So visit the FlightComparison blog next Friday for the first installment.

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China’s capital, Beijing, is a city steeped in history. From the emperor’s palace to Tiananmen Square, modern and ancient history sit side by side.

As well as the Forbidden City and the plethora of museums, Beijing is popular for its location close to a section of the Great Wall. This is a must-see for anyone visiting China.

Make sure you try ‘Beijing kao ya’ or Peking Duck – a specialty of the city and an international favourite.

Before you go, you’ll need to get a visa. These can be obtained from the Chinese Embassy, or from one of the many agencies that will do the queuing on your behalf.

For the cheapest flights to China check FlightComparison.co.uk.

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I’m getting kind of tired of life in the UK, and I’m thinking of emigrating to Australia with my partner. Do you have any advice for us? – Lisa, Wales

Hi Lisa,

You’re not alone! A BBC survey estimates that about 13% of British people have considered moving abroad, and around 40% of them would like to live in Australia! Great weather, beaches, good quality of life… what’s not to love?

The first thing you have to think about is getting a permit to live there. There are several ways of getting this visa. The most common is a work visa, followed by a partner sponsored permit, if you have an Australian spouse.

As well as visa clearance, you’ll need to have a police check and a medical assessment. Sometimes you’ll have to do this at the time of your visa application, but some work-sponsored visas only require it later. A police check sounds scary, but it’s just to asses whether you are of good character. The medical test is to make sure you don’t have tuberculosis, and to check that you are fit and able.

If you don’t think you can do all of this alone, you could use a migration agent to help you. It can be quite pricey though – up to £2,000 on top of the £537 visa fee, but it’s worth it when the visa is approved!

After your visa is been approved, you usually have a year to validate it at an Australian port of entry. Then you have five years to move to Australia and set up home. At this stage you’ll need to set up an Australian bank account, get a Medicare number and a tax file number, so make sure you do your research.

It’s a big move, but it will be worth it. Good luck!

Find the cheapest flights to Australia at FlightComparison.co.uk.

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In most cases the bags will be located but if the airline never finds them, they will pay you a flat rate of compensation based on the weight of your luggage, not the contents. So whether you’re carrying designer togs or Primark bargains, you’ll get the same amount of compensation.

There are a few things you can do to prepare for the worst case scenario. Firstly, pack some essentials in your hand luggage, including jewellery, medication and a change of clothing.  This way you’ll have an emergency kit if your suitcase goes astray.

Next, make sure that your luggage is clearly labeled with your contact information. If you don’t want to give away your personal details, put down your work address. Also, invest in a padlock or security belt for your suitcase to prevent it opening in transit.

For insurance purposes, make a list of everything you put in your suitcase and its value. This way you’ll know exactly what you’re missing if your case goes astray. Remember - all airlines ask that an insurance claim for missing luggage is be filed within 24 hours, so find the baggage agent as soon as you realise that your bags have been lost.

Find cheap flights to international destinations at FlightComparison.co.uk.

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More popular than Morocco’s capital, Rabat, Marrakech is a fantastic city to visit. Make it part of a longer Morocco tour, or go for a mini-break.

The old walled town, or medina, is where most of the action happens. Life centres on the main square, Jemaa el Fna. In the daytime snakecharmers and orange juice sellers congregate , while sunset brings out the food stalls. You can eat really well for a few dirhams at one of the street restaurants.

Marrakech is famous for its souks and markets. It’s very easy to get lost down the alleyways of the bazaar. Check out the leather goods, and make sure you haggle to get a good bargain.

From Marrakech it’s possible to take daytrips to nearby Berber villages and natural attractions. We recommend Ait Benhaddou where many movies have been filmed, and the town of Ouarzazate across the Atlas Mountains.

Get the cheapest flights to Marrakech at FlightComparison.co.uk.

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Dear Travel Doctor,

My husband and I are both turning seventy this year, and we’re planning to do some travelling. Do you have any tips for retired folk going on holiday?

Cynthia, Lancashire

Hi Cynthia. Retirement is a great time to do some travelling. You’re free and flexible, no work to tie you down, and plenty of time to visit the places you’ve always dreamed about.

But there are a few things you should bear in mind. It’s a good idea to have a doctor’s appointment before you go. If you take prescription medicine you’ll need to make sure that you have enough to last for the duration of your trip, and also be aware of legalities in the countries you’ll be visiting.

Likewise get your teeth checked out, and have any dental work done before you go. You don’t want your holiday to be blighted by toothache!

