta retreats favored by budget backpackers; and private villas that are some of the classiest, most elegant luxury residences in the country. Aside from beds and bathrooms, some places offer interesting extras such as cooking classes, rooftop yoga, farm-to-table banquets and movie nights.

Rafting the Rio Grande

No less a celebrity than Errol Flynn started the habit of sending discerning tourists on romantic, moonlit rafting trips through the Rio Grande Valley:, from Berridale to Rafter’s Rest at St Margaret’s Bay. These days the experience isn’t quite as exclusive as it was when Mr Flynn was running the show – the Rio Grande rafting trips are actually quite affordable as Jamaican tourism activities go – but if the moon is full, you can still pole onto the waters, which turn silver and unspeakably romantic.

Appleton Rum Estate

Red Stripe is the alcohol everyone associates with Jamaica, but you may find that rum, the local spirit, provides a more diverse boozing experience. We’re not saying Appleton produces the best rum on the island, but it is by far the most commonly available, bottled as several different varieties, and you can sample all these examples of the firewater at the Appleton Rum Estate: in the Central Highlands. A rum tasting rounds off the experience, so don’t expect to accomplish much else on one of these day trips!

Cockpit Country

The Cockpit Country: of the island’s interior is some of the most rugged terrain throughout the Caribbean, a series of jungle-clad round hills intersected by powerfully deep and sheer valleys. The rains gather in these mountains and the water percolates through the rocks, creating a Swiss cheese of sinkholes and caves. Since most of the trails within the Cockpit Country are badly overgrown, the best way to appreciate the place is to hike the old Barbecue Bottom road along its eastern edge or go caving in the Painted Circuit Cave.

Crocodile-spotting in Black River Great Morass

This is one of our favorite ways of exploring wild Jamaica: setting off by boat in the Black River Great Morass:, gliding past spidery mangroves and trees bearded with Spanish moss, while white egrets flap overhead. Your tour guide may tell you about the local women who sell bags of spicy ‘swimp’ (shrimp) on the riverside, and you may spot the American crocodile cruising by when the guide points out the eyes sticking out of the water. A dip in a cool swimming hole rounds off the cruise.

Maroon Culture

The deep roots of Jamaican culture spring vividly to life in the Maroon settlements, where escaped African slaves doggedly resisted the British colonizers in the 17th and 18th centuries and ultimately won their autonomy. Still protected by a 1739 treaty, the Maroons of Accompong:, Moore Town and Charles Town: proudly preserve their old way of life and locals will happily show you around where land is community-owned, bush medicine is still practiced and old Maroon trails in the hills can be still be hiked.

Escape to Little Bay

With its quiet beaches, resting fishing boats and somnolent pace of life, the fishing community of Little Bay: exudes a certain timelessness that has long disappeared from Jamaica's other coastal areas. Here you can plunge into the Blue Hole cenote, chill with the fishers or simply switch off and let yourself be hypnotized by the lapping waves. The handful of simple accommodations allow you to experience a tranquility that's missing in other parts of Jamaica and if things get too quiet, Negril is a 20-minute drive away.

Playing Pirates at Port Royal

The sleepy fishing village of Port Royal: only hints at past glories that made it the pirate capital of the Caribbean and ‘the wickedest city on Earth.’ Stroll in the footsteps of pirate Sir Henry Morgan along the battlements of Fort Charles, still lined with cannons to repel the invaders; become disorientated inside the Giddy House artillery store, tipped at a jaunty angle; or admire the treasures in the Maritime Museum, rescued from the deep after two-thirds of the town sank beneath the waves in the monstrous 1692 earthquake.

Boston Bay

The best experiences in Jamaica are extremely sensory affairs, but Boston Bay: may be the only one that is more defined by smell than sight or sound. Well, smell and taste: Boston Bay is the supposed birthplace of jerk, the spice rub that is Jamaica’s most famous contribution to the culinary arts. The turnoff to Boston Bay (itself a lovely beach) is lined with jerk stalls that produce smoked meats that redefine what heat and sweet can do as complementary gastronomic qualities. In plain English: it tastes freaking amazing.

