It’s always interesting to see film-makers experimenting with new techniques, especailly ones that bring a complete new visual style to their work. In this week’s Video Spotlight feature, Joerg Daiber makes use of ’tilt shift’ photography to bring a completely unique perspective to what would otherwise be familiar scenes filmed in some of Thailand’s most popular destinations.

Time is such a precious commodity these days; we’ve been led to believe that if we don’t maximise our scant vacation time by hitting all the major tourist must-dos, we’ve somehow failed. But travelling and living in Laos has taught me that slowing down adds richness to your experience – like seeing the world vividly in Technicolor.

Phnom Penh demands your attention from the moment you arrive. Vibrant, exciting and utterly unpredictable are just a few words to describe Cambodia’s capital. It’s a city of stark contrasts: slick SUVs share the road with old-world cyclos; visitors can relax in a posh cafe and think they are in Paris, or join the locals at a pop-up stall selling fried noodles.

While the celebrated Christmas markets in Germany, Poland and Switzerland always crowd up for the holiday season, there are other well-established European markets slightly further off the beaten track that offer thinner crowds and beautiful locally made products. Eastern Europe in particular is a great place to check out the growing markets, while farther in the west of the continent, the funky holiday Christmas stirred up in Amsterdam is not to be missed.

Only an hour east of the Egyptian capital of Cairo lies the coastal paradise of Ein Sokhna. Spend the morning taking in the majestic wonder of the Egyptian pyramids and then make the short drive for an afternoon dip in the crystal-clear waters of the northern Gulf of Suez or a visit to some of the oldest monasteries in the world.

With so many destinations in the WHL Group’s ever-expanding network, we have an incredible wealth of local travel information at our fingertips. Through the Inside Word, our local partners – all travel experts – share their top tips on what to do, what to eat, where to party and where to shop in their neck of the woods. This month, we wander the ancient byways of Fes, Morocco, one of the holiest cities in the Islamic world.

In Saigon, bicycles are a tradition and a livelihood. For generations, bicycles have been used not only as transport but also as a way of generating income for working-class families. A lot of people’s lives are closely connected to this rudimentary conveyance because they can earn their living right on two wheels.