Medianett’s top 10 places to visit:

- Bangkok

- Paris

- Cape Town

- Sri Lanka

- Las Vegas

- Toronto

- Singapore

- Barcelona

- Petra - Jordan

- Auckland

The highlights in detail

Bangkok

Ignore what you have heard about this place from fans of the legendary movie, The Hangover. It's a beautiful city full of culture and hidden treasures that sit peacefully alongside the modern hustle and bustle of Thailand’s capital – We can confirm that Bangkok is worth the 11 hour flight. You can spend your morning floating down the river to see the traditional boat markets, or hop off at the Golden Palace, wander the streets and find the reclining Golden Bhudda. And don’t forget, you could take a short trip out to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and lose yourself in the perfectly blue waters.

Paris

Staying a little bit closer to home, and ideal if you can only escape for a long weekend, the most romantic city in the world is perfect if you want a change of scenery. Paris has a lot to offer, whether it is strolling along its UNESCO World Heritage-Listed river embankments, taking in the priceless works of art at the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay, climbing the steps to reach the Sacre Coeur, or admiring the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower, you will never be bored in this city.

Cape Town

Here we have a special contribution from Medianett’s very own Caron Schreuder, a Cape Town native, on why you should visit this wonderful city:

“Where else in the world would you find beaches, mountains, wildlife, culture and beautiful people? From the breath-taking sight of two oceans meeting at Cape Point, to getting up close and personal with the Big 5 on safari, Cape Town should be a staple on everyone’s travel bucket list.

“Top tip: The stunning and iconic Kirstenbosch Gardens hosts regular outdoor sunset concerts showcasing local talent – a must for nature and music lovers!”

Sri Lanka

There isn’t just one city you can pin down in this small island nation sitting south of India - it is all too beautiful, and each offering unforgettable experiences. Kandy is hectic but then calm at numerous temples dotted around the city, whereas in Galle after a walk around its Dutch-era villa lined streets, you can see the locals play cricket on the pitch of the world series.

You can also take a safari trip in Yala National Park, which despite being damaged by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, is still teeming with wildlife and has the largest population of leopards. And if that’s not enough, make sure you don’t miss the ruined city of Anuradhapura, left as a great shrine to the Sinhalese civilization that ruled the island for thousands of years.

Las Vegas  

Although an acquired taste, this mad city can also have a calmer side to the glitzy lights and huge casinos that line the famous Las Vegas strip. Here you can see the world famous Cirque du Soleil, take a day trip out to one of the wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon, stake your bets on one of the thousands of card tables available in the casinos, convince yourself that Elvis never died while watching one of his tribute shows, and shop to your heart's content. This crazy city was recommended to be added to our list by Alan Harvey of Approved Trader – so you know it’s official.  

Toronto

Toronto is sat in the French eastern side of Canada, often only used as a base to head out to the world famous Niagara Falls, but this sprawling city has enough to see in its own right. A good place to start is the well-known CN Tower, where you can then go into Uptown Toronto and look around the hipster cafes and independent designer stores. Throughout the year, the city is also host to a series of festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival and Toronto Jazz Festival, both highly regarded around the world. Of course, you can’t ignore the Niagara Falls during your stay, so book a day trip out and be sure to also visit the nearby town of Niagara on the Lake, as done by Ray Cohen from Jackson Cohen Associates.

Singapore

Calmer than mainland China, this tiny island has turned from being a colonial port in to one of the most amazing cities in Asia. It is full of elegant temples, where you will capture flashbacks of colonial times with grand buildings sitting amongst the modern skyscrapers. It also boasts a collection of historical museums which offer explanations to how such a small place can become such a major destination.