Diving Montego Bay

You might find the resorts of Montego Bay to be crowded with people, but wait till you dive: in the surrounding waters. They’re crowded, yes, although not with human beings – just multicolored fish and swaying sponges. For all the tropical pastels and cool blue hues, this is a subdued seascape, a silent and delicate marine ecosystem that is one of the island’s unique natural resources. The best sea walls are to be found at the Point, while more advanced divers should explore the ominous (and gorgeous) Widowmakers Cave.

Swimming in the Blue Lagoon

From the forested cliffs that surround it, the Blue Lagoon:, named after the film starring the teenage Brooke Shields, is a seemingly bottomless pool of turquoise water, nestled in a protected cove – intensely picturesque and perfect for a dip. Fed by several underground streams coming down from the mountains, its waters are a refreshing mixture of warm tidal waves and cool freshwater currents. If you’re a diver, you can plumb the lagoon’s depths, which reach 55m at its deepest point.

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Bosnia and Herzegovina, are situated in the western Balkan Peninsula of Europe.

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South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa. It is bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho (which is completely surrounded by South Africa). It is a vast country with widely varying landscapes and has 11 official languages, as well as an equally diverse population.

Description of flag of Spain

horizontally striped red-yellow-red national flag with an off-centre coat of arms. Within Spain private citizens may display the flag without the coat of arms. The flag’s width-to-length ratio is 2 to 3.

Romania

• Romania, country of southeastern Europe.
• The national capital is Bucharest.
• Romania was occupied by Soviet troops in 1944 and became a satellite of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.
• ) in 1948.
• The country was under communist rule from 1948 until 1989, when the regime of Romanian leader Nicolae Ceaușescu was overthrown.
• Free elections were held in 1990.
• In 2004 the country joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and in 2007 it became a member of the European Union (EU).

Romania has so much to offer, here are some of the things Romania is known for.

Palace of Parliament, Bucharest

Depending on your point of view, the Palace of Parliament: is either a mind-blowing testament to the waste and folly of dictatorship or an awe-inspiring showcase of Romanian materials and craftsmanship, albeit applied to sinister ends. Most visitors conclude that it's a bit of both. Whatever emotions the former ‘House of the People’ happens to elicit, the sheer scale of Romania's entry into the 'World's Largest Buildings' competition – on par with the Taj Mahal or the Pentagon – must be seen to be believed.

Bran Castle

Perched on a rocky bluff in Transylvania, in a mass of turrets and castellations, Bran Castle: overlooks a desolate mountain pass swirling with mist and dense forest. Its spectral exterior is like a composite of every horror film you’ve ever seen, but don’t expect to be scared. Inside, Bran is anything but spooky, with its white walls and geranium-filled courtyard. Legend has it Vlad the Impaler (the inspiration for Count Dracula) was briefly imprisoned here, and you can follow his footsteps through an 'Escheresque' maze of courtyards and hidden passages.

Painted Monasteries of Bucovina

Tucked away in the eastern side of the Carpathian mountains, the Unesco-listed painted monasteries of Bucovina: proudly show off Romania’s unique, Latin-flavoured Orthodox tradition. The churches are at one with their natural surroundings and the dizzying kaleidoscope of colours and intricate details in the frescoes bring to life everything from biblical stories to the 15th-century siege of Constantinople. The monasteries are largely the genius of Moldavian prince and national hero Stephen the Great (Ştefan cel Mare), who was later canonised for his works.

Wildlife in the Danube Delta

After flowing 2800km across the European continent, the mighty Danube River passes through a vast expanse of remote wetland in eastern Romania – the delta – before finally emptying into the Black Sea. Under the international environmental protection of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority, the region: has developed into a sanctuary for fish and fowl of all stripe and colour. Birders, in particular, will thrill to the prospect of glimpsing species such as the roller, white-tailed eagle, great white egret and even a bee-eater or two.

Wooden Churches of Maramureş

Rising from forested hillsides like dark needles, the exquisite wooden churches of Maramureş:, in northern Romania, are both austere and beautiful, with roofs of shingle, and weather-beaten, Gothic-style steeples. Inside, you’ll discover rich interiors painted with biblical frescoes, some of which date back to the 14th century. On Sundays, the villagers don traditional dress for church, and attending one of the services is a special treat. There are eight Unesco-listed churches in all: Bârsana, Budeşti, Deseşti, Ieud, Plopiş, Poienile Izei, Rogoz and Surdeşti.

