If visiting Borneo, the place to stay is the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort. It is extremely well situated, being just 10 minutes from the airport and close to the local attractions and city centre, yet it is surprisingly tranquil. Split into two separate wings, the resort offers a selection of room types with a choice of views. We stayed in a Kinabalu superior room and had the most amazing views of Mount Kinabalu, which made a really nice change from a sea-view which is what we would have usually requested. Aside from relaxing on the lovely white sandy beach, there’s plenty to do at the resort, from water skiiing, jet skiing, scuba diving and fishing to a fitness centre and spa offering a fabulous selection of treatments.

Venture outside of the hotel and take a boat ride to one of the offshore coral islands where you can have a true Robinson Crusoe experience. Another must is a visit to the Kinabalu National Park where you can do a jungle walk as well as a trip to the Sepilok Orang Utan Centre where you can learn all about the Orang Utans and how they are rehabilitated back into the wild.

We were on a room-only package so, whilst we would sit around the pool most days and enjoy lunch at the resort, we choose to venture out in the evenings to sample the local cuisine. There are two really good restaurants within 15 minutes walk of the hotel which are worth trying. Or, a quick taxi ride into Kota Kinabalu and you have some excellent restaurants in the harbour area as well as in the town. We particularly enjoyed Ang’s Hotel Restaurant (Fatt Kee Coffee Shop) which is opposite Wisma Merdeka Shopping Mall. Whilst it’s not much to look at from the outside, the food is freshly cooked to order by three chefs slaving over very large hot woks. The only downside is that they don’t serve alcohol however, the Chinese tea works well with the meal and above all else, it is all very reasonably priced!

I am a seasoned traveler when it comes to the Caribbean. I love the winter sun, the white sand and the lush flora and fauna that so many of the islands boast.

However, after years of visiting Barbados, Jamaica and other popular islands, I decided that I wanted everything that this part of the world offers - but with a twist. So I chose Cuba. The largest of the Caribbean Islands, Cuba is somewhere a bit different. Aside from the miles of unspoilt white sand beaches and beautiful scenery, the culture and atmosphere of Cuba is like no other country in the Caribbean. The main thing that epitomizes Cuba for me are the ancient, classic American cars - cared for tenderly by Cubans as cars are in short supply and new cars are pretty much non-existent! Cuba remains a communist country and from necessity everything is reused and recycled with love! Another thing that was unforgettable was the energy and vibrancy of the island – especially in the capital, Havana. The people are so friendly and welcoming, and there is almost constant live salsa music everywhere you turn, hailing back to Cuba’s Spanish roots.

My boyfriend and I chose to stay at The Paradisus Princesa Del Mar Resort and Spa, located on the popular Varadero Beach. This was a stunning, all-inclusive five-star hotel designed for adults over 18. As well as the ‘grown up’ aspect of the resort, the other feature that drew me to it was that I’d heard it offered a varied gastronomic menu – it didn’t disappoint!

I thought that their breads and pastries were amazing and there were plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from. We tried the French and Chinese, but the Cuban a la carte menu was so delicious that we stayed authentic throughout most of our stay and sampled what seemed like every Cuban dish available under the sun! My favorite was a traditional pork dish served on a bed of rice – and the bean soup appetizer.

The Rock House restaurant has a mini buffet at lunch - we ate here twice and it was delicious - we had lamb one day and goat another. Cubans do meat very well! There were also always imported cheeses, olives and freshly squeezed juices daily.

As for the rest of the resort, it has lovely grounds and our room was very nice too. The sea was a beautiful turquoise blue and the beach was stunning. If you go for a walk you will be approached by people from time to time asking if you want to buy some souvenirs - but they’re harmless and leave you alone if you politely ask them to.

We went on the Havana day trip and we also did the Jeep Safari - they were both amazing trips and we are so glad we did them - they are both highly recommended.

I would suggest visiting Cuba at least once in your lifetime before it’s opened up to the US and commercialism kills it of its current charm - especially Havana, a must-see destination. You can find great beaches anywhere - but Havana is one of a kind and definitely worth visiting.

Fly-drive holidays in the USA are a perfect way to see it all in one go. One of the major decisions when deciding where to go on holiday in the USA is the destination.

Should you head to the west and enjoy the sun in Los Angeles before heading to Las Vegas and over to see the Grand Canyon? Or should you choose the east, and visit the magnificent New York City and historical Washing DC?

Above are just a few options available, and by listing the must-see sights, it quickly becomes easy to see why it does become a problem choosing where to go. Fly-drive holidays allow you to see much of the country in one go.

American Sky fly-drive tours offer a great way of seeing the parts you wish to most, on tours like Self-Drive the West and Self-Drive President’s Path.

With the option to take a specific tour route, with major sights laid out for you, or choose your own route and take in exactly what you wasn’t to see you will be spoilt for choice.

To book or enquire about a fly-drive holiday in the USA, contact American Sky on 0870 9040 920.