Having bespoke suits, shirts and shoes tailor made in Hong Kong is a sartorial rite-of-passage for many business travellers to "The Fragrant Harbour". It's quick, convenient, and your new clothes can be shipped back to you with a minimum of fuss.

The trouble is that it can be exhausting looking for the best quality, fair prices and good service in a city as teeming with tailors as Hong Kong. Luckily for you business travellers we've done the legwork so you can use your precious down time for more client schmoozing or to sample the delights of Lan Kwai Fong.

GET SUITED

The British Textile Company: Danny Tam's business has been running since the 1960s when it began in Shanghai. His hand crafted suits, made from English and Italian fabrics, take a week to complete and require two to three fittings. Prices for a tailor made suit range from approximately HKD 4,000 to HKD 8,000 depending on the quality of the fabric. In order to get the perfect fit, Danny recommends coming with a good idea of the style you want so that you can give them the best instructions possible. Orders can be placed from overseas and door-to-door delivery generally costs 10% of the total order. You can also have shirts, coats, waistcoats, dinner jackets, morning suits and ladies' clothes made here.
The British Textile Company, Shop G17, Ground Floor, Holiday Inn Shopping Mall, 50 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Tel: +852 2730 3464; Fax: +852 2735 4999; Email: tkw1122@netvigator.com.

A-Man Hing Cheong Co. Ltd: This tailors has been up and running since 1898 and its success is tenable by merit of its super smart location in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Suits take five to seven days to make and require three fittings. The fabrics on offer are of the highest quality, imported from the UK or Italy. Prices for a bespoke suit range from HKD 8,000 to HKD 20,000, so excellence doesn't come cheap (they have to pay the rent somehow…). The good news is that once they have your measurements on file you can call or email in your orders and they will ship the finished product anywhere in the world to you for free.
A-Man Hing Cheong Co., Ltd, Unit M2 Mezz. Floor, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 5 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong; Tel: +852 2522 3336; Fax: +852 2523 4707; Email: amhcltd@netvigator.com.

GET BOOTED

Mayer Shoe Co.: Quite literally follow in the footsteps of Henry Kissinger, local Tai-pans, and Hong Kong's former governors at this famous 46-year old shop. Also located in the glitzy Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the Mayer Shoe Co. specializes in bespoke ladies and gents shoes made from top notch European and American leather. The shoemakers can copy styles from a magazine picture, remake your favourite pair of banged up brogues, or you can choose from their collection of house styles. A pair of tailor made shoes takes between seven and ten days to make and costs from HKD 3,500.
Mayer Shoe Co., M-3 Mandarin Oriental Hotel Arcades, 5 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong; Tel: +852 2524 3317; Fax: +852 2524 5513; Email: mayerhk@netvigator.com.

Kow Hoo Shoes: Kow tow to Kow How: beautiful, butter soft handmade shoes are the order of the day at this 82-year old company. The shoemaker is also an octogenarian, so it takes six to eight months for each pair to be ready; sadly, shoemaking by hand is a dying trade. Each customer has a wooden shoe last crafted to the exact shape of their feet, so once you have ordered from Kow Hoo once you can email or fax across any style you like to be made to your exact specifications. You can also choose send in your old shoes to be remade if you've lost a pair you love. The leathers come from Europe, and exotic skins can be sourced if the fancy takes you. Prices start from HKD 6,800 and international shipping costs about HKD 280.
Kow Hoo Shoes, Shop 241, Prince's Building, 10 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2523 0489; Fax: +852 2877 1783; Email: kowhoo@hotmail.com.

GET SHIRTY

Best Shirt Maker Company: Tommy Lo has been doing his company's name proud since 1968, and his bespoke shirts have attracted Hollywood stars to the shop above Wellington Street. Fabrics at the Best Shirt Maker Company come from Japan, the UK and Italy – the finest being the Italian ones – and samples can be sent overseas. Prices start at HKD 400 for a tailor made shirt from Japanese cotton and go up to HKD 1,000+ for a bespoke Italian number. Allow one week for shirts to be made; if you live abroad you can email or call in your orders and Tommy will ship them.
Best Shirt Maker Company, Flat C, 1/F, Fortuna Building, 63 – 69 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong; Tel: +852 2525 3562; Fax: (Call before sending) +852 2110 0835; Email: best_shirt_maker@hotmail.com.

If you have had any good experiences having suits and shirts tailored and shoes handmade for you in Hong Kong we'd love to hear from you. Please leave your tips and comments below.

Image Credits: Suit via iStockPhoto; Shoe Last by Artbandito

Business travellers may be a road-weary lot, but we think that this selection of Christmas goodies will fill them with holiday cheer; we hope they please the road warrior in your life!