Trekking in the Carpathians

Dense primeval forests leap straight from the pages of a Brothers Grimm story, with bears, wolves, lynx and boar, rugged mountain plateaus, well-marked trails and a network of cabins en route to keep you warm. Trekking is the best way to absorb this vibrant landscape of mountain tops, forests and rolling pastureland. The peaks can be approached from both Transylvania and Moldavia. The Retezat Mountains:, with some 80 glacial lakes and peaks towering above 2000m, are a spectacular stretch of the southern Carpathians.

The Perils of Plum Brandy

Big meals traditionally begin with a shot of Romanian moonshine, ţuică in the local parlance, but treat this innocent-looking liquid with a measure of respect. Home-brewed batches contain as much as 60% alcohol, and the wallop can be fast and furious. Classic ţuică is usually distilled from plums but other fruits, like apricots and pears, can be employed to this nefarious end. In villages, you’ll likely be offered some of grandpa’s best, or find it at any decent Romanian restaurant, such as Bucharest's Lacrimi și Sfinți:.

Cluj-Napoca

Romania's second-largest city has reawakened from its decades-long slumber and now offers countless bohemian cafes, great restaurants, music festivals, clubs and bars. It's also emerged as the country's contemporary arts hub. The tens of thousands of students here lend a youthful vibe and fuel a vigorous nightlife at places like Insomnia:. With increasing flight links to European cities, the city is welcoming more and more travellers, who usually shoot off to higher-profile burgs like Braşov, Sibiu or Sighişoara, but who come inevitably to regret not allowing enough time for Cluj.

Saxon Villages and Fortified Churches

Back in the 12th century, Saxon Germans were invited to settle parts of Transylvania to buffer the then-Hungarian kingdom from the threat of Tatar and Turkish attack. The architectural legacy is a row of regal fortified churches, watchtowers and impenetrable stone walls that dot the landscape between Sighişoara and Sibiu. Around these haunting churches, town entrances were guarded with heavy metal gates that could be quickly lowered. Most visitors are drawn to the impressive Fortified Church: in Biertan, though Viscri, Mălâncrav and Alma Vii are also worth exploring.

Driving the Transfăgărăşan Road

When the twisting, turning, high-altitude Transfăgărăşan road: in southern Transylvania was built in the '70s, it was derided as a vanity project for the Ceauşescu regime. Who could have imagined a generation later it would be celebrated by TV's Top Gear as the world's most exciting length of road. Boldly charging up and down one of Romania’s highest mountains provides an unforgettable, white-knuckle experience behind the wheel. The climax is glacial Lake Bâlea, which hovers like a mirror among the rocks and is sometimes totally enshrouded by clouds.

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Thailand

• Thailand, country located in the centre of mainland Southeast Asia.
• Located wholly within the tropics, Thailand encompasses diverse ecosystems, including the hilly forested areas of the northern frontier, the fertile rice fields of the central plains, the broad plateau of the northeast, and the rugged coasts along the narrow southern peninsula.

Thailand has so much to offer, here are some of the things Thailand is known for.

Bangkok

Glittering temples, towering skyscrapers, a dynamic nightlife and, oh – the food! What's not to love about Bangkok:? Traffic jams, humidity and political instability aside, the Thai capital is now tidier and easier to navigate than ever. Zip between golden shrines, colourful markets, glitzy mega-malls and fascinating museums, stopping to refuel at sizzling street-side food stands and some of Asia's best restaurants. Head up to one of the city's famous rooftop bars on your first night to get your bearings in this heaving, twinkling metropolis, and prepare to dive straight in.

Chiang Mai

The cultural capital of the north, Chiang Mai: is beloved by culture geeks, temple-spotters and families. The old city is jam-packed with temples born during the time of the once independent Lanna kingdom. These and the area's winding side roads are best explored on bicycle. Cooking schools teach visitors the art of Thai food, while the scenic countryside boasts jungle treks, elephant encounters and minority villages. The city enjoys fantastic dining thanks to imports such as Japanese sushi and Burmese curries, plus home-grown northern specialities and vegetarian fare. The surrounding areas are rich with traditional handicraft outlets.

