Frances' passion for travel was ignited at the age of 17, following a school scholarship to Venice. Since then she has travelled to almost 100 countries, and contributes to international newspapers and magazines, writes first-edition guidebooks, and presents and produces for TV. She also lectures and consults about travel and tourism and her specialist destinations, which include the Middle East and North and East Africa. Frances believes passionately in the benefits of travel both for the individual and for the country. She also encourages women to travel, believing her gender to be a help not a hindrance when negotiating the hurdles of the road!