We were met from the plane and taken straight to the front of the queue at passport control and after a bit of discussion with the officials were let through – this “queue jumping” probably saved us about an hour stood in line, now although annoying for those in the line represented a real saving for us in terms of time and stress – I would strongly recommend this “meet and greet service”.

We stayed in the Ritz Carlton a superb hotel located on a lovely beach (man made) there are four good restaurants to choose from offering either international or local food none of which I could fault. There is a lovely bar near to the reception with a wide range of drinks there are also several other bars near the pools and beach although the bar near to the reception is the only one open during the evening which is slightly disappointing.

There are at least four swimming pools some designed for children. Due to the coral reef located directly at the beach you can’t swim from the beach you need to go out on a floating jetty over the reef before you can enter the sea. If you are looking for diving there is a dive centre too and if you like snorkelling you can also hire the gear. I have dived on a holiday in the Maldives and did feel the diving & snorkelling was better in the Maldives although I can really only speak for the diving and snorkelling around the reef of the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

For a destination to go to for sunshine it would be hard to beat this on a 5/6 hour flight during the winter we had temperatures of around 29/30 degrees so plenty hot enough to sit around and relax. You should note that in December the days are short and come 4.30pm the sun has gone, if your prepared to get up early then the sun is hot enough to sit out in from 7.30am onwards.

The hotel has a good gym with a wide range of equipment and this is open 24 hours a day. I also went on several runs at either the beginning or end of the day these were very enjoyable although you need to watch the unevenness of the pavements and the large curb stones.

We were looking for a relaxing and restful holiday in the sun and we certainly got this, we ventured from the hotel one night into Nama Bay. If you are looking for a big lively cosmopolitan resort then this is it, as with a lot of Egypt be prepared for all the locals wanting to be your friend, invite you to their restaurant or bar, one night was enough for us but we had not gone for that sort of holiday – there were plenty of people who all seemed to be having a nice evening out while on their holiday to Nama Bay.

The only real negative I could say about the holiday was the cost. It was expensive while you were there. I had always felt that Egypt was a relatively cheap place to go to and I also accept that the Ritz Carlton is an expensive international hotel, but in general prices seemed expensive (at least on par with the UK) I would highly recommend going on a half board or all inclusive on your holiday to Sharm El Sheikh.

For a week in the sun in the winter a holiday to Sharm El Sheikh can be highly recommended and worth a visit, if you want to get really hot then a visit in our spring, summer or autumn will guarantee gloriously hot weather.

Sharm El Sheikh Coastline image courtesy of: Nafaraj Metz | Sharm El Sheikh Sunset image courtesy of: Womeos Photo’s

With Christmas time knocking on our door, many of us often decide to avoid the frenzied shopping time and instead take to the slopes or even relax on a hot sunny beach. If you haven’t tried it, perhaps it’s time to experience something a little bit different over this holiday season. Worried that you might be missing out on something special at home? Christmas time and New Year can be just as atmospheric when away on holiday. Whether you are in the mountains or in any exotic destination, the hotels would typically prepare the decorations and food to match the festive season, so you can feel at home whilst away from home.

Which destination to choose? Depending on your budget and mood, there are always several options. Many of us dream of ‘white Christmas’, so why not head for the wonderful mountain resorts in France, Switzerland or even Colorado? Also, Austria will never let you down with its authentic postcard-perfect villages amidst the sugar white mountain scenery. Enjoy your Christmas dinner and hot punch whilst listening to the wood crackling in the fireplace and start the next morning with skiing on the sunny slopes. The breathtaking views of the forested mountains with powdery snow glittering in the sunshine are sure to have you come back for more!

Okay, but what if skiing is not your thing? Then perhaps the hot sunny beaches of the Caribbean or the Maldives would tempt you with their exotic backdrop of swaying elegant palms and tiffany blue seas. Here you can unwind and forget the ‘reality’ for a while and let the hotel take care of all your needs. The gourmet food and drinks are always freshly prepared for you and there is no need to worry about that Christmas turkey in the oven. This is also laid out in style for you and your family on Christmas Day. It’s probably hard to believe just how spoilt you can get on your Christmas holiday.

If you don’t fancy going far or spend a long time away from home, a city break in Prague, Vienna or Venice is always a good option to treat yourself to just for a quick change of the familiar home scenery. Family days and short breaks in Lapland will entertain the kids no end with all the activities and personal meetings with Santa Claus.

