By Phil Long

BBC Sport's man with the Barmy Army takes a look at the best places to go in Bangladesh, and the those to avoid, in the two cites where England share their matches.

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The Bangladeshi capital, with a population over 10 million, will see plenty of the Barmy Army.

It plays host not only to the first Test and two one-day internationals (under lights at the Bangabandhu Stadium) but also the two warm-up games of the tour.

As a capital city, Dhaka gives foreign visitors access to excellent hotel facilities, restaurants and cash points - rare or non-existent elsewhere.

ENGLAND IN DHAKA 12-14 Oct v BCB President XI 16-18 Oct v Bangladesh A 21-25 Oct 1st Test 10 Nov 2nd ODI (d/n) 12 Nov 3rd ODI (d/n)

If the cricket finishes early then there is a host of things to see and do in the city.

The most famous ancient monuments are undoubtedly the Mogul Lalbagh Fort - a 19th Century prince's palace- and the Rose Garden, a palace from the Raj era.

If it's a sense of traditional Bangladeshi city life you're seeking then the Chowk Bazaar, a maze of twisting back alleys, have remained almost unchanged for 100 years.

As befits a Muslim-dominated city, Dhaka abounds in architecturally striking mosques.

Definitely worth a visit are the Sitara Masjid and Sat Gumbad, a mosque featuring seven domes perched high above the river.

DHAKA FACTFILE Ave Oct temp: 25-31C (but could be cold at night) Where to drink: Try one of the better hotels Eating out: Gulshan-Banani-Bardhara area has the best restaurants Culture: Lalbagh Fort - a must see Airport to Stadium: Zia Intl Airport, 19km Train to Chittagong: 7 hours approx Internet: Internet cafes are relatively rare and connection times slow

On the downside, Dhaka is considered one of the few cities in the subcontinent where it is not advisable to wander around alone after dark.

Make sure you take a taxi to your hotel or that there is at least three or four of you in a group to deter would-be thieves.

Unsurprisingly, there are very few places that serve alcoholic drinks.

Barmy Army members might find themselves pulling out their smartest gear and joining their more wealthy comrades at one of the city's smarter hotels.

England have played Test cricket in Dhaka, playing Pakistan there before Bangladeshi independence in 1971.

The Barmy Army will be hoping for better results this time as both games, in 1961-2 and 1968-9, ended in uninspiring draws.

England's first ever visit to Bangladesh's second city looks likely to be an interesting experience for travelling supporters.

With few real 'must-see' tourist sites the city is not exactly geared to cater for an influx of foreign tourists.

ENGLAND IN CHITTAGONG 29 Oct -2 Nov 2nd Test 5 Nov v BCB Devt Squad 7 Nov 1st ODI

Until recently the city boasted just one cash machine and has a real dearth of decent places to get some grub at night.

One place definitely worth a visit is the World War II cemetery where more than 700 soldiers - including many who perished on the Burma front - lie buried.

On a slightly lighter note another spectacle worth seeking out are the ship-breaking beaches, where ships are driven to be scrapped.

The sight of hundreds of workers breaking down the ships is absolutely fascinating but means that sunbathing is a no-go!

If the Test finishes early then there are a couple of places reasonably close to Chittagong worth sniffing out.

The Chittagong Hill Tracts used to be one of Bangladesh's tourist traps.

CHITTAGONG FACTFILE Ave Oct temp: 27-31C Where to drink: Top hotels only Eating out: Not much- try the top hotels again Culture: WWII Cemetery Beachlife: Cox's Bazaar (80km) From Dhaka: 45min flight / 7 hours by train Internet: Still very rare

However, recent violence in the area means you must check out the situation locally before considering any sort of trip.

Alternatively, you could head to the tourist facilities and beach at Cox's Bazaar.

Get out a bat and ball here and tell your mates you played cricket on one of the longest beaches in the world!

Like Dhaka, celebrating any English success with a beer will be difficult and confined to the city's one or two good hotels.

However, if even the costs of a trip to Bangladesh are putting a strain on the old budget then rest - literally - assured.

The city's cheapest accommodation is to be found close to the railway station and costs in the region of 25p a night.