The Isle of Wight is ideal for those who can’t afford to go abroad. Only a few kilometres from the mainland, it’s reachable by the ports of Southampton or Portsmouth. You don’t need your passport, any foreign currency or any vaccinations! It’s ideal for families who want to go exploring.

There’s a huge variety of camping grounds and holiday parks to choose from. Newport is the tiny capital. Sandown has the best beach and its neighbour Shanklin is home to the wax museum and arts and crafts. For the kids, head into Sandown, which has amusements, slides and a zoo boasting a variety of lions and tigers. Blackgang Chine is a favourite and you could stop off at the Needles Lighthouse on the way.

There’s a great coastal road that is accessible by car. You can hire bikes on the island but it can be a distance from town to town. A visit to the island isn’t complete without sampling one of their cream teas. Only a few hours from Ryde and you’ll be back in the comfort of your own home!

San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the safest places in the world. Famous for the Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz, it’s a wonderful place to stop for a few nights. The city is quite hilly, so jump on one of the many trams which are the city’s trademark.
There’s a huge range of shops and diners but if you fancy some entertainment, why not go to Pier 49 on Fisherman’s Wharf. Here you will find mime artists, comedians and plenty of activities to brighten your day. The Pier is home to a large colony of seals which can be very noisy but are a great tourist attraction. Trips out to the famous prison of Alcatraz operate daily in high season. The story says the waters surrounding the prison are shark-infested so tread carefully.
Once you’ve exhausted your stay here, hire a car along Highway one, which will take you to Los Angeles via Monterey and other picturesque villages. Stop off in Danish village to sample the local cheese and admire the windmill. San Fran is a great place to stay as part of a multi-centre stopover.

The Rockies

Canada is a vast country, from the snow capped glaciers to the crystal lakes, high mountain ranges and unique wildlife. Driving through the Rocky Mountains is the best way to see the wonderful scenery. Banff, a ski-resort in the national park is the gateway to the Rockies. Ideal for winter activities, the picturesque town is brimming with bars and restaurants. The gondola is the ideal way to see the town and it's surroundings. Sit and enjoy a coffee whilst learning the history of the town. Here you can arrange day trips to experience quad-biking, off-road mountain biking, fishing, trekking and for the more adventurous: white water rafting and rock climbing.

Drive four hours North through scenic landscapes to discover Lake Louise on your way to Jasper, where you can hire kayaks. This is an ideal route to see the splendour of the glacier. Climb aboard a snow-monster truck for an experience you'll never forget. Why not try mountain trekking or moose-spotting?

Leave behind the tourist route, along highways to the ranch town of Clearwater - a unique Canadian outback town with friendly locals. Enjoy a stop-off here and unwind in a traditional log cabin whilst listening to the sounds of country music, enjoying the barbecued delights of buffalo. Here you can go fishing or horse-riding and hunt for the brown and grizzly bear. The Clearwater river is famous for it's grade four waves where you can sail through the Sabre-Tooth canyon down to the famous Kettle where many have tried to conquer its powerful current.

After Clearwater, make your way to the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver. A city brimming with shops, coffee houses, bars and clubs. Spend at least four nights here as there's plenty to do, before disembarking on your trip home.

Web 2.0 the new phenomena

The web is now becoming more important than ever, from social networking to researching. The concept of web 2.0 began after the dot.com crash in 2001 but there is a huge disagreement over what it really means. Is it a new convention or a meaningless market?
The term basically refers to a new brand of websites such as: Napster and Wikipedia.
Web 2.0 is a set of principals and practices that tie together a veritable solar system of sites. Doubleclick and Akamai were the pioneers., with Google being the standard bearer.
So if you haven't yet joined the rest of the cyber world and signed up to Facebook or Myspace then what are you waiting for...

New Zealand

Home to Lord of the Rings and the All Blacks, New Zealand is blessed with beautiful landscapes, snowy peaks and glorious beaches. The people are friendly and the food and wine divine. New Zealand is a haven for adrenalin seekers with its numerous hair-shocking activities. Choose from jet-boating, bungee-jumping, white-water rafting or for the modestly adventurous, snow-boarding or skiing. The best way to get around the country is to hire a motorhome. You don't have to stick to designated holiday parks either as you have the freedom to park wherever you like. The North Island is full of tourist activities but go further north to the Bay of Islands, which is the tropical part of the country. Here you can go on boat trips to see the dolphins or just learn about the Maori culture. Auckland, the capital is built on a volcanic crater. The sky-tower is a must see and gives a unique overview of the city. Visit Waitomo caves for a chance to marvel at the glowworms.

Rototura is a unique experience, see the geysers and colourful lakes but you don't want to stay for longer than a day as the area constantly smells of sulphur. Sky-dive in Lake Taupo then make your way to the windy city of Wellington. From here, take the ferry to Picton then explore the Abel Tasman, famous for it's walks and kayaking. Christchurch is a quaint town, known as the most English town away from England. Enjoy a ride on the Gondola or go punting on the river. It's a great place to be if you're feeling homesick. On the east coast is the fishing town of Kaikoura which is ideal for whale watching or swimming with the dolphins. Make sure it's the right time of year before you travel so you won't be disappointed.
Queenstown is the liveliest place in the South Island and is ideal for those looking for a party atmosphere. If you fancy hiking a glacier, go for a day trip at Fox Glacier . Milford Sound has one of the most famous walks in the world. You have to book up before you go due to its popularity. If you don't fancy hiking, join the rest of the tourists in one of the many boat trips where waterfalls cascade around you.

