How to find glam, Wham! and Zen

Little black book Carma Andraos is an art ­director at the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi in Dubai, as well as the designer of the babywear range, Baby & the City.

Carma Andraos likes the energy of Barcelona's Las Ramblas.

Carma Andraos is an art ­director at the advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi in Dubai, as well as the designer of the babywear range, Baby & the City. She lives in Dubai. In Dubai, I love the Park Hyatt Hotel. With its Moroccan-inspired architecture, it's elegant and impressive without being ostentatious. Also, it's situated on the creek with a beautiful view and the much-needed green - a far cry from the skyscrapers of Sheikh Zayed Road.

I am a real sushi person and Teatro at the Rotana Towers does the best. The service is wonderful and I love its cosmopolitan ambience. I also really like Ravi (04 331 5353) for authentic ­Indian and Pakistani food, as well as for its location in Satwa, one of the oldest districts of Dubai. New Asia in Wafi is the ultimate bar to be seen in Dubai. The view is breathtaking both inside and out - the view and the beautiful people.

I am a complete make-up junkie and always try and squeeze in a trip to Sephora (www.sephora.com) when I'm in Paris. They have a huge selection of make-up and perfume and I just can't help myself. I also love to wander around Le Marais district, which has loads of underground and designer boutiques not to be found anywhere else. And no trip to Paris is complete without going to Colette (www.colette.fr), where fashion, design, art, photography and music all come together. Their unique designer pieces guarantee me a completely one-off outfit every time.

I love shopping in flea markets, especially London's Portobello market and Camden Lock. There is always plenty of cool stuff to pick up, from unique LPs to the most individual clothes. When I'm in my hometown of Beirut, I hang out on the ­luscious terrace of the Albergo hotel (www.albergobeirut.com) in the centre of Beirut. It is an old house, which has been transformed into a boutique hotel, with really flamboyant decoration and the most ­amazing selection of teas. You feel like you've been transported into a different era. For shopping, I like Kitsch, a concept store in old house which sells vintage sunglasses, unusual T-shirts and jewellery.

For big family dinners, we love going to Fadel restaurant in the mountains in Lebanon in En Naas. It serves authentic, fresh, no-frills Lebanese food, which always hits the spot. My favourite weekend getaway is the Chedi Hotel in Muscat (www. www.ghmhotels.com). It's just outstanding. The location is beautiful and very "Zen" - situated on the beach with the fabulous pool and grounds. It's the ideal place to unwind after a stressful week of work in Dubai, especially with the new Emirates flights that ­cater for the working woman - flying out late on Thursday night and back late Saturday night - bliss.

Barcelona is my favourite city. It's so beautiful and you're never short of things to do. I love the energy, the youth, the art, the architecture. It's a city full of culture and I love browsing in the art galleries. I always rent an apartment on Las Ramblas when I'm there because it has more personality than a hotel and gives me more flexibility. I also feast on tapas; it's an easy way to order everything on the menu, so you don't have to miss out.

For a holiday with the perfect balance of relaxation and ­partying, I love Pikes Hotel in Ibiza (www.pikeshotel.com). It's a 15th century farmhouse in the hills just outside San ­Antonio. It's a very old ­hacienda transformed into a personalised hotel far from the hustle and bustle of Ibiza town, but close enough to the action if you want some. Apparently, it's actually where the first ever Wham! video was filmed and Freddy Mercury once rented it for his birthday.

Diving is one of my passions. I love the sensation of being underwater and the discipline of it, plus the fact that it's not a competitive sport. The Red Sea is the best place, either Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada. The marine life there is amazing.