Must visit for May: Damascus

Your surrounds are unfailingly beautiful: the foliage is bright and cheery, the clothing rich and flowing and the architecture simply oozes history through every ornately carved arch and turret. World-class sights like the Umayyad Great Mosque and the Azem Palace will take your breath away, as will the smell of your delicious lunch bubbling away on an open charcoal fire. This age-old city offers a completely stylish sensory experience like no other.

There's something deeply seductive about a city with so much history and a culture so romantically inclined. Who can help feeling a hopeless romantic when surrounded by deep red and gold silks; rich spicy smells; and hauntingly beautiful music?

It's almost as if you've been transported to another universe where you can discover and enjoy a whole new range of delights in your surrounds and in each other. We find that there's something about the intrigue of Damascus that brings out the romance in people. So if you?re looking to rekindle that spark then trust us, this is the place for you.

Upping the romance

To up the romance factor (as if it needed increasing), we'll put you up in the city's first boutique hotel which is simply splendid. Beit Al Mamlouka is an elegantly restored 17th-century Damascene house built around a central courtyard with citrus trees and a fountain.

It blends tradition with luxury and each room is furnished with local Syrian products. Evenings can be spent in the converted stable which is now a gallery, restaurant and bar, or by visiting local cafes in the old city and heading to a restaurant to watch a show.

Then, of course, there's the shopping. Now let's be honest, we women like to shop. And if our men are well-trained then they know that letting us make a few key purchases is in their best interest. Nowhere is this more true than in Damascus. You might have heard that Middle Eastern bazaars are renowned for their wealth of unique handicrafts and glorious adornments, but the souks in Damascus take bountiful to a whole new level. Oh where to begin!

Hand-blown glass gleams in ornate lanterns, long-handled silver tea pots reflect the warm spring sunshine, rows of thick gold bracelets jangle in the breeze and silk scarves of every colour of the rainbow wait for you to wrap them round your shoulders. It honestly doesn't get better than this. Don't be put off by the haggling - it's all in good spirit really - just dive in and play the game and you'll likely come away with some pretty fantastic new keepsakes.

Spring warmth, blooming flowers, tantalizing culture and romance in the air; need we say more? Damascus here we come!