Heavenly Travel Blanket

There's nothing worse than being uncomfortable when you're travelling long-distance or overnight to an important meeting – so avoid it. Indulge your favourite business traveller with the Heavenly Travel Blanket from Westin. We've all heard the hype about their duvets, pillows and bed linens, and now the "heavenly" experience has been packaged up and made road ready. Opened up, it's a full sized blanket – folded it's a compact travel pillow. Nifty huh?!
Price USD 60 (ships internationally). Available online at www.westin.com/store.

Passport Cover

It's funny what a difference the little things can make. These leather passport covers from Smythson are ultra chic and luxurious, and will transform check-in from glum to glam. Choose from an array of styles and colours for traditionalists and fashionistas alike.
Price from £60 / USD 100. Available online at www.smythson.com.

Travel Journal

Encourage the business traveller in your life to record their journeys (and jot down the details of fab places to take you to later) in this super smart envelope wrap travel journal from Aspinal of London. It's got more than a whiff of the Victorian explorer about it, perfect for bringing some romance and a dash of the exotic into mundane business trips.
Price from £25 / USD 39. Available online at www.aspinaloflondon.com.

Flip Mino HD

If your road-warrior is more techie than traditional, the Flip Mino HD camcorder is the perfect gift to help them remember where they've been and what they've seen. It's also a great little device for recording up to 120 minutes of personal messages from exotic climes and emailing them over to friends and family. It is very easy to use, lightweight and small.
Price from USD 229. Available online from Amazon.com.

Digital Luggage Scale
This is a great stocking filler or present from the dog for your business traveller. Brookstone has a portable digital luggage scale that you can use to weigh your bags and avoid any hassle or unforeseen costs at the airport. The scale can measure up to 75 lbs / 34 kg.
Price USD 29.95. Available from Amazon.com.

In-flight Travel Bag
Get pampered at 30,000 feet with a gorgeous kit from skincare and fragrance guru, Jo Malone. Keep your skin in tip top condition so you look and feel great in those all important business meetings.
Price £76. Available online at www.jomalone.co.uk.

Recorded Bedtime Stories

If you know someone who is on the road a lot more often than they would like, this could make a great gift if they have children or grandchildren. Cherished Voices is a company that allows business travellers to record bedtime stories, in their own voice, over the phone that are then burnt onto a CD and shipped to the child. A very special way to stay in touch.
Price from USD 30 – 50. Available online at www.cherishedvoices.com.

Wine Ratings Guide iPhone App
Clients can be hard to please, so help out your favourite business traveller with this nifty iPhone app that helps to select the best bottle of wine on the menu. For the bargain price of USD 1.99 this application from Nirvino will turn anyone from clueless to connoisseur: 1 million wine ratings, a food pairings wizard, and a regional wine guide (so you can pick the best local tipple). Look like a genius, even if you're not.
Price USD 1.99. Available online at www.nirvino.com or via the iTunes store.

Screaming Pillow
Another delayed flight? A client who won't play ball? A deranged hotel receptionist? Let it ALL out on a screaming pillow. Business travel can be pretty stressful, so take a little piece of mobile therapy with you on the road. Simply place your face on the pillow and scream.
Price USD 19.99 (+shipping and handling). Available online at screamingpillows.com.

Luxe City Guides: World Tour Box
From LA to London, Beijing to Berlin – tour the world in style with 12 of the fab Luxe City Guides. This is one for business travellers who appreciate the finer things in life and don't want the slog of researching where to find them. Price USD 110. Available online at Amazon.com.

London is a well known shopping destination, and there's a lot more to the UK's capital than Oxford Street and Topshop... Hit London's markets and you'll head home with a suitcase full of original pieces plus a slice of real London life.

Here are three of our favourite London markets to add you your travel itinerary:

Columbia Road Flower Market, E2

Every Sunday Columbia Road comes into bloom with thousands of brightly coloured flowers and plants. Barrow boys call out for customers and savvy Londoners come out in force to stock up on bargain price flowers and foliage. You can get your hands on everything from a single stem to a 10 foot banana tree, and if you're not interested in buying flowers there are masses of photo opps.

Open on Sundays from 8am until 3pm(ish). Closest stations are Old Street and Bethnal Green.

Spitalfields Market, E1

Fashionistas and foodies will love Spitalfields. It's chock-a-block with 110 stalls selling clothes, crafts, antiques, arts and organic produce. Glass roofed and weather-proof, you should set aside a good few hours for treasure hunting here. Rest assured: there are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can refuel.

If you've got the energy, Columbia Road and Spitalfields can be done together as they are within walking distance of each other.

Open Tuesday - Friday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Closed on Monday and Saturday. The closest station is Liverpool Street.

Borough Market, SE1

Foodies and photographers will think they've died and gone to heaven... Borough Market is home to London's very best meat, fruit, veg, cheeses, fish and oh so much more. Come either to shop or to sample the delicious food, which can be eaten straight from the stalls or in the gardens of Southwark Cathedral. It's worth making the effort to get to Borough Market early as around lunchtime it gets horribly busy. Saturday is the best day to visit.

