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A great way to break up a bleary stopover at Singapore airport is to take a dip in the rooftop swimming pool. It's 'Balinese style' - more beach lilo than Olympic lanes. It's a much more relaxing way of getting the blood flowing after a long haul flight than drifting round the duty free shops, especially if you don't have enough time to get into Singapore itself. The humid climate means you can use the pool pretty much all year round. It's open from 7am to 11pm and the small entrance fee includes a hot shower and a free non-alcoholic drink. If you're en route to a business meeting, a quick swim will help get rid of that gone out look. If you're celebrating a done deal, there's a poolside bar. Every airport should have one.

The rail system in Tokyo can be your friend or foe. Understand it and you could find yourself at your meeting on time and happy; don't and you could end up completely lost and looking like a five-day-old sushi.

One reason why Emirates Towers is the hotel to be in if you are doing business with the Dubai government (or one of its agencies) is because, as well as being an excellent business hotel, it is owned by the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

It’s worth extending this principle to other business you may be doing in the city. Most businesses based in Dubai itself, rather than one of the Free Zones, are part of large, family-owned holding companies, many of which will have hotels among their interests. It’s always worth staying in the leading hotel of the group you are doing business with. It probably won’t make the deal but such courtesies are valued highly in the Gulf.

You are likely to meet plenty of extremely well-educated, modern young Emirati women – particularly if you are dealing with the government. However, remember that traditionally Muslim women are not supposed to touch men outside their family. Therefore, however warmly they smile when they hand over their cards, don’t automatically attempt to shake their hand unless they offer it. I might also add that Arab men are normally slightly more sensitive when touching each other and no one will infer weak character from your failure to crush their hand with your firm grip.

Favourite restaurants: Gordon Ramsay’s Verre at The Hilton Dubai Creek for European cuisine. Go for the food, not the décor, and because it’s somewhere you can actually talk. Lebanese is often the fallback for mixed entertaining but Iranian is a good alternative and in many ways closer to the Emirati palate; I would recommend the Shabestan at the InterContinental. Sadly, both are on the Deira side of town - but they are well worth the effort.

The Dylan Hotel next to Grand Central is one of the best and quietest boutique hotels in NY.

The Pan Pacific Hotel is adjacent to the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre in the heart of the Central Business District. The rooms are comfortable and the service is impeccable – they have a round-the-clock business concierge who will help you with everything from sorting out meeting rooms to buying a tie. From the Pacific club lounge you also get a fantastic view over the city’s new Ferris wheel.

Hyde Park, Hampstead Heath, Regent’s Park, Trafalgar Square are all well known options but I would heartily recommend Holland Park and its surroundings. Hugely underrated, this beautiful park in West London has a truly gorgeous flower garden, Marco Pierre White’s yummy Belvedere restaurant, tennis courts and ample space for a summer’s day picnic.

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