Gran Canaria in Spain, which enjoys sunshine all year round, is a haven for travellers who suffer from hay fever as it has a very low pollen count. You can book a stay at B’SLOW San Agustin aparthotel, which offers picturesque views of the nearby Las Burras Beach.

Or you can go for a cooler option and a breath of fresh air at Coronet Peak in New Zealand. Pollen cannot survive in snowy weather. One of the nicest places to stay is the Canyons B&B, which boasts sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, the Shotover River and Coronet Peak.

If you plan to go to the US, you might consider Colorado Springs. In the summer and autumn months, especially July and October, the dry, desert-like surroundings contain few plants, allowing you to clear your head and give your itchy eyes a break. Breathe in crisp mountain air as you embark on a hike and take in popular sites and surroundings such as Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak and the Broadmoor Seven Falls.

Offering stunning views of the Cheyenne Mountain, Cheyenne Mountain Resort Colorado Springs, A Dolce Resort boasts five swimming pools, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a 25-acre lake for sailing and a full-service spa.

For fresh Alpine air, you can head north to Whistler, British Columbia – a paradise for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts and home to Whistler Blackcombe, one of the largest ski resorts in North America.

Whistler Mountain typically stays open for skiing and snowboarding until late May. If you’re looking to swap your snow boots for hiking boots, popular hiking trails include Lakeside Park, Cheakamus Lake and the Ancient Cedars Trail.

The place to stay is Whistler Lodge Hostel, which offers affordable accommodation in an ideal location.

Meanwhile, the heavy rainfall, short pollen season and few trees in the Scottish Highlands can provide a retreat for travellers suffering from hay fever. The surrounding moorlands and mountain terrain also provide respite as the vegetation is relatively free of allergens.

The place to stay is the Air an Oir – Skye Self Catering holiday home in Portree, which offers stunning sea views and a revitalising breeze of salty fresh air. During your stay visit the quaint Portree Harbour and marvel at the famed rugged landscapes with a hike across Lealt Falls.

In North Africa, Merzouga in Morocco is located in the Sahara Desert provides a welcome break to hay fever sufferers. Take in the surrounding majestic sand dunes with a camel trek or go flamingo spotting at the Lake of Merzouga.

When you are in the desert, a luxury tent stay at the Luxury Camp Berber Experience is a great choice. You can also sample a variety of authentic Moroccan dishes at the onsite restaurant.

Singapore is second with 14.7 million visitors in 2018.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the Thai capital has grabbed the top spot in the global index, which ranks cities in terms of the number of international visitor arrivals, cross-border spending, and other factors. It is also the ninth consecutive year that Bangkok retains the No 1 position in Mastercard’s Asia-Pacific Destinations Index (APDI).

Two other Thai destinations – Phuket and Pattaya – also made the Asia Pacific Top 10 for international arrivals, coming in at seventh and eighth, with 9.9 million and 9.4 million visitors, respectively.

This makes Thailand the only country with three destinations in the Asia Pacific Top 10.

The APDI said Thailand is again the No 1 destination for mainland Chinese travellers, with 27.1 per cent choosing it as their Asia-Pacific country of choice, followed by Japan and South Korea. Thailand also emerged as the No 1 destination in the region for overnight visitors from Malaysia and India.

Results also showed that Thais are increasingly travelling in the region, with Malaysia the most visited country, followed by Japan and Laos.

“Mastercard is proud to be actively supporting growth of the tourism industry in the country, which offers every visitor world-class hospitality, rich cultural heritage and a range of diverse experiences,” said Aileen Chew, country manager for Thailand and Myanmar. “This year, Mastercard launched two new programmes to promote tourism in Thailand – ‘Destination Thailand’ and ‘Priceless Bangkok’ – which seek to introduce the world to the incredible beauty and warmth that Thailand has to offer.”