Open on Thursday from 11am to 5pm, Friday from 12pm to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 5pm. The nearest station is London Bridge.

Photo Credits: Columbia Road Flower Market by estherase; Spitalfields Market by vertcerise; Borough Market by RedJamJar.

By Helena Iveson

Tucked down an historic tree-lined hutong alley, walking distance from the Lama Temple, design boutique Lost & Found is the answer to the age-old question for tourists to Beijing: just where do you get stylish souvenirs in the land of cheap knockoff t-shirts and Chairman Mao watches?

Paul Gelinas – an American theatre set designer and former art director for NBC's Olympic coverage – and his Chinese partner Xiao Miao salvage objects from the past, whether they're chipped enamel street signs from a long-demolished hutong, a barbershop chair or a 1950s Shanghai fan and lovingly remove the dirt before offering them on sale in their treasure trove of a store.

Look out for the 50s style storage cabinet from the old Beijing library complete with handwritten library cards still in the drawers – a steal for 4000 RMB. Alongside the reclaimed knickknacks, there are new items for sale too, including brightly coloured, hand stencilled flasks from Beijing's oldest thermos factory (58RMB), handmade slippers, and an exclusive range of men's and women's clothes – think linen jackets with a subtle traditional Chinese twist – all made locally and very reasonably priced. There's also a full range of the covetable Moleskine notebooks, including the Beijing editon – perfect for writing down the details of this fascinating treasure trove of a store.

Lost & Found, 42 Guozijian, Chaoyang district, Beijing. Tel: +86-10/6401-1855; Web: lost-and-found.cn.

All Images Copyright Lost & Found 2008.

Once the pulse of "Swinging London", the King's Road is a street of major cultural significance. In the 60s musicians like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and The Rolling Stones hung out in its famous pubs and cafes with the crème de la crème of the fashion, literary and film world. In the 70s the King's Road witnessed the birth of the punk movement.

Today mods and mini-skirts have been replaced by yummy mummies and "Chelsea Tractors", and the King's Road is one of London's most gentrified streets. However, shopping and boutiques are still a big obsession and the street is home to several chic shops.

If you're in London and have a couple of hours to spare, make sure you hit these King's Road gems…

If you've arrived at Sloane Square tube station (district and circle lines), cross the square and start walking down the King's Road. You'll soon see a bus stop on your right hand side. Jump on the numbers 11, 19, 22 or 319 and get off at the Beaufort Street stop.

Graham & Green

This two-storey treasure trove is home to an eye-popping array of fashion, furniture, lighting and gifts. Pick up a slinky number by DAY Birger et Mikkelsen, browse for bags and accessories for your next trip and drool over their exotic range of furniture.

340 Kings Rd, London; Tel: 020 7352 1919; Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 11:30am to 5:30pm.

Brora

No one does Scottish cashmere quite like Brora. A myriad of colours and designs to suit any age, from baby right through to Granny. Feast your eyes and get kit yourself out in style for the famous British weather.

344 Kings Road, London; Tel: 020 7352 3697; Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

Austique

If you're looking for a boutique that's très, très chic then look no further. Jaw droppingly hot dresses, jeans, tops, jewellery, lingerie and accessories. Don't forget your credit card, this one does not come cheap.

330 Kings Road, London; Tel: 020 7376 4555 / 020 7376 3773; Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:30am to 7pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm.

Designers Guild

Head here for fab fabrics, wallpaper, bed and bath linens, furniture, fragrance and home accessories.

267 Kings Road, London; Tel: 020 7351 5775; Email - info@designersguild.com

Cath Kidson

A great array of vintage inspired homewares and home furnishings. Kitschy prints on everything from first aid boxes to dog baskets.

322 Kings Road, London; Tel: 020 7351 7335; Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 am to 7pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm.

Antiquarius

One of oldest and most famous antiques centres in London, this emporium is chock-a-block with dealers and products. You can snag everything from antique Louis Vuitton trunks and suitcases to engagement rings to showstopping one-off pieces.

131 – 141 Kings Road, London; Tel: 020 7823 3900; Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 am to 6pm, closed on Sundays.

R.Soles

If you love cowboy boots you'll be in heaven here. This boutique is 100% devoted to the finest boots money can buy. There's something for everyone, from classic pieces to quirky one-offs.

109a Kings Road, London; Tel: 020 7351 5520; Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 am to 7pm, Sunday 12pm to 6pm.

For more on shopping across the globe click here. For more on London click here.

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Photo Credit: King's Road by C'est moi via Flickr (Creative Commons).

We've researched, mused over and debated dozens of travel products that would make the ultimate Christmas present. We've spoken to travellers from across the world to find out what their most coveted and most trusted travel products are, and here is iloho's list of the top 10 luxury Christmas presents for travellers.

