Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa

For all your pampering needs, head to a private suite at the spa for a choice of treatments, then grab a fruit smoothie at the chic Jannah Bar. When the Egyptian sun becomes too much, there are two infinity pools to cool off in - and definitely grab a cocktail at the swim-up bar. Breakfast offers a wide range of dishes, and at dinner time, there are East Asian delicacies at Silk Road and an international selection at the Rosetta Stone-inspired flagship restaurant to choose from.

The rooms are understated and bright. Each has a signature Hilton bed in white with plenty of Egyptian cotton sheets, toupe chairs, and polished wood furnishings. In most rooms, sliding glass doors lead onto a balcony with garden, city or Nile views. The suites have a larger sitting area and en-suite with double showers, while the superior spa suites enjoy an outdoor whirlpool and private treatment room, dining area and decorative touches in the lounge. There are also interconnecting rooms available for families.

Luxor is ensconced in history, as a single felucca ride will very quickly reveal. Float past finely-painted tombs and colossal temples while an Egyptologist fills in the details, and along the East Bank, see the centuries-old Temples of Karnak. For an even deeper look, ride camelback into the desert to find traces of Roman trading posts or visit the famous Valley of the Kings, where King Tut was discovered. Get to know the city at Luxor Museum, one of Egypt's finest, where you'll even see two royal mummies.