The Philippines are divided in to three main island groups. Lying in the heart of the central group, known as the Visayas, you will find the diverse and fascinating island of Bohol.

Covering an area of just over 4,000 square kilometres, Bohol is essentially an agricultural province with rice, coconut and corn as the main produce. However, with the newly developed international airport set to open at the end of this month, with an annual capacity of 2 million passengers, tourism is set to become its biggest earner.

​Luckily for us, word has not yet got out to the masses about how great Bohol and its surrounding islands are, making now the perfect time to visit easily and yet still be able to appreciate the relaxed, low key atmosphere of the place. But get in quick…a hidden gem like this won’t stay hidden for long!

​Until a recent trip to Argentina, I had never even heard of the Iberá Wetlands and was completely unaware of its scale and significance. Whilst travelling through the country, Iberá was recommended as an up-and-coming visitor destination by a number of locals. With our curiosity well and truly piqued, my family and I managed to reshuffle our schedule and squeeze in a two-day stay in this little-known water wonderland. Now, I firmly believe that it’s a secret not just to share, but to inspire.

​Until relatively recently Esteros del Iberá was a region of livestock grazing, commercial hunting and illegal poaching. Puma, jaguar, wolf, deer, giant anteater and otter used to be regular inhabitants of the area but numbers had significantly declined over the years, with many species becoming endangered and, in some cases, almost extinct.
While this is, sadly, not an unusual scenario in areas rich in wildlife, the story behind its reversal in Esterros del Iberá really is.
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In 1983, as part of an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, the area was included within a provincial protected area, the Iberá Provincial Reserve. Driven by a combination of philanthropy, social conscience and local pride, Ibera’s renaissance began.

​ The nearest major centres are Corrientes and Posadas, both with flights from Buenos Aires (or an 11 hour bus ride) but then one then needs to travel a further 3 – 6 hours by bus and/or private vehicle to reach the handful of small towns that service the Iberá Wetlands area.

As we discovered, however, it’s more than worth the inconvenience of the additional hours we spent on the region’s local buses. (Chartered vehicles are also available for those shorter on time and/or less restricted by budget.)
 
The traditional stepping off point to the area is Collonia Pellegrini, set on the eastern edge of the reserve. We, however, entered it from the western side making the quaint town of Concepción our base.

​A regal encounter wasn’t something I was anticipating from my visit to West Timor, but a royal audience with a bonafide king turned out to be a somewhat surreal but very genuine highlight of our expedition of this far-flung Indonesian territory.

​The eastern-most outpost of Indonesia, locally known as Palau Timor, is actually surprisingly accessible – just a 2 hour flight from Bali, but a world away from the tourist meccas of Kuta and Nusa Dua. Tourism is still very much in its infancy in West Timor which has some very positive spin-offs for those who do venture there. Firstly, visitors are highly valued, partly for their novelty factor but also because the locals are so proud to have the opportunity to share their culture and their stories. Secondly, if authenticity is what you want from your travels then you don’t have to go far to find it.

The bustling student town of Kupang is the main gateway to West Timor. We enjoyed the wide smiles of the friendly locals, the chaotic streets, lively waterfront and, in particular, our dinner of freshly-caught fish from the market that was cooked for us whilst we waited.

​Our pro-royal sentiment increased with the duration of our stay – the king was gracious, hard-working and caring. We left Boti with a strong sense of admiration for the strength of community that he’d built and the prosperity he’d created for his people. It proved a noble conclusion to a majestic West Timor adventure.

It’s no surprise that New Zealand has just been named as the third most beautiful country in the world by the influential travel publication, Rough Guides.

The publication highlighted New Zealand's rolling green hills, majestic mountains, breath-taking fiords and amazing diversity of landscape from one island to the next as the reason for its high rating.

The travel guide also wrote that you never meet anyone who has been and didn't love the place, as well as praising the distinct and fascinating culture of the indigenous Maori people.

Known locally as Aotearoa – land of the long, white cloud – New Zealand is comprised of two main islands, is home to a population of roughly 4.6 million people and sits a 3 hour flight south-east of Australia. And I am lucky enough to be one of those 4.6 million people!

Sitting literally nearly at the bottom the world, and surrounded by the stunning Pacific Ocean, New Zealand takes a bit of an effort to reach but once here, visitors will be glad they bit the bullet and weren’t put off by the long travel time.
You will find that travelling as a family here in New Zealand is easy and rewarding, especially if you enjoy the outdoors and are keen to interact with the locals.

​Kiwis, as us locals are known, are generally laid-back and friendly. Perhaps it is because we live in a country with such a small population and an abundance of riches well away from the influences of the rest of the world. Kiwi hospitality is famous the world over - we have time to smile, to be friendly and, most importantly, we genuinely want to share the pride we have for our gorgeous country.