Railay

At the tip of the Krabi peninsula are some of Thailand's most famous natural features: the soaring limestone karsts of Railay:, anchored in the ocean. The beaches are sugar-white and the forested interior is traversed by foot traffic, not cars. No traffic jams, no transport hassles. Visitors come and go by long-tail boats. Come to lounge, swim, dive or rock-climb. Beginners can learn basic skills, and some stay so long they get good enough to do a free solo on a pinnacle then fall harmlessly into a cobalt sea.

Chiang Rai Province

The days of the Golden Triangle opium trade are over, but Chiang Rai: still packs intrigue in the form of fresh-air fun such as hiking and self-guided exploration. It is also a great destination for unique cultural experiences, ranging from a visit to an Akha village to a stay at the Yunnanese hamlet of Doi Mae Salong. From the Mekong River to the mountains, Chiang Rai is arguably Thailand's most beautiful province, and if you've set your sights further, it's a convenient gateway to Myanmar and Laos.

Ayuthaya

A once vibrant, glittering capital packed with hundreds of temples, the Ayuthaya: of today retains ample hints of its erstwhile glory. Cycle around the brick-and-stucco ruins, which form part of a Unesco World Heritage Site, and try to imagine how the city must have looked in its prime, when it greeted merchants from around the globe. On the outskirts of the city sit several more attractions, including an enormous handicraft centre and the most eclectic royal palace you will ever see.

Kanchanaburi

Once you've explored this western province's wartime past – the infamous Bridge Over the River Kwai is here – get ready to walk on the wild side in Kanchanaburi:, where dragon-scaled limestone mountains gaze down upon dense jungle. Activities from kayaking to rock-climbing are all on offer at this popular adventure-traveller hub. Trek past silvery waterfalls, clamber into caves, then spend the night in lavish riverside resorts, tree-top bungalows or traditional village homestays.

Similan Islands Marine National Park

The world-renowned dive sites off the Similan Islands: have anchored Thailand as a global diving destination. Live-aboard trips set out from Khao Lak, allowing for more time hanging out with aquatic residents, including manta rays and whale sharks, as well as still-intact soft corals. Above the water line, the islands are an attraction in their own right, with jungle-filled interiors and smooth white beaches surrounded by coral reefs, and national park accommodation on Ko Miang (also known as Island 4).

Pai

Combine a beautiful mountain valley, a party scene reminiscent of a Thai island, an old-school hippie vibe and laid-back northern Thai roots and you have Pai:, still northern Thailand’s coolest destination. Its popularity means it can get crowded, especially at the peak of Thailand’s ‘winter’ in December and January. But a huge spread of accommodation that caters to every budget, and a host of outdoor and laid-back activities mean that your visit won’t be quite like anybody else’s.

Sukhothai Historical Park

Step back some 800 years in time at one of Thailand's most impressive historical parks:. Exploring the ruins of this former capital by bicycle is a leisurely way to wind through the crumbling temples, graceful Buddha statues and fish-filled ponds. Worthwhile museums and some of the country's best-value accommodation round out the package. Sukhothai rarely feels crowded, but for something off the beaten track head to nearby Si Satchanalai-Chaliang Historical Park, where you might be the only person scaling an ancient stairway.

Mekong River

From the historic timber shophouses of Chiang Khan to the waterfalls of Pha Taem National Park:, northeast Thailand's glorious arc of the Mekong River offers an incomparable smorgasbord of culture and beauty. Chase the meandering river aboard a rickety bus, long-tail boat or even a bicycle. View the cross-pollination of Thai-Lao culture in local fishing villages, Nong Khai's bizarre sculpture park, and prehistoric rock paintings in Ubon Ratchathani. Those who follow this little-visited trail are rewarded with true travellers' tales to tell.

Ko Pha-Ngan

Famous for its techno-fuelled Full Moon Parties, Ko Pha-Ngan: has long since graduated from a sleepy bohemian island to an Asian Ibiza. Comfort-seekers have an alternative to Ko Samui thanks to a bevy of boutique bungalows. On the northern and eastern coasts, ascetic hammock-hangers can still find castaway bliss. Just offshore is Sail Rock, one of the Gulf of Thailand's best dive sites, while much of the island's interior is spectacular, unspoiled forest.

