The 7 most beautiful places in Southeast Asia – chosen by you

Ghost stories are fun. Though folk tales and flatout fabrications abound, the best of them prompt us to ponder the lives of those who inhabited the world before us.

Graced by dazzling beaches, year-round sun and numerous opportunities for diving, island-hopping and surfing, the Philippines has long attracted a steady stream of foreign visitors. Yet there’s far more to these islands than sand and snorkelling. These are a few of our favourite islands in the Philippines.

For a small country, Wales offers incredible diversity – so much so that it's one of our top travel destinations. Even better, many of Wales' (beautiful) landscapes and experiences remain surprisingly undiscovered. From pristine white-sand beaches and rolling, quintessentially Welsh valleys to tucked-away villages, here are the most beautiful places in Wales you really should visit.

The Middle East is a paradox. Located at the cultural crossroads between east and west, the region nowadays tends to make headlines for all the wrong reasons, but also served as one of the major cradles of human civilization and birthplace of the world’s three great monotheisms.

In a country as stunning as Scotland, how do you choose the most beautiful region? VisitScotland asked us to help them find out, so we ran a poll with our readers, inviting you to vote for the fairest of them all. After more than 4000 votes, the results are now in. Check out the video below for the winner.

Southeast Asia: steamy rainforests, sleepy rice paddies, endless beaches – and crowds of backpackers, hawkers and tourists?

We’ve travelled very far and very wide at Rough Guides – but never before into entirely new dimensions. Here, we delve into eight unforgettable worlds – some uncannily familiar and others stunningly alien – to bring you ten of the most beautiful places you can visit with Xbox.

The world has never been more accessible than it is today, so your next big adventure is easily within reach. If you’re ready to climb craggy peaks, dodge polar bears or get deep into the jungle, these intrepid destinations should be at the top of your list.

From Bavaria to the Baltic coast, there are dozens of scenic German towns in with romantic old town centres. The World Heritage List includes several with exceptional qualities besides their good looks and romantic atmosphere. Some also have an untouched medieval core, proud pointers to the enlightened era of Classicism, or unique buildings that inspired architects across Europe. Read on for more background on some of the most beautiful towns in Germany.

We asked our readers to vote for the most beautiful locations in the USA. Now the results are in. This gallery showcases the top twenty most beautiful places in America as voted by Rough Guides readers.

With romantic peaks to ramble, idyllic villages to discover, and inspirational literary locations to explore, the Lake District in Cumbria, England, is as much a dream destination for culture vultures as it is for walkers, hikers and nature-lovers. The Lake District is also a top spot for family breaks, with the region’s Beatrix Potter connections and exciting outdoor activities. If you are wondering what are the most beautiful places in the Lake District to visit read on for our top picks, with further inspiration (and practical information) available in our travel guide Rough Guide Staycations: The Lake District.

We asked our readers to choose the most overrated places in the world, and the responses encompassed everywhere from Skegness to Sydney. Below are the places you voted into the top ten (for destinations that shouldn't disappoint you, read our month by month, where to go when guide).