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One of the few things to brighten this gloomy time of year are the Christmas lights that mark the start of the festive season. John Miller selects the world’s finest four displays.

Bonnie Lynn flies into Argentina’s capital city and finds setting herself up with an apartment is beyond easy. But to really settle in takes time: fortunately she has that too

In the foothills of the Pyrenees a mining giant is planning to scrape off a forest in the face of muted, seething protest. Russ Pearce finds the resistance is both cultured and clever.

The Reverend George Tidy’s account of outrunning the Japanese army in the midst of war makes for a rattling good read. This extract from ‘Bewitched by Burma’, written by missionaries on the run, makes the moans of a modern backpacker look decidedly trivial.

There’s more to Majorca than sun, sea and sand. Teresa Turner says the Mediterranean’s finest holiday island also has plenty of active options.

On his journey around the world’s ten-letter countries, David Jenkins stops off in Madagascar and takes time to track down its iconic wildlife.

Despite his initial cynicism, Italy’s iconic highlight works it’s magic on Brandon Elijah Scott. But to perfect the experience he should have brought his own woman.

When Simon Darvell boards a long distance bus in Peru the worst he expects is a sub-standard movie. But cotton-picking farmers are on the march: roadblocks and then riots make getting from the Andes to the coast a very real challenge.

Of all the United Arab Emirates, Dubai has by far the most extravagant facilities. Monica Martinez discovers a range of stunning restaurants, amid the clouds and amongst the fish.

Or just pissed off nicotine addict John M Edwards. New York might be the ‘City that never Sleeps’ but it’s rapidly becoming a city that doesn’t smoke. He finds life increasingly hard amidst a barrage of ‘No Smoking’ signs.

Kenya has an election coming up, and experience shows there’s every chance political parties will rally tribalism to their cause. Catherine McNulty explains how that might impact travellers.

The weather pulls out all the stops to make Lindsay Salt’s visit to Crater Lake, one of the largest volcanic lakes in America, a spectacular and memorable experience.

Call it hike, trek or stomp, on a serious expedition it is vital to be properly equipped. Simone Visser runs through the items you should certainly take – and those you can leave behind.

Newly-graduated Jack Peterson signs up for a government-sponsored month-long tour of Taiwan, open only to the children of expats. From his first night in Taipei it’s clear that beer and hormones are likely to play a big part.

Richard Powell joins a gonzo riding outfit to trek across Kenya’s epic game reserve, camping beneath the stars and hanging onto his horses.

Vicky Schippers flies to Denver and explores the Flatirons, the spiky foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and finds plenty of superfit locals cycling and hiking in Chautauqua Park.

Travel frontiers are on the move. Laura Williams runs through the hot emerging destinations for travellers determined to stay on the cutting edge.

Charlie Walker pedals slowly through the mountains of once-soviet Kyrgyzstan and borrows a horse for a game of Ulak Tartysh. Sadly the welcome of the locals is not matched by their mirror-shaded authorities.

There’s a world of difference between instant holiday snaps and photographs that really sing. Brandon Eilijah Scott suggests five ways to improve the pictures you take.

When Nicholas Sumner flies into China he sails through one scam and avoids another. But when he helps some Swedes change money on the street the deal goes badly wrong.

The world’s your oyster in the new age of travel. Amanda Rodrigues provides an idiots guide to help you decide where to go next.

Of the 20,000 climbers who attempt Tanzania’s iconic volcanic mountain each year, apparently an average of 20 die. Jonathan Trollip takes the gamble and lives to tell the tale.

Kiwi Dan Horne books a family holiday to Queensland but only on arrival finds out about the ‘wet season’ glossed over in the brochures. The Sunshine Coast wasn’t sunny and thunderstorms beat the Gold Coast grey.

Bonnie Lynn’s journey around Croatia begins to the sound of cover versions of Western classics, but it’s the traditional folk music she later discovers that haunts her memories of this European gem.

South America’s most infamously lawless country is rapidly shedding its negative image. Erika Lindsay finds no threat in Colombia, only natural beauty and winning smiles.

It’s not easy to resist Afrikaner hospitality. Wild-camping in rural Mali, round-the-world motorcyclist Pat Garrod accepts beers and a brai from a South African mining team and this always comes at a price.

A thousand years ago the sultanate of Oman was a world power, with colonies across the Indian Ocean and Africa. Habeeb Saloum searches for a glimpse of past power in it’s historic capital but has to be content with a nice cup of tea.

Western civilisation has tamed the circus experience but not in Ukraine. In Dnepropetrovsk ‘flying dogs’ were promised as a highlight so Bobby Fox books himself a seat – which he soon regrets.

When volunteer Christian Cummins becomes ill in Ghana it falls to some unknown taxi driver to go out of his way to help. This is his thanks to that ‘knight in tattered clothing’.

Planning a holiday? Ann Wright has a travel checklist to help you on your way.

David Calleja comes into direct contact with Cambodia’s horrific past as a veteran of Asia’s ultimate holocaust is his guide to the Killing Fields and Phnom Penh’s infamous Tuol Sleng prison.

Sophie McGovern sets out in rural England to discover the realities of living in a traditional bow-top caravan. It turns out to be surprisingly comfortable.

In his quest to visit every ten-letter country, David Jenkins flies into Bangladesh. As floodwaters wash out most of the south he feels fortunate to be heading north – but the day-long journey proves somewhat traumatic.

When money’s tight villa holidays are the best way to cut costs. Frank Warner says the global recession has thrown up even greater bargains for your next trip, and runs through the countries where bargains can be found.

The all-American town of Harmony is home to one of the world’s largest Amish communities. But while the Amish aren’t allowed cars or electricity Eric Whitehead has both: he loads a CD guide into the car stereo for a self-drive tour.

Adam Miezio flies into Venice to spark off on a road trip through Croatia, exploring the National Parks but also spending some time on a Mediterranean beach,

In 1930 Mary Bruce became the first person to fly from the UK to Japan. But she nearly didn’t make it, when an oil leak over the Gulf of Oman brings her biplane tumbling down into an Iranian desert. Biographer Nancy Wilson describes how the ‘Queen of Speed’ was slowed.

When Carley Hollis heads off to explore Hungary’s capital she doesn’t opt for an escorted tour. The result is she misses half the sights, walks for miles and wears out her favourite shoes.