A handpicked selection of the finest things to buy, fab places to try and fun things to do in Singapore

We love travelling, but there are some things we can't stand: harried itineraries, non-stop jetting, dubious tour guides... Sometimes it feels like we need another vacay to recover from our travel fatigue. So when we started planning a trip to Beijing, we were thrilled to find Eastern Journeys (run by know-it-all-but-in-a-good-way David Allardice). We hounded this Chinese travel guru for the scoop on the grand Beijing: 1. Ok, we'll be straight. Why visit Beijing anyway? Because it's fascinating! It's part old China and part techy advanced city. Throw in a lone morning at the Forbidden City, some bargaining at the eclectic Weekend Market and some ...read more

Having trouble deciding about where to go in 2012? Are you hankering after something different, thrilling and utterly mind-blowing? Well we asked the travel gurus at Lightfoot Travel on their top three destinations for the best of Asia. Tibet is an intrepid destination which we guarantee will get your head spinning - and not just from the altitude. This deeply spiritual kingdom, enclosed by the highest mountains in the world, offers an intoxicating insight into Buddhism. Discover more about this fascinating way of life in Lhasa - the sacred birthplace of the Dalai Lama. Colourful prayer flags, fluttering in the wind, will become an indelible ...read more

Big-cat spotting on exclusive safari reserves? Rare South African sirloin at Cape Town's Nobu? Organic Shiraz in the Winelands? An 11 hour flight from Singapore is all that stands between you and one of the greatest tourist destinations on earth. In a nation brimming with incredibly luxurious boutique hotels and once in a lifetime experiences, the biggest problem with South Africa is knowing where to start. Helpfully, we've designed what we think is the definitive SA itinerary. Safari splendour Start with a rip-rollicking safari adventure in the most game heavy reserve in Africa, Kruger National Park. Singita Lebombo is our favourite luxury lodge here, set ...read more

With sand still in our hair, we are fresh back from Lombok, and we feel it our duty to report on this must-see destination. Lombok is a quiet little Indonesian island right next door to Bali, but so in so many ways so different to its well-known neighbour. Overlooked by mass tourism and tourist developments, a trip to Lombok is a trip back in time. Think long sandy beaches, clear water and just the sound of the waves lapping the beach. With no shops and relatively few restaurants Lombok is the kind of holiday destination that ensures that you have some quality (and quantity) time ...read more

Are you a planner or a procrastinator? Either way, we know you love a good holiday. Now's the time to book Chinese New Year because we all know the best spots get snapped up FAST. Our top tip is to escape the throngs of tourists and enjoy a mellower CNY in laid-back Laos. Here's why: Though it still feels off the beaten track, Laos is about to become much easier to get to with direct flights from Singapore to Vientiane. Leaving on Sun (22 Jan) and returning Tues (24 Jan), these flights mean you can have the perfect two-night CNY culture-and-luxury fix in nearby Luang ...read more

The secret is out and word is spreading: Sri Lanka is Asia's hippest up-and-coming travel destination, with sexy boutique hotels and villas a dime a dozen and more cropping up all the time. It is also the perfect destination for experience-greedy travellers like us who literally want it all: art, culture, beach, jungle, mountains, wildlife and history. After all this, there's nowhere better to reflect and relax than the Maldives, a 1.5-hr flight away. Lightfoot's dedicated travel team have tried and tested this formula (just to be sure) and we think it is the ultimate Indian Ocean combo. First stop: Sri Lanka. Once you've hit ...read more

Our favourite ways to entertain (and distract) those out-of-towners ... 1. Nothing impresses visitors like an intimate brekkie with endangered primates at the Singapore Zoo. Nope not the busloads of tourists, it's the orang utans you get up close with at the Jungle Breakfast (9-10.30am). 2. Visitors might want go to Marina Bay Sands for the obligatory over-priced cocktail, but given the casino, sorry, entertainment precinct is an essential part of our skyline, we think somewhere like LeVeL33 or Lantern Bar that overlooks the casino, sorry, entertainment precinct is more impressive. 3. Show your guests the real Singapore by eating chilli crab (groan, not again!)... ...read more