From decadent accessories to luxe luggage to services that will soothe travel aches and pains. These gift suggestions, whilst luxurious, are not meant to be wildly unobtainable or garishly ostentatious. They are things that real travellers really want, and they will all look fantastic under the tree!

1. Cashmere Travel Blanket

Give yourself an instant upgrade by travelling with a cashmere blanket. Forget about cashing in your hard-earned airmiles or grovelling to the check-in staff, instead wrap yourself in cashmere and make economy class feel like business and business feel like first. Frequent traveller, Katherine from London, says: "I was given a cashmere blanket by my boyfriend last year after months of grovelling. I travel a lot and if I'm stuck at an airport or have to fly long-haul it's a little slice of luxury that makes life on the road a lot more comfortable." We love Brora's cashmere blankets (£329/$489), which measure 190 x 140cm and come in six different colours. Click here for more information.

2. Noise Cancelling Headphones

We all know silence is golden, but peace and quiet can be tough to achieve when engine roar and crying babies enter the equation. Noise cancelling headphones have changed the way some people travel; one Flyertalk.com member says: "The Bose QC2s I have had a huge impact on my comfort on flights. I even feel more rested when I use them." Well, make way for the new Bose QC3 headphones (£275/$349), which are more compact than their predecessors with the same level of performance. As well as drowning out surround sounds these headphones come with a detachable cord to connect MP3, DVD and CD players, or to plug into an in-flight entertainment system. It's oh so quiet… Click here for more information.

3. Digital SLR

A top-of-the-range digital SLR consistently delivers rich, high-quality images, capturing your most incredible travel moments for years to come. SLR evangelists swear that the image quality is so far superior to standard compact cameras that once you start using one you will never go back (and that your travel photos will be the envy of all your friends). Nikon released the D90 digital SLR (£849.99/$999.95) in August of this year, which is successor to the popular D80 model. It is a high-end consumer camera with 12.3 megapixel resolution that, in the words of Hong Kong-based iloho user Gadgetlover, "is large enough to capture those great moments, but small enough to travel there with you." Click here for more information.

4. Weekend Bag

A smart weekend bag amps up your travel style in an instant, and classic models will never go out of fashion; they are stylish and functional and make a fantastically indulgent Christmas present. Anna, an iloho user from Sydney, says of her new Italian suede weekend bag: "It's definitely not a necessity, but it is beautiful and it makes me feel good when I travel." We like the Mulberry Large Racing Clipper (£350/$625), which works well for both male and female travellers.

5. iPhone 3G

It's slick and sexy and seriously functional. The iPhone combines three products in one — a 3G phone, widescreen iPod, and Internet device — perfect for travellers. Better still, the iPhone incorporates GPS technology and live tracking so you can forget all about cumbersome city maps. If you find yourself dying for a cappuccino in Rome you can search for "coffee" and the iPhone will show you every café nearby. There's a host of travel applications you can download too, such as language translators, currency convertors and real-time flight tracking. For more information, and prices, click here.

It won't be available for Christmas, but keep your eyes peeled for the launch of the nüvifone, a touchscreen device that combines a phone, mobile web-browser, and cutting-edge personal navigator, scheduled to hit the shelves in early 2009.

6. Travel Wallet

Digging out passports, hotel confirmations, e-tickets and addresses can be both tedious and time consuming when you are travelling. Make someone very happy by organising their trav-min with a chic travel wallet. Smythson has a great range of styles to suit men and women alike from £175/approx. $260. As 33-year old London-based lawyer Emily says, "When you're travelling it's essential to have everything in one place." Visit smythson.com for more information.

7. VIP Lounge Membership

It won't breakdown, works in airports across the world and helps you escape the chaos of delays, cancellations and crowded departure floors no matter which airline you fly with and in what class of travel. For a frequent traveller VIP lounge membership makes a fantastic gift. Simbad, an iloho user in Hong Kong says: "Having lounge membership makes business travel much easier. I am on the road a lot with my job, and knowing that wherever I go I can always connect to WiFi, eat and drink at no extra cost and relax in peace and quiet before my flight is both practical and reassuring." There are several VIP lounge programmes you can register with; one of the most popular is Priority Pass, which gives members access to 500 lounges in 90 countries worldwide and costs from $79/£55 per year. For more information click here.

8. Luxury travel pillow

For travellers who have problems sleeping on planes, trains or in hotel rooms a duck or goose down travel pillow will make a fantastic gift. There are a myriad of shapes and sizes, but this lightweight goose down travel pillow (from $24) compacts to a mere 5" X 7.5". For travellers looking for more support, the memory foam Komfort Kollar ($59.85/£40) is an excellent choice. Designed by a leading spinal surgeon the collar supports the head, neck and spine from every angle. Emma, 25, a frequent traveller from Macau says, "A good quality travel pillow is invaluable. When my flight is delayed and on long journeys my duck down pillow is worth its weight in gold."