Overall results from the APDI show that the five most popular destinations for international travellers in the Asia Pacific in 2018 were Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Seoul, which together welcomed more than one-fifth, or 22 per cent, of all visitors to the region. Primarily driven by explosive growth in outbound travel from mainland China, these five cities are also capturing more than one-quarter, or 25.2 per cent, of total international travel spending in the region.

Since 2009, overnight arrivals by mainland Chinese travellers in markets across the Asia Pacific surged from 10.5 million to 62.4 million in 2018, representing a 21.9 per cent compound annual growth rate over the period. Mainland China is among the top three source markets of outbound travellers for 82 cities in the Asia Pacific, or more than half of the 161 destinations in the APDI.

In 2018, the Asia Pacific hosted travellers making 342.2 million business and leisure trips, up from 159.1 million in 2009, representing an 8.9 per cent annual growth rate over the nine year period. During the same period, travel spending in the Asia Pacific more than doubled, rising from US$117.6 billion to $281.1 billion (Bt8.6 trillion), equating to a compound annual growth rate of 10.2 per cent.

“While the world’s economic, geopolitical, technological and societal landscapes have all changed dramatically since Mastercard launched this research 10 years ago, one thing has remained constant: the desire of ever-growing numbers of people to explore the world beyond their own borders,” said Rupert Naylor, Mastercard senior vice president, data & services, Asia Pacific. “With the top 20 cities attracting nearly half (49.8 per cent) of all international overnight arrivals to the 161 destinations ranked in the APDI, it is important to understand not only how continuously rising travel numbers impact cities and destinations for the better, but also the challenges they pose. This equips governments, merchants and the global travel industry with the information and insights they need to better serve their residents and visitors.”

The APDI ranks 161 cities based on proprietary analysis of information from third-party sources such as the World Travel & Tourism Council, the International Air Transport Association, the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the International Monetary Fund and national tourism boards. Public data is used in deriving the international overnight visitor arrivals and their cross-border spending in each of the 161 destination cities. Forecasts are based on the weighted average of national tourism forecasts and actual 2019 monthly data at the destination level. This Index and all accompanying reports are not based on Mastercard volumes or transactional data, the company said.

There were 2,281 registered light campers in 2018, an almost four-fold increase from 10 years ago. Many owners are retired couples who want an easy way to travel around the country. 

Towa Motors Co. in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, sells light campers equipped with seats for four people in the Hijet light truck made by Daihatsu Motor Co. The model has a roof that opens to create enough space for four adults to sleep, as well as a sink and other features. 

“It’s attractive because it can also be put to everyday use. In addition, it’s becoming a popular tool for enjoying hobbies like hiking, photography and fishing,” a Towa Motors’ official said. 

This model is priced at about ¥3 million, which is around half the cost of a regular camper. 

Light campers began to attract attention in the late 2000s when the baby boomers started retiring. Owners can travel more frequently if they save money by staying in the vehicle. They can also travel with pets without having to worry about other people.

It is said that sales are also being driven by the boom in popularity of solo camping. 

Light campers make up only about 2 percent of all registered campers, according to the Japan Auto Camping Federation. 

However, while the number of larger campers has declined by about 40 percent over the last decade, the number of light campers has nearly quadrupled. 

Light vehicles are mainly used for short distances and have not been considered suitable for long trips. 

However, Honda Motor Co.’s N-Box, the best-selling light vehicle in the country, and Nissan Motor Co.’s Dayz have a function that maintains a suitable distance between cars. “Light vehicles also have plenty of safety assist functions that make driving easier. I think they’ll receive more attention going forward,” a person in charge of the matter at the Japan Recreational Vehicle Association, which represents camper dealers, said.

Nestled within the exquisite Emboodhoo Lagoon, just 15 minutes by boat from Male International Airport, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives forms part of Crossroads Maldives, the country’s first and only integrated resort. Whether seeking a hassle-free holiday with the family, an upbeat break with friends, or a romantic getaway with your other half, this vivacious beachfront hotel offers plenty of opportunities to stay and play.

“Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is an upbeat international resort that amplifies its spectacular surroundings. We’ll turn up the volume with spacious rooms, suites, villas – including overwater options – plus thrilling amenities and music memorabilia, all surrounded by crystal clear seas, pristine beaches and stunning scenery. We look forward to welcoming guests and offering everything you could possibly want for a tropical island holiday,” said the hotel’s general manager Tolga Unan.

As the first Maldivian outpost of the world-famous hotel brand, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives features a full range of signature experiences and facilities for all ages, including a Hard Rock Cafe, Body Rock fitness centre, Rock Spa, Rock Shop, Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club and Teen Spirit Club.

The 178 spacious rooms include family suites, beach villas, overwater villas and overwater pool villa. The two-bedroom Silver Family Suite allows parents and kids to stay together with bunk beds and direct beach access, while the 460-square-metre Rock Star Villa features a spacious outdoor living areas, an infinity pool, a tuk-tuk bar on the terrace, panoramic ocean views and even a private boat jetty – great for mini-groups of thrill-seeking friends. Hard Rock’s signature The Sound of Your Stay programme allows guests to curate their own holiday soundtrack using in-room Crosley turntables, playlists and even the chance to borrow a Fender guitar.

The programme, which aims to nurture a love for travelling in young guests, also offers the kids complimentary or discounted breakfasts, as well as ice-cream at participating hotels and resorts.

“This special partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and Sanrio’s Mr. Men and Little Miss exemplifies our commitment to finding new ways to reward our members and their loved ones,” said Peggy Fang Roe, chief sales and marketing officer for Asia Pacific at Marriott International. “It serves as an extension of the children’s benefits that we already offer like complimentary ice-cream, to ensure that we continue to provide more fun for families during their travels.”

Each of the 10 limited edition collectables portrays a much-loved character wearing travel accessories inspired by Marriott Bonvoy enjoying activities, from exploring the destination to unwinding by the pool. Until the end of this month, Platinum Elite and above members travelling with children aged 12 and below will receive up to two of the limited-edition mini plush toys per room per stay at over 450 participating hotels and resorts throughout Asia Pacific. Children of Silver and Gold Elite Members will receive a mini plush on stays redeemed with points though terms and conditions apply,

Also members travelling with children are invited to photograph their Mr Men and Little Miss toys at any participating property for a chance to win a three-night vacation in Seoul, Korea, as well as the full set of plush toys. To enter, post the picture on Instagram tagging the property and include the hashtags #MarriottBonvoy and #MrMenLittleMiss.

Find out more at https://marriottbonvoyasia.com/mrmen

The resort, with 115 private pool villas, is the brand’s first property in Asia. Sansiri became a majority stakeholder in late 2017 and adds the Standard Huruvalhi Maldives to its menu of destinations spanning Koh Samui, Phuket, Hua Hin, London, Milan, Paris, Lisbon, Bordeaux, Mexico City and Chicago.

While the Maldives has traditionally been a “couple’s destination”, the Standard has taken its usual atypical approach, welcoming singles and groups of friends as well. It’s perfect for a romantic escape or a getaway with everyone you know.

The lobby is airy and accessible 24 hours a day. Each of the 115 villas features its own private lounge deck and plunge pool, and there are six ways to dine, from a beachfront BBQ shack to Maldivian cuisine with ingredients straight from an island farm.

Guided diving and snorkelling are offered in a naturally protected reef, sunset boat excursions to uninhabited islands and night fishing and private-destination dining.

The indoor hydrotherapy oasis, the Standard Spa, has a communal hammam, aroma steam room, daily yoga, personal training and nine private treatment rooms.

For nightlife, there are tribal beats around a beach bonfire and a glass-bottom nightclub – not to a disco ball above your bathtub for your own private party.

Learn more at standardhotels.com.