MARSA ALAM

Marsa Alam has been a little-known destination, but this gem of a resort is about to really take off. Book holidays in Marsa Alam before everyone else cottons on to the raw beauty and endless days of sunshine and relaxation in Egypt's most southerly Red Sea resort.

Holidays to Marsa Alam ooze style and offer a splendid array of activities - plus plenty of opportunities for doing absolutely nothing.

With its palm-fringed shores, soft sandy beaches, world-class dive sites and glitzy marina, this charming former fishing village is just waiting to take your breath away.

Marsa Alam can be found on the western coastline of the vast Red Sea, an area that scuba divers believe has some of the finest dive sites in the region. If you're not into diving, however, then you can look forward to restful days of snoozing on the beach, punctuated by delicious chilled drinks and warm dips in the heavenly waters.

And when you need a break from lazy days under blue skies, check out the hustle and bustle of the lively souk for some eye-opening local bargains, or you can get your adrenaline pumping with a 4x4 desert adventure. For a truly authentic Egyptian experience, you can even spend an evening under the canvas of a Bedouin tent as the sky fills with diamond-like stars. And if you like your entertainment on the more luxurious side, head to the swanky Port Ghalib Marina. Whatever you like to do while you are away, you simply cannot go wrong with Marsa Alam holidays.

That's not to say you can expect all-night partying, though. The recently opened airport has further encouraged the growth of this once tiny dot on the map, which now boasts a number of luxury all-inclusive hotels. But the popular holiday resorts of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada with their European-style nightspots and bars are hundreds of miles and hours away. The real beauty of Marsa Alam is therefore its tranquillity and tradition.

Jaz Lamaya Resort

This stylish hotel puts you on the edge of a sandy beach and a beautiful coral reef. And it’s got three big pools, too.

This elegant hotel is tucked in a half-moon cove. The house reef makes it a prime dive spot, and there’s a diving centre on the beach. There are three pools, too, plus you get free entry to a nearby waterpark.

There are two choices when it comes to food – the buffet restaurant or the beach bar, which does lunchtime snacks. After-dinner entertainment comes in the form of live shows, with singers, fire-eaters and more.