Blissfully situated around the Mediterranean and central Europe, a business trip to Croatia is fraught with distractions from the office: here are the top five

Despite the fact that the Slovak Republic has only existed in its current state of independence since 1993, when the dissolution of Czechoslovakia was finalised. It would be a mistake to dismiss Slovakia as a ‘young nation’; its 20 years of independence belie a vast 1,500- year history

In a lagoon in the Maldives, Tim Ecott finds calm and tranquillity alongside manta rays, the mysterious gentle giants of the ocean.

Australia has done an excellent job of nurturing a reputation for outdoors activities and spectacular scenery, but with more business travellers washing up on its sunny shores, Business destinations examines what can be found there – and how to get a good deal.

Boasting some of the world’s largest reserves of oil and gas, and allies that defy political and geographical barriers, Russia is well placed to become an energy superpower of the 21st Century. Jenny Skidalski reports

Ljubljuana is the fairytale-pretty capital of Slovenia, where the cityscape – marked by Art Noveau and baroque architecture – is as notable as the countryside surrounding it. By Celia Bergman

Head out west to the badlands of Arizona, where the Grand Canyon National Park boasts some of the world’s most stunning geography

It’s one of the world’s most secretive and alienated countries, but what really lies behind the closed doors of North Korea?

With a Guggenheim set to arrive in Abu Dhabi in 2013, Eleni Chalkidou examines the museum’s unique cultural influence around the world

To embark on a safari expedition in Africa doesn’t have the exotic twang it used to. Still, the allure of this form of tourism is undeniable, while it also helps to provide funding for vital wildlife preservation. Emma Holmqvist looks at some of the most notable safari locales

Once a symbol of a failed state, Sierra Leone is now gradually evolving into a model for overcoming old divisions and developing into a democratic, peaceful and prosperous nation

A city growing into its new identity asThe New Paris, Istanbul is evolving at blazing speed. Emma Holmqvist takes a look at the recent developments in the sphere of art, culture and fashion