If you're hankering for something a little different, a little special for your next holiday, this jaunt through Northeast India might be just the ticket. There are three key components: 1. Get your bustle on in Delhi with guided tours of impressive forts, shopping hotspots and the like; bed down at our trusty 4-star gem, the Claridges Hotel. 2. Escape northeastwards to the Himalayan foothills to luxuriate at the Mary Budden Estate, an eco-luxe homestay deep within the Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary (pack your hiking boots - the landscape beckons). 3. End with an exceptionally fun elephant-back safari in the jungles of Corbett National Park to ...read more

Quit moaning about the tropical weather, and deal with it as we do. Book an icy escape in your diary right now, and not only will you have a chance to really look forward to it, you can nab an early bird deal while you are at it. Here are three fabulous places to stay in Niseko: Latitude 42 Affectionately called "Lat 42", the self-contained chalet in the lower Hirafu village lies within walking distance to Niseko's best eateries and the Yukoro Onsen. With fantastic views of Mt. Yosei, the four bedroom chalet is perfect for families and friends looking for an intimate ski getaway. ...read more

Yes the chi-chi hotels are nice, but when you are staying for a week or travelling with tots in tow, there is only one way to go - with room to move. Shopping at the local markets, hanging out in a living room as opposed to a hotel lobby and staying in a real neighbourhood are all major draw cards to apartment rentals. Oh, and you might even be able to cook in the kitchen too! That's why we love the new Roomorama service. Better than a house-swap, this online marketplace of private apartments and homes provide significant savings, plus the opportunity to live local. ...read more

Its been a tough week. We are just back in from the Maldives, testing out the new Six Senses Laamu. Beds insanely comfortable, tick. Amazing epicurean extravagances, tick. Serene tranquillity, tick, tick, tick! If you need a good reason to book your getaway, here it is. This newly opened eco-luxury resort set in the picture-perfect coral atolls is offering a Stay 6 Pay 4 deal... And availability is going quick. Get caught up in summer frenzy and whisk yourself away pronto! If your looking for something a little closer to home, head to the Island of the Gods. Right now there are fab deals from ...read more

When it gets hot... it's time to slope off. Crispy days of clear blue skies, endless white powder and sublime vistas Queenstown is truly fit for royalty. The crowned adventure capital of NZ overlooks the beautiful lake Wakatipu and is bounded by the craggy peaks of the Remarkables. With everything from beginner slopes to rolling off-piste runs, they don't call this the Remarkables Ski Area for nothing. If you've just got the hang of zipping across the snow, you're sure to progress quickly here. More advanced? Runs like Terminator, Eliminator, Diangulator and Exterminator will leave your heart pumping. Snowboarders we haven't forgotten you - Treble ...read more

In this day of internet travel booking, why would you use a travel agent? Agents are great when ... Time is money. Agents are great at watching out for deals. So having a relationship with an agent who knows what you are interested in, can mean you have a full-time internet deal hunter on your team. You have a crackberry habit. If you or hubby spends enough time on the blackberry as it is, make sure that someone else has the headache when you are on holidays. Hotel flooded, flight delayed - not your problem. You love an upgrade. Agents have relationships with hotels, car ...read more

So we have Sentosa, and we have Bintan, and we even have Nikoi, but the latest Island attraction off the coast of Singapore... Funtasy Island. Just 16 kilometres from Vivocity and 20 minutes away on ferry the latest island resort and nature park is due to initially open in late 2011. The Resort is a super-paced lifestyle and real estate resort with villas, hotels, eco tourism activities, aquaculture farming activities, funtasy club, yacht club, market place and the largest eco theme park scattered over 328 hectares of islands and sea land. It is due to be completed by 2013. Take a peek at their website, ...read more

Ladies & gentlemen, whip out your smart phones and lock in your leave - after April & May, there are no more national holidays till August... Let the professionals help you make the most of your precious days off with Lightfoot Travel's great ideas on bespoke mini trips - minus the long plane journeys and jetlag. Seeking Serenity, Head to Java, Indonesia If you want to immerse yourself in ruggedly beautiful scenery and exotic cultures, Java is just the place. Cut a path inland to Java's rural heartland - one of the most peaceful spots in the world - to stay at the ultra-Zen Amanjiwo ...read more