It may be an overstatement to call Amsterdam the perfect city but only just barely. A compact capital with a population of just over a million residents, Amsterdam manages to be a bustling metropolis and intimate little town at the same time.

The museums are world class, the best bands always perform here and the population is decidedly international.

But the lines for exhibitions are manageable, gig tickets aren’t sold out in minutes and the varying nationalities mingle happily in Amsterdam’s many parks and squares and along the canals.

Travelbrief is a new kind of guide. Succinct yet comprehensive, travelbrief guides chip away at the marble slab of mediocrity to reveal the David that lurks at the heart of every city.

We pay little attention to hype or artificial categories of budget, focusing instead on the best places to eat and drink, sleep and play, shop and explore in destinations across the globe.

Street food or fine dining, boutique or B&B, if it’s worth your time, it’s in travelbrief.

What is it that sets Monaco apart from other Mediterranean retreats?

Negotiate the corridors of power in Monaco, dine in its finest establishments, drink with its gorgeous residents and stay in its best hotels with the help of this guide.