Want to start planning your next holiday, but not sure where to go? We asked a few local celebrities about their dream holiday destination, then found a few places for them to explore..

Kevan Aspoas, Jupiter Drawing Room: Nice
"There’s only one destination: Nice, in France. I don’t know if it’s a small town that’s grown up or a large town with a village mentality, but it has the best of both worlds. The locals are elegant and sophisticated – it seems that they even dress up for the beach."
  • The low-down: Nice is the place to see and be seen, whether it’s rollerblading down the Promenade des Anglais or sunbathing on a pebbly beach among a sea of blue-and-white-striped umbrellas. Artist Henri Matisse made it his home – the Matisse Museum is one of 19 museums and galleries in the city, and is close to the artist’s final resting place. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is another cultural highlight, where American Pop Art hangs alongside New European Realism.

    There's also the dreamy Musée Chagall, a tribute to Russian painter Marc Chagall. It's a must-see, with some of his most iconic paintings and an auditorium with exquisite stained-glass windows painted by the artist. The winter highlight of the French Riviera is the Nice Carnival. For two weeks, the city is abuzz with parades, flower shows, fireworks and parties.

    By contrast, Vieux Nice (the old town) is populated with relics and stately architecture dating back to the 15th century, such as the quaint boutiques on Rue Saint Francois de Paule. The Opera House is also here with its decorative staircase, painted ceiling and seafront façade making it one of the prettiest theatres in France. Another jewel of the old town is the intricately decorated Palais Lascaris, the only Baroque Palace open for public viewing.

  • Splash out: Le Palais de la Mediterranee is on the Promenade des Anglais and has sweeping views of the ocean. Built in 2004 on the frame of a 1929 Art Deco building, the hotel encapsulates Nice's fusion of old and new. The suites are spacious with walk-in cupboards, a private bar, espresso machine, marble bathroom and sea-view balconies. The sauna and Turkish bath and swimming pool should also make your stay more comfortable. Visit www.palais.concorde-hotels.com

Fred Khumalo, Author: Haut-Normandy
"My dream destination is a village called Arques la Bataille in Haut-Normandy, France, where black members of the South African army who served in the First World War are buried. I‘d love to take my time visiting their graves, going to the library and looking at the archives."
  • The low-down: The historic D-Day battle-field in Normandy is paved with rows of white crosses. You can book a day tour with one of several operators for a comprehensive explanation of the D-Day events. Almost 30 years earlier, 21 000 black South Africans were stationed there as part of the South African Native Labour Corps during the First World War. Those who died in the line of duty are buried at Arques la Bataille.

    Besides the history, Normandy is also a region of signature flavours. Apples are prominent in the local cuisine, featuring in desserts and alcoholic drinks — and the area is renowned for producing excellent ciders, as well as Calvados, a potent apple brandy. The custom (known as Trou Normand) is to drink a glass of Calvados halfway through a meal to aid digestion. Normandy is also the original home of Camembert cheese. And there are 37 golf courses, should it be your passion. Visit www.normandy-tourism.org for more info.

  • Splash out: Château de Marsalin dates back to the fourth century when the Count of Marsalin had it built for his daughter’s wedding. Since then it’s been rebuilt twice, but has last none of its grandeur. There are four rooms and a suite with a private dressing room and bathroom, all decked out with opulent period furnishings. Breakfast and Champagne dinners are included. The chateau also has a library, a billiard room and a lake.

Kuli Roberts, Columnist: South Africa
'I'd love to spend a month touring South Africa with my two children, India (13) and Ieaun (1). I’ve been to Andorra, Germany, France, Nigeria, New York and Skid in the Alps, but never around the whole of South Africa. I’d love to take the children to the Eastern Cape for a cultural, past-finding mission. I’ve never been to Kimberley or Knysna. I’d also like to go to Plettenberg Bay, the Cradle Of Humankind and maybe take a cruise from Durban to Cape Town.'
  • The low-down: The Kimberley Big Hole is an obvious place to start from Johannesburg. De Beers has started the Big Hole project, which recreates mining scenes from the past. It's a great place to take the kids, although you'll have to hold on to them when viewing the Big Hole from the giddy new platform that overlooks it.

    The wild parts of the Eastern Cape are a logistical trap along the N2 for anyone trying to drive through in a hurry, but this pastoral, traditional laid-back way of life is also the main attraction of the area. Qunu, where Nelson Mandela spent his early childhood, and the rock formation known as Hole in the Wall, are both worth a visit.

    Knysna is known for its forests and artsy shops of unusual art, clothing, jewellery and craft, but you can also hire a yacht for a luxury chartered cruise around the Knysna Lagoon. For more of an adrenaline rush, go on a canopy tour through the Knysna Forest. Monkeyland and the Knysna Elephant Park between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay are great for children. But indulge in Knysna's raison d'être – oysters, with plenty of Champagne, of course.

  • Splash out: The spacious presidential suites at Pezula Resort Hotel and Spa in Knysna have a gourmet pantry, crystalware, underfloor heating, two fireplaces, two balconies – with sea and golf course views – and a 72cm flat screen TV.

Article courtesy of Horizons, BA/Comair's in-flight magazine published by Touchline Media