Phetchaburi

A delightful mix of culture and nature combine in this provincial capital:, which some call a living Ayuthaya. Explore an antique hilltop palace, sacred cave shrines and bustling temples. Wander the old shophouse neighbourhood filled with DIY businesses run by Thai aunties and grannies. Then head off to the wilds of Kaeng Krachan National Park to spot wild gibbons and exotic birds. Phetchaburi is also a clever layover for travellers returning from the south.

Ko Lipe

Where creature comforts meet laid-back island escape, Ko Lipe: takes work to reach but the ever-growing band of devotees agree that it's worth it. The days of desertion are over, especially in the high season when the island is overrun, but it is still a wonderful blend of white-sand beaches, authentic Thai kitchens, groovy guesthouses, boutique resorts and nature adventures in the national park. The diving and living are best here during the early wet season (mid-April to June). But keep that hush-hush.

Khao Sok National Park

A deep, dark jungle hugs the midsection of southern Thailand. This ancient rainforest: is filled with long, sweaty hiking routes up dramatic limestone formations that pay off with postcard-perfect views. Birds and bats call this forest home, as does the rare Rafflesia kerrii, one of the largest and stinkiest flowers on the planet. After trying out tubing, kayaking and rafting, you can reward your outdoor work with riverside camping or sleep on the floating lake-top huts at Chiaw Lan.

Khao Yai National Park

This park is home to elephants, monkeys, gibbons, hornbills, pythons, bears, a million bats and even a few wily tigers. Wildlife sightings are mostly at the mercy of chance, but your odds are excellent at this vast Unesco-listed reserve:, just a few hours out of Bangkok. And even if you don't meet many big animals, the orchids, birds, waterfalls and sense of adventure that inevitably arises when hiking in the jungle guarantee a good day out. Khao Yai's mix of scenery and accessibility is hard to beat.

Ko Kut

Still looking for that paradise island where the crowds are thin, the water aquamarine and clear, and the beaches wide and long? Try Ko Kut:. There is Hat Khlong Chao, one of the most beautiful stretches of sand anywhere in Thailand, fine snorkelling and hidden waterfalls to hike to. Best of all, Ko Kut retains a supremely unhurried pace of life that visitors soon find themselves imitating. There is nothing in the way of nightlife, apart from listening to the ocean. But that’s why you’re here.

Mae Hong Son Province

Tucked away in the country's northwest corner, this province: has a lot more in common with Myanmar than anywhere else in Thailand. With its remote location, soaring mountains and unique culture and cuisine, Mae Hong Son can seem like an entirely different country. Exploration is the reason to make the journey here, and can involve tramping through one of the province's many caves, taking a hairpin turn on your motorcycle or doing a self-guided trek from Mae La-Na to Soppong.

Phanom Rung Historical Park

Perched high atop an extinct volcano, Thailand's most impressive Khmer ruin: is something special. As you amble along the promenade, up the stairs and over the naga-flanked bridges, the sense of anticipation builds. And when you enter the temple, completely restored and still rich with Hindu sculpture, you experience a moment of timelessness. While Phanom Rung is not as awe-inspiring as Cambodia's Angkor Wat, the experience here is unique enough that you should definitely consider visiting both.

Ko Lanta

A beach bum's best friend, Ko Lanta: sports a mellow island vibe and a parade of peachy sand. Social butterflies alight on the northern beaches for the party scene. Solitude-seekers migrate southwards to low-key beach huts and a sleepy village ambience. Activities abound, from hiking through limestone caves to diving off Hin Muang and Hin Daeng, with the chance to glimpse rays and even whale sharks. Sprinkle in some culture by visiting the east coast's charismatic Old Town, home to a Muslim community and charming seafront coffee shops.

Phuket

An international beach resort, Phuket: is an easy destination for all ages. You can fly in from Bangkok (or even Dubai), and then retreat into a five-star resort or arty boutique hotel for a trouble-free tropical vacation. There are slinky stretches of sand, hedonistic party pits and world-class spas. Culture capital Phuket Town is now an attraction in its own right, plus there are day trips to mangrove forests, an elephant rescue sanctuary and a ton of water sports to take part in, from diving to surfing.