9. Games Set

Don't know a Wii from a PS3? Don't worry. What better way to while away a couple of hours of travel downtime than with a classic chess or backgammon set? Pickett, British luxury goods supplier, makes a great travel-friendly backgammon and chess set in leather with magnetic pigskin pieces (£399/$593). The company offers a bespoke service too so your backgammon / chess board can be customised to your exact specifications. Click here for more information.

10. Quintessentially Membership

What better present for the discerning jetsetter in your life than a whatever / wherever concierge service that's accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? The Quintessentially team is on hand for everything from solving pressing practical problems – such as organising a rescue mission for a member in a snowed under ski chalet – to making dinner reservations to booking and advising on incredible travel experiences, like an Indiana Jones-style adventure in Jordan, visiting the Cairo Museum afterhours with a leading Egyptologist, and touring the wine yards of Mendoza, Argentina in a classic rally car. The headaches involved in organising overseas business meetings, perfecting a romantic getaway and keeping everyone on a family holiday happy will become a thing of the past. For more information and membership costs in your region click here.

For tips on shopping around the world click here. To join iloho's group "Shopaholics of the World Unite" click here.

By Ann Marie Svilar

Covering 29.5 square miles, Lopez Island, Washington is the first ferry stop in a cluster of islands called the San Juans, that rise from the Puget Sound and hug the Canadian border. Even during bustling tourist season Lopez Island will make you turn off the laptop and slow down. Wave to the blonde woman named Margie manning the ferry dock as you arrive. She will wave back. Waving is a tradition on this island; there is even a "Lopez wave" consisting of two fingers in a locked together peace sign.

As you make your first twists from the ferry dock, smell the dense trees and dried wild grass. Look for deer: there are many and they are domesticated enough to walk right up to you. Notice a Madrona tree with bark that looks like red peeling paper; scratch the trunk and it turns green. Look out for a Great Blue Heron, they are an elegant and common Lopez Island bird. You can find them almost anywhere in tidal lagoons along the seashore.

You'll see that most people name their driveways after themselves or something original like Pterodactyl Lane, or Baroque 'n Glass Lane. Mailboxes are painted with bald eagles and rich gardens are covered with tall fences to keep deer out. Some people live in make-shift buses, clusters of trailers, or in an A-Frame house. Stop by the Lopez Island Vineyards and pick up a bottle of Siegerrebe. Note that most streets don't have yellow lines and traffic is minimal in any direction. Enjoy the quiet and keep going.

If you're camping, Spencer Spit is the best place to stay. Located on the East side of the island, you can feel good karma there; the Spencer family sold the land to the state for much less than the private offers they received in order to make a state park that everyone could enjoy. Shirley (Spencer) Plummer is 87 years old, and recently became a great, great grandmother, she sits in her living room that overlooks Spencer Spit. It is a stretch of beach like no other, with driftwood, rocks and sand coming together into a single point that stares at Frost Island. The driftwood is easily made into forts. A muddy lagoon lines the spit to the North like a seam and smells as murky as it looks. Pitch your tent along the trees at the mouth of the spit; light a fire; cook some s'mores.

If you like beautiful beaches and down to earth people, you will love Lopez Island. It is a getaway in the simplest sense. Below are 7 things you should do whilst visiting the island.

Iceberg Point – Just past Agate Beach there is a small place to park and then walk into what looks like private residence. When you hit the tree line, turn right down a dirt path; walk through a gate and onto a maintained trail. After less than a mile the trees will open up to the most vast part of the Island; the unprotected South side. Your landscape will be big hills and rocks with tall grass that smells like dry summers. Your view will be of an ocean that seems to go on forever until you see the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic Mountains far in the distance.

Sharks Reef – My favourite spot on the island is Sharks Reef. The water here is treacherous because of undertow and sometimes you will see kayakers twirling and paddling their way through the narrow corridor that separates Lopez Island from San Juan Island. Large pieces of sea kelp that look like women with mermaid hair line the rocks. Here is where you see some of the best tide pools on the Island full of lipids' and sea anemones.

Saturday Farmers Market – Farmers Markets are special no matter where you go. Lopez market's charm lies in its small size. My favourite stall is Marianna's clothing, made of scraps of recycled cloth. She also has a store in the main part of town called Okeydo. Also visit my parent's booth at the market where they sell my brother's photos every Saturday. Introduce yourself!

Horse Drawn Farms – This eco-friendly farm used to use horses to farm the land, but now they use oxen. Produce is pre-picked and you can just drive up, make your selection and leave money based on the honour system. It's as simple and trusting as that.

Community Center – The centre hosts music and community theatre all year long. While you are there, walk North-east to the skate park where young kids are dropping into small half pipes.

