Rejuvenated and forward looking, there is a momentum building in this stunningly beautiful Central American country. El Salvador's idyllic beaches are catching the attention of professional surfers from around the world. The country is quietly becoming the place where those in the know come to catch waves and hone their surfing skills.

Marseille is both beachy and urban, French and mediterranean, modern and historic. Go for the beach by all means, but with its diverse neighborhoods, street art and architectural tours, as well as cave paintings dating back 20,000 years in a new museum, there’s a lot to learn here too.

The new Lumo train offering low-price competition between London and Edinburgh makes accessing Scotland a fast, affordable breeze. Instead of heading to the Highlands, aim for the Borders and other areas of southern Scotland to learn more about the country’s history and famous residents like writer Robert Burns. With the debate about Scottish independence showing no sign of cooling, exploring the borderlands is a great way to contemplate the future of the entire UK as well.