A month is the desired stay in New Zealand as there is so much to do. If you don't get a Chance to experience everything on your first visit, come back for a second...

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a city equivalent to the UK for cost of food, accommodation and transport. The local currency is Hong Kong Dollar. Hong Kong Island is approx one hour from the airport. The easiest way to get there is using the local bus service which operates from outside the airport. Fares are £4 and are comfortable with air-conditioning and cushioned seats. You have to purchase your ticket before boarding. Hong Kong City is just like any other with its high rise buildings, shops galore and pick of fast-food restaurants. If you prefer to experience the real Hong Kong, explore the back streets hidden in the heart of the city. These run adjacent to the shops and show you what life is really like. Full of Chinese lanterns hanging from every stall, they're full of unique gifts. The smell of local delicacies fill the streets with plenty of cafes offering fresh meat hanging from their display and when you've exhausted the lanes, just one street away is back to reality. There's plenty of small picturesque parks to sit and watch the world go by and plenty of buses to hop back onto when you want to go back to your hotel. Half an hour away from the city is Kowloon, an alternative place to stay. Guest Houses start from £30 including breakfast. These are more like a hotel with en-suite bathrooms. Streets and streets of shops come alive at night with shoppers in the night bazaar in Kowloon. You can pick up a snack from a mere 50 pence from outside food stalls. If you're looking for culture, Kowloon is the place to go but don't be forgiven for thinking you're the only westerner. In Hong Kong itself, there aren't many tourist attractions so I recommend touring by bus which will take you to the bays on the island. If you have any recommendations for sight seeing, please let me know...

Bangkok

Bangkok has one of the worst traffic problems in the world. It is also one of the most polluted. Once you depart the airport, it's like entering a blanket of smog. The heat is very heavy so an air-conditioned taxi to your accommodation is a must. The airport is a 15 minute ride from the city, so transport is essential.

We stayed at the Asia Hotel, conveniently situated in the heart of the city. You are welcomed at the entrance by the porters who escort your luggage for you. The Thais are well-known for their hospitality and can make you feel like royalty. The hotel costs from £25 a night which includes a buffet breakfast served between 7-10am. Twin rooms are available with en suite and are very comfortable for the price. There is an inside and outdoor pool with jacuzzi and towel hire. The hotel itself could be a mini-complex. There's a selection a restaurants from Chinese to Thai with live entertainment. See the Thai Elvis impersonator or pay to watch a cabaret show on the ground level. Upstairs you'll find gift shops and even an art gallery. The service is faultless and you can arrange tours or transport for you to take the worry out of your hands.

A unique feature to Bangkok is the sky city where you can escape the pollution and browse around the air-conditioned shops. Escalators take you up to the hoards of department feet away from the ground. There's a multiplex cinema which shows alternative plus the latest releases with subtitles. Clothes are very cheap so take the opportunity to shop until you drop. The only difficulty you may find are the clothes sizes, which are smaller as the Thais are a tiny race. If you fancy some indulgence, treat yourself to Thai massage. Beauty parlours are everywhere as it appears to be one of their favourite pastimes. Salons are clean and treatments range from bikini-waxing to cosmetic tattooing. Fake goods are everywhere so its ideal for that last minute gift before you go home.

There is also a sky-train that takes you to various parts of the city. It is colour co-ordinated and very simple to use. It's also a great way to see the city from above. Bangkok is a large city so walking isn't really an option if you're staying in the centre. Taxis are reasonable and accessible but the best way to get around is by the local transport: tuk tuk. These are motorised rickshaws that weave in and out of the traffic. They're the best mode of transport and also the cheapest but do hold on tight! You can even hire them for an hour to take you around the local temples. It's like having your own tour guide and is easier than walking around with a map. They can also tell you the local history. If you visit Bangkok on a 'Government Holiday' the drivers are entitled to free fuel for taking tourists to the jewelry and silk shops. So be firm on where you want to go, otherwise you could find yourself buying a necklace that you didn't want. However, if you do want a tailor-made suit then this is the place to buy one. For £60 you can have your own personal three-piece suit.

Khao San Road is the place to pick up statues, sarongs or have your hair braided for £5.00. It's popular with backpackers and has budget accommodation. It's a busy area with a few English style pubs serving western food. The cheapest way to eat is buying from road stalls that sell noodles or rice and cook it in front of you. You can choose from a snack for about 80 pence or a meal for £1.00 and it's acceptable to eat on the streets. It's a good way to try new dishes, some stalls offer the English translation but others you'll just have to use guess work. Squid is very popular, you can even buy dried squid and cuttle fish in stores. Convenience stores 7/11 are open late and offer hot dog or pies. Drinking tap water is not advisable, bottled water is cheap though.
Bangkok is a lively city that has great shops, bars and nightly entertainment. You can be forgiven for feeling vulnerable when you first arrive as the city is very busy but once you're acclimatised you're be rushing around like one of the Thais...