Lebanon: My first introduction to Beirut was in 1994 when I was a relatively new Gulf Air Cabin Crew member on the back of A320. I was so delighted to get the opportunity to fly into Beirut because, growing up in Ireland, I heard so much about Lebanon, not necessarily from a political standpoint but from a historical point of view. History was a favorite subject at school, plus I was a child in the '70s when Beirut was referred to as "the Paris of the Middle East," " A holida

Sri Lanka: You can visit Negombo at any time of the year. So there is really no excuse to say it doesn’t suit your annual sun fix. I prepare to go any time between April to December, as this is the time you will get the best deals if you are looking for one. It is ‘off-season’ as they say, but I think this period has plenty of advantages and I recommend you exploit the moment! To get to Negombo, I fly into Bandaranaike International Airport. The airport is only 30 mins from

Thailand: Bangkok, it is a mad place, and you either love or loathe it. I have been going there since my airline days and I guess the madness feels very familiar to me at this stage. Or maybe I am just a bit mad myself! In recent times, I like to stay close to Sukhumvit Road. It's easy to jump on and off the BST, there are plenty of good markets and a wide selection of shops in the area. You will find restaurants, street food stalls and it's as safe as Bangkok gets for a fe

Briefly, practice makes perfect when it comes to desert dune driving. "Polish comes from the cities; wisdom from the desert"  Frank Herbert, American author Gold rule number 1: Don’t go off-piste by yourself or with just your partner in the vehicle. If you get stuck and its highly likely you will, you could have a long wait before someone shows up to dig you out. Driving a 4×4 on the sand is a discipline of its own ! There are a few open secrets to maintain a controlled speed