Sydney, Australia

This city has it all - outdoor adventure and cosmopolitan excitement. The people are friendly, making whatever you do a pleasant experience.

Do: Hot sites include the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, Bondi Beach, Botanical Gardens and the Taronga Park Zoo featuring the famous koalas.

Eat: Enjoy the Bondi’s Icebergs Dining Room and Bar, which offers outstanding Italian food, or Sean’s Panaroma featuring a hip, low key vibe.

Stay: Great hotels include the Blacket, which features a contemporary vibe in the heart of Sydneys’ business quarter; the Four Seasons Hotel in The Rocks; and the Intercontinental Sydney, a modern-classic hotel offering jaw-dropping views of the city and harbor.

Istanbul, Turkey

Straddling the Bosphorus Strait between the Black and Marmara seas, Istanbul is the historic threshold between Europe and Asia.

Do: See the eighth wonder of the world, the Hagia Sophia, which was built as a church by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Find everything from rugs to rice at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar. Also, relax at the city’s numerous Turkish baths, or hammams.

Eat: Shoulder your way through the crowd to get a seat at Nevizade Sokak for their trademark anise-flavored tipple; Balikci has long been a foodies’ favorite for fish; Mikla at the Marmara Pera Hotel offers amazing views.

Stay: The Hyatt Regency Istanbul offers a spectacular setting at the center of the city’s business and commercial districts while the Ottoman Hotel Imperial is situated in the center of the old town.