United Arab Emirates

Dubai is about three and a half hours from Hyderabad, and that short hop lands you in a city that seems to have been built for superlatives. The trip starts in old Dubai, with an abra ride across the creek, the Gold and Spice souks of Deira and the Al Fahidi heritage quarter, then moves to Downtown for the observation decks of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and the Dubai Fountain show at night. An evening dhow cruise with dinner on the creek or the marina is part of the classic programme.

A desert safari is the moment most guests remember. A 4x4 Land Cruiser takes you dune-bashing over the red sand, with sandboarding, a camel ride and a camp at sunset that serves a barbecue dinner with tanoura and belly dance performances. Another day goes to Abu Dhabi, about 90 minutes away, for the white marble domes of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, with optional stops at Ferrari World or Warner Bros. World on Yas Island, or the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat.

The rest of the week is for the Museum of the Future, the Dubai Frame, Palm Jumeirah and Atlantis, the Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, and theme parks such as IMG Worlds and Global Village in season. Winter, from November to March, is the comfortable time to go, with days around 25°C. The UAE is safe, clean and very family-friendly, with Indian food on every corner, which makes it an easy first international trip.