The Bay Café – The Bay Café has the most expensive food on the island, averaging at around $20 a plate. But it also offers the most brilliant place to have dinner and watch the sunset as it lies down for the night behind Friday Harbour. The restaurant is run by two local men, with a lot of energy, who know how to bake an amazing cedar salmon. You'll also be guaranteed great hospitality.

Lopez Island Kayaks - Being on an island is amazing enough, getting the chance to see it up close from the water is special too. Rent a kayak, get some advice on routes and get close to the water. If you time your float trip between April and October you may see big rusty-red Lion's mane jellyfish as they make their way towards the beach at low tide.

TRAVELLER'S CHECK LIST

Getting there:

By ferry… Travel from Anacortes on the mainland to Lopez Island. The journey is approximately 85 miles and takes about 45 minutes. For pricing info and to buy tickets click here. On the ferry keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, seals, otters and the occasional orca whale.

By plane… Kenmore Air fly direct from Seattle to Lopez Island daily. For more information on schedules, pricing and booking click here. The journey takes about 1hr 10 mins.

Where to stay:

1. Lopez Islander Resort; PO Box 459, Lopez Island, WA; desk@lopezislander.com
2. MacKaye Harbor Inn; 949 MacKaye Harbor Road Lopez Island, WA 98261; (888) 314-6140; innkeeper@mackayeharborinn.com. From USD 135 per night.
3. Edenwild; 1-800-606-0662; edenwild@rockisland.com. From USD 170 per night.
4. Lopez Lodge; Lopez Lodge, Lopez Island, WA 98261; (360) 468-2816; needle@rockisland.com. From USD 70 per night.

For information on camping on Lopez Island, click here

Where to eat:

1. Bay Café - about $30 a person. 9 Old Post Road Suite C, PO Box 692, Lopez, WA 98261; Tel: 360.468.3700
2. Love Dog Café - $10-$15 per person. 1 Village Center, PO Box 633, Lopez Island, WA 98261; Tel: 360.468.2150.
3. HollyB's Bakery - $5 or less. Lopez Plz, Lopez Island, WA 98261; Tel: 360.468.2133.
4. Vortex - $10 per person for wraps and smoothies. Homestead Bldg C, Lopez Island, WA, 98261; Tel: 360.468.4740.
5. Isabel's Espresso - $5 or less for espresso drinks. 308 Lopez Rd, Lopez Island, WA, 98261; Tel: 360.468.4114

What to see:

For general information about visit the Lopez Island visitors bureau online here

1. Iceburg Point and Sharks Reef: click here for a map of Lopez.
2. Saturday Farmer's Market: Community Center.
3. Lopez Island Kayak: located at Marinas on Fisherman's Bay 360-468-2847
4. Horse Drawn Farms: 2823 Port Stanley Road

Events:

1. Fourth of July on Lopez: fun run, parade, salmon bbq and fireworks
2. Tour de Lopez (bike tour): last Saturday of April
3. Lopez Farmer's Market: May to Sept.
4. Artist's Studio Tour: last weekend in August

For more information on Lopez Island events click here

All photographs ©David Svilar.

Everyone has a Paris that they fantasise about. Some dream of dining in candlelit bistros, others hanker after markets heaving with cheeses and warm baguettes, perhaps you imagine getting lost in a maze of old streets, stumbling upon delicious patisseries and hidden courtyards.

The sad truth is that whatever your particular Paris fantasy is, it's hard to find in reality. The City of Lights is a big and busy capital: tourists swarm, noses in guidebooks, from The Louvre to the Musée d'Orsay to the Eiffel Tower to the Champs Elysees to Montmartre. Getting off the beaten track is no mean feat. Many of the city's rarest treats are almost impossible to find, eluding even the most avid of guidebook writers behind unassuming doors.

So, what if for €175, less than the cost of a pair of Parisian Louboutins, you could find your fantasy? Richard Nahem, a native New Yorker, has been living in Paris for three years with one mission: to show people the city he loves and the one that tourists seldom see. From the moment he made the move to France he was inundated with requests from friends and acquaintances to show people the "real" Paris and now he's made a business of it, Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which dovetails with the places that he features on his blog Eye Prefer Paris.

Richard's tours cater to a maximum of 6ish people so you're guaranteed a personalised experience. Based on clients' interests tours take a specific theme – e.g. shopping, markets and gourmet food, architecture and culture. Standard tours (€175) last three hours, those looking for more can extend to a full day, three days or a week if needs be.

Most tours centre on the Marais district, Richard's home and area of expertise, which spreads across the third and fourth arrondissements. Le Marais is one of Paris's most impressive areas, packed with 16th and 17th century private mansions, secret courtyards, neighbourhood restaurants, outstanding patisseries and traditional ateliers. Unless you know where they are however they all too easy to miss, chances are you'll be swallowed up instead by the tourists who flock to the district's famous gay bars and kosher restaurants.

