Written by Brian Johnston  |  Added: 29.06.2010, 20:28

select Tropical 
Escapes

There’s something about the tropics that is perennially alluring. And we aren’t just talking about the romance of beaches washed by warm waters, terraced hillsides, and coconut palms; we reckon tropical cities have a steamy seductiveness as well.
 

Bali

Bali may be just a dot on the world map, but it punches well above its size when it comes to tourism, luring millions of holidaymakers to its balmy shores. And no wonder: the Indonesian island features world-class surfing waves that pound the golden shoreline, coconut trees nodding in the breeze, rice terraces spilling down hillsides in iridescent green, and volcanoes on the horizon. Then there is the amazing richness of Bali’s religious and cultural heritage, with temple rituals and colourful festivals and fairs a part of daily life. Those looking to be pampered need only head to Ubud in the central hills, which is luring many a visitor away from the golden beaches with its growing reputation as a luxury spa destination: relax in a lush 
rural setting, where monkeys cavort in the trees and the days are languid.
 

WHY
A vibrant culture, top-class resorts, and plenty of splendid natural attractions.
 

WHERE
Bali lies between the islands of Java and Lombok in the Indonesian archipelago.
 

HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways has daily flights from Doha to Denpasar, Bali.
 

Cebu

Well connected to the rest of the country, the long and narrow Philippine island of Cebu has a spectacular mountainous backbone, tumbling with waterfalls and surrounded by shimmering green lowlands. The island also boasts plenty of beaches and tropical offshore islands, especially in the north and south. These are just the place to unwind in tranquil surrounds under shady coconut palms; in some places, such as Malapascua, the sand is so fine you’d swear it was talcum powder. Cebu’s sprinkling of tiny surrounding islands are also noted for their scuba diving and other water sports, bird watching, and the luxury resorts that dip their toes into the warm waters of the South China Sea. For a change of pace, Cebu City is a modern boom town with fascinating colonial history and architecture and some fine regional museums.
 

WHY
Superb tropical beaches contrast with Cebu City, the Philippines' oldest and second largest settlement.
 

WHERE
Cebu City lies on the eastern coast of the island and province of Cebu in the central Philippines.
 

HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways has three flights a week from Doha 
to Cebu.
 

Ho Chi Minh City

A visit to Ho Chi Minh City will get you buzzing. In the throes of economic change and reinvention, the former French colonial town with its ‘tropical baroque’ architecture is emerging as a fast-paced city. Food stalls sit beside chic restaurants, and glitzy shopping malls compete with street markets. In the evening, a sundowner by the river is just the thing before heading on to the frenetic nightclubs.
 

WHY
Extend your idea of the tropical beyond beaches: 
Ho Chi Minh is the quintessential tropical city.
 

WHERE
Ho Chi Minh City sits on 
the Saigon River in 
southern Vietnam.
 

HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways has four flights a week from Doha to Ho Chi Minh City.