The main point of traveling, I have always felt, is not to follow someone else’s footsteps but to find your own way. It makes discoveries that much keener. The exception to this is flea markets and bookstores. Recommendations required. A potent example is Quagga Rare Books and Art, in Kalk Bay, South Africa, a palm-sized town snugged into the surf coast of the Indian Ocean, just a few miles from the delicious Constantia wine country.

Choosing an Australian destination, or even several, is never easy — this vast country spans nearly three million square miles, eight climates, and three time zones. Sydney is always a great pick, with beautiful parks, beaches, and architecture. Melbourne oozes vibrant energy, with world-class dining and access to the Great Ocean Road, a 150-mile blockbuster of coastal vistas and koalas in gum trees. However, if you really want to get Down Under, then the island state of Tasmania is the pearl of Australia.