Excellent cuisine is a hallmark of any great holiday and New Zealand is no exception. Our food is best described as Pacific Rim, drawing inspiration from Asia, Polynesia and Europe. This blend of influences along with the abundance of fresh, tasty produce has created a mouth-watering range of flavours and dishes. Our lamb, seafood and shellfish are some of the best in the world – as is the Kiwi family fast food favourite of very, very fresh fish and chips!

The dining out culture has well and truly found its way to New Zealand and there are plenty of establishments to choose from nationwide, ranging from the laid-back café to the 5 star restaurant. Top the great food with world-class, award winning, local wine and craft beers and you will certainly have no problems feasting your way around the country.

​With limited time and budget for a stop-over in the Philippines, on our way to the UK for a family wedding, convenience and cost dictated that we stay close to the central hub of Manilla. On a rare trip without children, we decided to make scuba diving the focus of our stop-over. After some research we chose to head a few hours south-west of the capital city to the region of Puerta Galera on the island of Mindoro.
 
The websites said that it had some of the best diving in the Philippines but, being so accessible to the capital city, we tempered our expectations. At the end of our fifth day here and 10 dives later, we are happy to say that the websites are not just hyperbole. I am sure that there are some other great spots in such a huge country but we have been suitably impressed with what we have experienced here and would not hesitate to recommend to others regardless of their diving ability or experience.
 
We chose to stay in Punta Galera Resort, a 15 room hotel set right on the beach and with stunning views over the water back towards the mainland, Punta Galera is a mid-range accommodation option run by incredibly friendly staff. The hotel itself is very new, only opening in January of 2017, so all rooms and facilities are in excellent condition, including the onsite restaurant, bar and small swimming pool.
 
Two doors down is Action Divers. Although many dive ventures here are attached to an accommodation provider, Action Divers is the only operator in the area who specialise solely in scuba diving. That, and the fact that it is run by a fellow Kiwi, was the big selling point for us and we have not been disappointed. Roscoe, the owner, has a policy of renewing his scuba gear every 18 – 24 months so all equipment is in impeccable condition. In addition, their entire staff are highly skilled, knowledgeable and, above all, extremely personable. And the dive sites have been superb!

Although we’re a family that loves to travel, it can be difficult to pinpoint a destination that will appeal equally to everyone. Especially as I love to scuba dive, my husband likes to venture off the grid, and our two children are different genders and ages.

However, it quickly became clear that we’d hit the jackpot when we started exploring the possibility of a holiday to Malaysian Borneo: the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak are home to jungles filled with wildlife that appeal to nature lovers of any age; ancient villages are home to headhunter tribes that still live in traditional longhouses; and the excellent offshore reefs offer some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling.

After plenty of research and planning, our enthusiasm grew. When we finally departed for our three-week trip, our two children — then aged 12 and nine — were more excited than we were.

​Boxing Day saw us head off for our 3 day trek to Inle Lake with our guide, Elmuso. My parents were a bit reticent about the trek due to the fact that we needed to cover 60 kms of fairly steep terrain in the 3 days and, as they were quick to point out, at over 70 years old they are probably past their best trekking days. We were very fortunate, however, to have Elmuso as our guide. He was totally considerate of our (rather slow!) pace and looked after my mother when she took ill on the second night, arranging for her to get a lift by motorbike on the morning of the last day. 

​We have spent a couple of days exploring the shores of Inle Lake and are just about to head off to Yangon, Myanmar’s capital city, where we will see the New Year in – bring on the fireworks!

And then, of course, there is the food. Mandalay is renowned for its diverse and tasty cuisine. Home to interesting dishes such as tea-leaf salad, you will be hard pressed to spend more than $2 on a delicious three course meal. The plan of losing weight whilst travelling around Myanmar is definitely not working out so well!
However, we are about to embark on a 3 day trek through the mountain ranges surrounding Kalaw, so perhaps I could just have one more piece of sugar cane jaggery…

​A 50 minute flight north of Myanmar's capital city, Yangon, Ngapali is hemmed in between the expansive Rakhine Yoma mountain range and the Bay of Bengal with traditional fishing villages either side. It is home to a mixture of exclusive resorts, budget guest houses and local homes and while it is the beaches that draw the tourists here, for me, it is the local people who make you want to stay.
 
Quick to smile, content in their lives, curious about the outside world and incredibly generous with their time and with their possessions, the people of Ngapali and the neighbouring town of Thandwe have welcomed me and family with a genuine warmth that is hard to find nowadays. In a world where the saying “nothing is for free” is so usually true, here it is not the case. There is no catch when they stop to talk to you, we have not been asked once whether we want to buy something and we have been encouraged to be part of their daily lives with them wanting nothing but our company in return.

By far the most spectacular way to view Bagan, however, is from a hot air balloon. Arising at 5am might seem like a chore, but it is totally worth it when you take off from the ground as the sun is rising and see the sprawling Archaeological Zone laid out below you. We were lucky enough to have the perfect weather for our balloon trip this morning and enjoyed the stunning views of the temples with the famous Irrawaddy River beyond. Top that off with a couple of glasses of champagne on touch down and it really was a perfect start to the day!
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​Tomorrow sees another early start (4am!!!) as we start our boat trip up the Irrawaddy to Mandalay. We might just squeeze in one last scooter jaunt this evening though to catch the sun setting behind the mesmerizing temples of Bagan and get our tally slightly closer to that 2,200!