If you’re going to be doing activities on your trip, prepare by taking light exercise every day in the weeks prior.

If you’re flying long haul, invest in some DVT (deep vein thrombosis) socks and make sure you take regular walks through the cabin to keep the blood flowing.

When you get to your destination, be sensible with what you eat. Make sure you pack laxatives and anti-diarrhoea pills as well as antacids. The same goes for insect repellent.

Another very important thing is travel insurance. Some people prefer to wing it, but this can be financially ruinous if the worst happens.

Enjoy your trip!

Find the cheapest flights on FlightComparison.co.uk.

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Frequent Flyer

Frequent flyer programs are great, especially if you use one airline a lot. Air miles won’t guarantee you an upgrade, but you will be more likely to get one if you are a silver or gold member.

Avoid The Big Airports

Flying from Heathrow with BA won’t give you the best chance of an upgrade because there will be more BA frequent flyers going from there. Try a smaller regional airport for a better chance.

Dress Well

It pays to look the part if you’re after an upgrade. Wearing business gear and carrying a laptop case will give you the right image, more so than rocking up in cargo pants with a backpack.

Research

Look for flights in which the economy section is likely to be full. Book this flight, then look online a couple of days before you fly to see what seats are remaining in business class. The fuller economy is, and the more seats that are left in business class, the more likely you are to be upgraded.

Don’t Order a Meal

Don’t book a special meal if you want to be considered for an upgrade.  Meals can’t be moved up so the airline will bypass you if you’ve booked a specific meal.

Good luck!

Find the cheapest flights on FlightComparison.co.uk.

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The Alpine climate makes Geneva’s weather a little unpredictable. The weather is pretty calm settled from mid-August through to late October. July gets hot, January gets cold, and September is rainy.

So what is there to do? If museums are your thing you’ll find several excellent ones. There’s the Musee Barbier-Mueller, Musee d’Arte et d’Histoire, Musee d’Histoire Naturelle and the Musee Internationale de la Reforme.

If you prefer the outdoors, you’ll love the Jardin Botanique and the lakeside, with its views over to the impressive jet water fountain and the Alps in the distance.

There are plenty of chic bars and restaurants to pass the evenings, and the whole city has a pleasant, austere feel.

Find the cheapest flights to Geneva on FlightComparison.co.uk.

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I was talking to a friend recently about his experiences at the Killing Fields. He said he couldn’t speak for many hours after his visit. “What can you say to people, after seeing all of that?”

Many people avoid going to such places because they feel it would put some sort of ‘downer’ on a holiday that is meant to be fun, and I can well understand this. But it is so incredibly important that we educate ourselves about the horrors and mistakes of history so that such things are never allowed to happen again.

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If you’re looking for a quiet, tranquil holiday destination, Bangkok probably isn’t your best bet. However, if it’s a fast, fun experience you’re after, put it on the top of your list.

Getting around on street level is often tricky. The traffic is heavy, and the streets are filled with bikes, taxis and tuk-tuks. Walking for any length of time isn’t really an option, but the Skytrain system is cheap, clean and provides great views of the city. The Bangkok Metro is also a good option.

So when is the best time to visit Bangkok? There isn’t really a tourist season, but the oppressive summer heat and humidity is best avoided. The cooler months between December and March are a good bet.

As for things to see, you won’t get bored in a hurry. There is plenty to see and do. Check out the floating markets which were immortalised in the Bond films. They are chaotic and very touristy, but worth seeing.

Bangkok’s Chinatown is a great neighbourhood to explore. There’s jewellery, hardware, food, clothing and even automotive parts available. Look out for antiques – some vendors sell high value items.

Bangkok has some beautiful Buddhist temples, particularly The Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo), Wat Po and Wat Arun.  Wat Po (or Temple of the Reclining Buddha) is located in the Phra Nakhon district. It is the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok and houses over a thousand Buddhist images and the massive Reclining Buddha statue for which it is most famous. The enormous Buddha is forty-six metres long and fifteen metres high and is decorated with gold plating.

For a taste of Bangkok’s history and culture, pay a visit to the National Museum - the largest in Southeast Asia. It has a huge collection of Thai art and artefacts.

Famous for its ladyboys and go-go bars, Bangkok nightlife certainly has its seedier side, but there’s no shortage of quality bars and restaurants as well. One of the most famous hotspots is Patpong. Despite its sleazy reputation, the area is undergoing something of an image change with private investments and a general clean-up. There are some great bars and restaurants here, so don’t be put off.

For the cheapest flights to Bangkok, visit FlightComparison.co.uk.

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