To help you make the right decision, here are some advantages and disadvantages for you to consider before you travel on your Christmas break.

Advantages of travelling on holidays over Christmas period:

• You have a long holiday period on your hand to treat yourself to something special.
• Escaping from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping fever can be a true relief for many of us.
• Spending comfortable time at the hotel where everything is ready for us provides a nice change to the traditional Christmas at home where most of our time is spent in the kitchen preparing food.
• Many countries across the world celebrate Christmas differently, so this could be an enriching cultural experience.
• Being away from the British rainy winter weather can be priceless.

Possible disadvantages:

• As this is peak season, going away on holiday over Christmas can be a lot more costly compared to other seasons or travelling off-peak.
• Some of us might feel nostalgic when missing reunions with family and friends at home.
• As the season is in its height, holiday resorts and airports tend to be busier and the queuing longer.
• What if we just can’t do without the homely Christmas atmosphere and home prepared food?
• Our hope to pocket that last minute bargain can leave us disappointed due to possible lack of availability of cheap last minute holiday deals at such a busy time.

The 11 hours in the air with Sri Lankan Airways was a treat – hospitable flight attendants in beautiful national costumes, a choice of delicious flight meals and plenty of drinks and entertainment.

On approach to Male Airport I was able to watch the landing on my personal screen from captain’s perspective and a view of whole myriad of little islands dotted in turquoise waters uncovered itself almost immediately. The view was to die for – it was like heaven came down to earth! And this was just getting better upon reaching my first destination – the island of Bandos after 30 minutes of exhilarating speedboat ride. A touch of Maldivian hospitality was felt from the moment I stepped barefoot onto the island’s silk-like sand – a warm welcome from the staff included a cold towel and a refreshing cocktail.

The scenery on each island is simply breathtaking – lush exotic greenery and elegant tall palms gently swaying over the pearl – white beaches to the warm breeze of Indian Ocean. Crystal clear waters of the lagoon gently slapping onto the shore, amazing sunsets and stunning sunrises. This picture pretty much repeated itself on Kurumba and Bodu Hithi, the other islands I visited. The great thing about the Maldives is that each island is a resort on its own and each of them offers something different – you can party till dawn on Kurumba and find escapology with a big ‘E’ at the elegant Coco Palm Bodu Hithi.

The food was 1st class and I would only opt for an all-inclusive as the drinks can sometimes be prohibitively expensive. A bottle of water on Bodu Hithi will cost you 9 USD (mind you, this is a very posh-looking glass bottle I am talking about!), just like everything else on this island – from the décor of the rooms to the pampering sessions in the spa – you will feel the sense of exclusivity everywhere.

The onwards journey to Sri Lanka uncovered a completely different world – busy streets, world-famous tuk-tuks, women in saris carrying colourful umbrellas to protect their faces from the excessive sunrays and the shop owners trying to sell you just about anything. Then the legendary and mystical Sigiriya Rock – the unforgettable symbol of Sri Lanka which I could only climb to its first half as the humidity was so oppressive.

Then the wonderful Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela where the scenery vividly reminds you of the pictures you have once seen on Discovery Channel or in the National Geographics Magazine. Kandy is a must as the serene Temple of the Tooth brings you back to the history of Sri Lanka. On the way there stop in one of the spice gardens and get a free Ayurvedic massage, Ayurveda being such inseparable way of the Sri Lankan lifestyle. I was lucky to meet some nice people too and returning back to the cosmopolitan Colombo I suddenly missed the green hills and diversity of the Sri Lankan countryside…. Generally, the quality of hotels in Sri Lanka is superb as long as you chose 4* and above.

My recommendations:

Anyone wishing to go to that part of the world, be bold and visit both Maldives and Sri Lanka .They are so different and yet so close to each other and with the short direct flight from Male to Colombo, this would be an opportunity too good to miss. Although next time I would perhaps do it in reverse order – do the busy tour of Sri Lanka first and then rest my bones in the calm oasis of the Maldives afterwards…. I recommend the Robinson Crusoe-style holidays in the Maldives to anyone who wants to get away from the city-induced stress, and especially to keen divers and honeymoon couples. Although, next time I return there, I will definitely book a romantic over-water villa (preferably with a jacuzzi and open-air bathroom) and a seaplane transfer which complete the ultimate Maldivian experience.

Oh and plenty of good quality mosquito repellent is a must! It just makes your life so much easier when you are out and about.