Money-savvy-travellers know that it's not about how you get there; it's about where you go. Yes, flights are a consideration, but it's the cost on ground - accommodation, eating out and visiting attractions - that will make a real difference to your bank balance. After all, nothing kills that post-holiday buzz like a maxed out credit card bill populated by overpriced sundowners and pricey seafood dinners.
Whether you're looking for lazy beach break or an off-the-beaten-track adventure, avoid potential financial strife with a trip to one of these great destinations for a holiday that won't break the bank.

INDIA:
A longtime favourite with the penny-pinching backpacker set, India remains as cheap as chips. The flights might cost a fair bit, but you'll more than make your money back when you're living on a virtual pittance.
Head north for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the hills in Darjeeling, flop and drop on Goa's famed sandy shores, where countless cut price, basic beach huts await.
Or get your Om on in the foothills of the lower Himalayas at the self-styled yoga capital of the world, Rishikesh. Here there's an abundance of yoga ashrams and meditation centres, many of which offer classes for free or for a small donation. And with accommodation priced at as little as $13 per night, enlightenment has never been more affordable.

CAMBODIA:
Now a staple on the Southeast Asia travel scene, Cambodia is the definition of travel on a shoestring.
With beds for mere dollars and tasty local food for even less, in this country your money goes far - very far. Yes, infrastructure isn't the best, but when you're spending this little you can't complain.
Home to UNESCO world heritage site, Angkor Wat - the largest religious complex in the world - the entry ticket to this ancient marvel will be your greatest expense (around $28 for a full day, or just over $53 for three days).

VIETNAM:
Buzzing street life, great food and stunning scenery; despite its rise in popularity over the last few years, Vietnam is still beautiful and it's still super-cheap.
The entire country is easy on the wallet, with an average of $11 covering basic guesthouse accommodation, local food (you can grab delicious streetside pho for $2) transport and the odd beer.
But for the cheapest beach destination - not just in Vietnam, but in the entire world - head to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Hoi An and make a detour to nearby Cua Dai Beach.
Travel website TravelBird painstakingly calculated the cost of spending a day at the beach at 250 coastlines around the world, looking at the average cost of sunscreen, water, beer, ice cream, and lunch and the result is the 2016 Beach Price Index in which Cua Dai came out on top!

LAOS:
While often neglected by tourists in favour of neighbouring Thailand, Laos has long been a Mecca for budget travellers in-the-know.
But this lack of mass tourism means that savvy holiday-makers can save their pennies and take in spectacular temples, wildlife-filled forests and isolated beaches, without to having jostle for space with crowds.
In the sleepy capital city of Vientiane, the 2016 Backpacker Index - an annual ranking of the world's cities based on affordability - suggests that a daily of budget of less than $20 is more that adequate to cover hostel, three meals, three beers and several rides on public transport.
And further north in historic Luang Prabang, it's a similar story. While more popular with backpackers, this gorgeous French-colonial town offers one of the most authentic and unspoilt experiences in Indo-China, it's officially Southeast Asia's best preserved ancient city (UNESCO put it on its World Heritage List in 1995). Buddhist temples, waterfalls, caves and wildlife sanctuaries, and all for a daily budget of $22 - what more could you ask for?

In October 2013, whilst travelling around Malaysian Borneo, my family and I were lucky enough to have the experience of staying with an Iban tribe in their traditional longhouse. Only one generation on from when Headhunting was still practised, the modern world has barely touched these kind and generous people.

A highlight of our stay was being invited by the tribesmen to accompany them night fishing – an honour never before extended to western visitors. Needless to say, we jumped at the chance – in addition to making us feel very honoured, it sounded like a fascinating opportunity to experience part of ‘real’ longhouse life.

We set off around 10pm on the second evening of our stay with two longboats filled up with very cheery locals (the homemade Iban whiskey has quite a kick!) and the four of us. The spearguns and masks they carried were, unsurprisingly, quite old fashioned so we were looking forward to seeing how effective they were. Our eyebrows raised more than a little when an antique looking shotgun was added to the mix and, as we set off upriver, we speculated quietly between ourselves that there was a higher likelihood of them shooting or spearing each other than any prey.

​We were therefore pretty sceptical when one of the boats thought they had spotted something on the river bank and several of the Iban went crashing off through the undergrowth. We could see their torchlight as they moved up the hillside and we could most definitely hear them – stealth was obviously not on the agenda. We were sure that whatever had been seen was long gone and, when we heard a shot after around 10 minutes, were just a little relived that we didn’t hear a scream from one of the party follow it. Despite the noise level and the improbable gun, they proudly came back with a large civet – enough meat, we were told, to share amongst all the families of the longhouse and feed them for 3 days.