Top weekend getaways

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
3.10hr, culture, spending money-Dhs300 per day

Predicted high on August 19: 36°C

Must do: Our favourite quote about Ashgabat is that its ‘somewhere between Vegas and Pyongyang’. That says it all, especially in the context of the 15-metre gold statue of former president Turkmenbashi that rotates so it always faces the sun. However, the locals are warm and welcoming, despite the occasional bureaucratic procedure. Go with an open mind (and plenty of patience).

If you pack one thing, it’s… A visa: organise it before you travel. See http://turkmenistan.visahq.com for info.

Stay: Rooms at Hotel Nissa start from QR360 (+ 993 12 22 10 25, ahal@online.tm). Sofitel Oguzkent Ashgabat has rooms from QR680 (+993 12 449 500, www.sofitel.com).

Flights: From QR2,244 at www.flydubai.com.