Mövenpick Resort Aswan

Perched on its near-private island, Mövenpick provides ample opportunity to enjoy the languid surrounds - even if its only from the geometric pool and its battalion of shaded loungers! Lunch can be served in glass-walled Orangeri restaurant or in the gardens, whilst chilli-infused cocktails are best enjoyed on the terrace. Mezze puts on a spread of Nubian fusion alongside views of the Tombs of the Nobles, with ingredients grown on the island. Try the pigeon stuffed with spices, nuts and herbs, followed by an oriental pastry for dessert.

The large hotel has 404 rooms, suites and villas, all decorated in rich tones and draped with threaded camel-coloured rugs. The higher you go, the more magnificent the views become, with the Presidential Suite enjoying them from a Jacuzzi on its private terrace. The rooms range in size, from one-bedrooms to Royal Villas, which have an enormous master suite bedroom, kitchenette, and dining room. The bathrooms are beautifully done in chocolate-coloured marble with a deep tub, shower, and dual vanities in some.

As the oldest tourist destination on Earth, Egypt has its share of showstopping sights. In Aswan, they are dotted round its palm-covered islands, ranging from the bright Nubian Villages (and the antiquities museum), to the Philae Temple, where the very last hieroglyphics were carved. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk and get to know Aswan's industrial side: did you know its quarries were used to create many of the structures in ancient Egypt? For a packed day out, visit the colossi at Abu Simbel, take a boat ride at sunset, and grab a cocktail at the famous 1902, which was inaugurated by Sir Winston Churchill.