Richard describes the perfect three hours in Paris as exploring the Place des Vosges (the oldest square in the city, dating back to 1605); stopping for a coffee and a pastry at one of the best patisseries in town; visiting a chocolate shop where you can buy all the chocolate sculptures you could ever dream of; uncovering a secret garden where wild roses grow unchecked; soaking up impressive 16th and 17th century architecture and exploring former private mansions.

Food lovers can look forward to Paris's Bastille food market (the city's biggest), gourmet food shops and the inside scoop on where to eat. Die-hard shoppers will feel lightheaded at the prospect of speciality shops, exclusive to Paris, where you can pick up organic cosmetics, stashes of handcrafted jewellery, piles of pashminas and Parisian couture. Culture vultures can sate themselves on Richard's expert knowledge of the history behind the city's streets, buildings and gardens.

As Richard puts it, "I'm here to fulfil peoples' Paris fantasy" - everyone dreams about Paris and whether your version includes ateliers and authentic restaurants or palaces and patisseries, Richard's goal is to find you exactly what you've been looking for.

For more information on Richard's tours and to contact him please visit Eye Prefer Paris Tours.

If you're after traditional Japanese paper and you want it to be pretty check out Tokyo's stationery-filled Aladdin's Cave, Kyukyodo.

Origami paper, wrapping paper, cards, writing paper, bookmarks, notebooks, scrolls, address books, photo albums, card holders, photo frames, calligraphy kits and more. Almost everything is made from or covered with traditional Japanese washi in a myriad of colours and designs. Yum.

Open for business since 1663 this place is a serious Tokyo institution. There are 6 shops in the capital in Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Yokohama and Marunouchi. Ask your concierge for directions in English and Japanese.

The Ginza shop is meant to be the best, and if you haven't got your washi fix after you've been there you could stroll down to Itoya, one of the biggest stationery shops in the world. Write on.

Kyukyodo: 7-4, Ginza 5chome Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Itoya: Ginza 2-chome, Tokyo

Paper Flock by Jippolito via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Here are some of my favourites from my last trip to Hong Kong.

EATING OUT:

For fresh, creative Vietnamese cuisine, check out Nha Trang on Wellington Street. It's a great lunch place, always full, but worth queuing for a table.

Nha Trang Vietnamese Cuisine: 88-90 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong, Tel: +852 2581 9992.

Enoteca and its sister restaurant Bacar have a great menu of experimental Western dishes and oriental foods, they come in perfect-for-sharing portions. Try the risotto balls and rosemary wedge potatoes, as well as the chicken peri-peri. Great service too.

Enoteca, G/F, 47 Elgin Street, SoHo, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2525 9944.

DRINKING:

Feather Boa Stepping into this bar is like time-travelling to 19th century Paris. It's small and exquisitely decorated, with beautiful gold fabric on the ceiling - great lychee daiquiris too.

Feather Boa, 38 Staunton Street, SoHo, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2857 2586

China Club For fans of David Tang's interior designs and eclectic contemporary Chinese art collection, the China Club will not disappoint. It was here I discovered the Gunner cocktail: angostura bitters, ginger ale and ginger beer. Very refreshing on a hot evening. There's also a terrace at the China Club where you can watch the famous Hong Kong light show at 8pm - when skyscrapers flash their neon lights around the harbour. It’s actually a private members' club, but concierges at some of the more upmarket hotels can secure you a table here.

China Club, 13/F, The Old Bank of China Building, Bank Street, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2521 8888

Aqua group have two bars worth visiting:

1) Aqua Spirit, a chi chi penthouse watering hole at One Peking Road, Kowloon. It's a bar and restaurant for Hong Kong’s well-heeled crowd. There's minimum charge of HK$150 (€12.50) per person, but worth it for the view and the cocktails. Dress up.

2) Aqua Luna, this is the coolest way to see Hong Kong: on board a traditional Chinese junk. Junks are getting rarer in Victoria Harbour these days, but this one is beautifully restored with huge red sails. The Aqua Luna sets sail from Tsim Sha Tsui or Pier No 9 Central for 45 minute cruises throughout the day. Lying back on plush cushions, glass of wine in hand, there is no better way to see the Hong Kong skyline by night. One drink is included in the ticket price.

Check here for sailing times and information on both Aqua Spirit and Aqua Luna.

CLUBS:

M1NT M1NT is a trendy private members' club, owned by 250 shareholders, and like the original club in London, it's a place to be seen.

The best and worst thing about it was the huge fish tanks filled with black-tipped reef sharks. If you're there at around 7pm or 4am, you might get to watch the sharks being fed. Sleek and scary-looking, they give the place a real edge. But I spent quite a lot of time watching the sharks swim in circles around their bare fish tank. With the loud music and confined space to writhe in, I felt rather sorry for them; living in a fish tank in a club can't be much fun compared with swimming around in the big blue sea. I tried to explain my shark issues to one of the bartenders but he thought I was trying to order shots! So if you feel strongly about seeing big fish in captivity, don't go to M1NT. Otherwise, it's a very cool club.

M1NT Hong Kong, 108 Hollywood Road, Tel: +852 2168 0604

SHOPPING:

Shopping is one of Hong Kong's premiere attractions. With very low rates of tax (including VAT sales tax), many of the brands you find here are much cheaper than at home.

Hong Kong is a great place for tailored suits. I can highly recommend Sam's Tailor, where I picked up a jacket and skirt in merino wool for about a quarter of the price I would have paid in London (or Berlin). I also got to sketch out my own design.

Sam's Tailor: Burlington Arcade 'K', 92-94 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2367 9423 or 0363.

Herin Ching's designs at Fang Fong stand out from many of the boutiques in Soho. Very original and stylish dresses and accessories. It's pretty pricey, but the perfect place to pick up something special.

fang fong, 67a Peel Street, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: +852 3105 5557

MASSAGE:

There are places to get a massage on practically every street corner. Healthy Foot just off Lang Kwai Fong does a great foot massage. Or, for a treat, head to the Landmark Mandarin Oriental in The Landmark building on Queen's Street Central. HK$450 (€37) will buy an amazing 30 minute back and shoulder massage, and you can also spend time relaxing in the sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and relaxation room. This spa introduced me to water flavoured with slices of orange - it tastes great!

Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen's Road Central, The Landmark, Central, Hong Kong +852 2132 0011

Healthy Foot: Flat/RM 1001 Lan Kwai Fong, Tak Woo House, 1-3 Wo On Lane, Central Hong Kong. Tel: +852 2537 3098.

WALKING:

For such a big city, it's unbelievably easy and quick to escape from Hong Kong to the countryside. I did one day-hike on Lantau Island with a company called Walk Hong Kong. It started at the Big Budda, went through beautiful woods, hills and peaks, and finished at Tai-O fishing village. It was a pretty demanding walk (there are easier ones to choose from), and very hot on the day I went, but well worth it, and the guide was great. The price of the trip included lunch and transport costs, but it didn’t come cheap at HK$750.00 (€50).

The Dragon’s Back is a fun, unstrenuous walk that's easy to reach by bus or taxi from Central. It's so called because it consists of two hills, shaped like a dragon’s back. The walk is in Shek O national park, and the trail is well-marked. Shek O beach is also a great place to chill out and have lunch. You can stop off at Stanley Market on the way home and go shopping. Perfect.

Advent is still ten days away, but everywhere you go Jingle Bells is already on repeat. About to tear your hair out? So am I.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas, just not in a tinsel strewn shopping mall, Starbucks festive latte kind of way. Omnipresent decorations have made me feel stressed about my Christmas shopping list, and it’s still only November!

So, if I had my way I’d escape from this fake winter wonderland to a place where Christmas isn’t a big deal, or any deal for that matter. I’d browse bulging bazaars and seek out unique treats that made me genuinely excited about someone unwrapping them. I’d swap Bing Crosby for the call to prayer and mulled wine for a medina.

Without further ado, here’s where I’d go to escape the pre-Christmas nightmare whilst indulging in some serious retail therapy at the same time.

• Istanbul, Turkey: The Blue Mosque, Byzantine bazaars and the Bosphorus. What better backdrop for a spending spree? Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is allegedly the world’s oldest shopping centre. So what are you still sitting in front of your computer for? Head there now for stunning jewellery, top-notch fabrics, fab food and nightlife that goes on till dawn. Hooray.

• Udaipur, India: Some people head to India to attain spiritual nirvana. I guarantee that in Udaipur you’ll find retail nirvana. Hailed as the most romantic spot in all of India, Udaipur is home hundreds of artists. You can pick up fantastically unique miniature paintings, handmade paper, vibrant sari silks, amazing jewellery, antique furniture and much, much more. Just watch out for the elephants: eco city transport Indian style.

• Marrakech, Morocco: Being let loose in the souks of Marrakech feels like Christmas has come early; spices and slippers, lanterns and leather, tagines and tablecloths. There is so much on offer in Marrakech that you could easily stock up for the next ten Christmases. The noise of bartering blends in with the smells and sights of the old, old medina. A magical place to shop.

• Hanoi, Vietnam: Hanoi is so hot right now. This French colonial gem is bursting with art, history and first class shopping. Visit Vietnamese artists in their studios, commission tailormade handbags and accessories and sniff out great antiques. Head for Hang Gai street and put those elves to shame.

• Tokyo, Japan: Hello heady consumerism, Santa Claus really is coming to town. Big lights, futuristic shopping centres and edgy boutiques. I think that says it all.