There are so many different holidays to be had in Bali, from partying in young and bustling Kuta on the coast, to mooching in traditional, peaceful Ubud in the centre of the island. There are a wide variety of beach resorts some with beautiful white sand, and some in the north with a rugged, volcanic landscape and black sand.

My boyfriend and I chose The Sanur Beach Hotel in the south west of the island, for Sanur’s long stretch of white sand and the close proximity to other towns and to both Ngurah Rai and Denpasser airport. The resort offered large, comfortable accommodation located in a natural setting with large shady trees and a wide choice of activities onsite. We both really enjoy water sports and there were many choices available including motorboat and jet skiing, sailing, surfing and wind surfing. There were also two swimming pools, a jogging track that ran around the park near the Wisnu Wing, where we found the oldest trees in the Sanur area and a beach volleyball court. Although we had chosen The Sanur Beach Hotel for its great sports activities and facilities, we soon realised that two weeks wasn’t nearly enough time to enjoy them all! There really is so much to do in Bali!

One of my most memorable experiences was climbing Mount Kintamani in the mountainous central region. We were advised to leave at around three am and begin our hike in torch light, so that we could reach the top by sunrise. Scrambling up crumbling volcanic rock and following narrow tracks in almost pitch black was no easy task, even for us who I had thought were relatively fit! However, the view from the top as the sun rose up over the distant mountains was worth every ache and pain!

If you decide to climb the volcano, even in daylight, don’t expect to find your way on your own. Ensure that you book a guide. This can be done from the hotel, or if you have a hire car you can book at the base of the volcano. Remember that the temperature is certainly more suited to strenuous activity at 5am than 10am so it is worth making the effort to get out of bed that bit earlier! I must admit that it was a nice feeling meeting other climbers huffing and puffing in the sweltering morning heat as I leisurely walked back down the mountain for breakfast!

And if you do take food with you up the volcano watch out for the pesky monkeys - unless you want your breakfast stolen!

Kuala Lumpur is a slick, modern city with a skyline that rivals some of the best cities in the world. After spending a week relaxing in the tropical beach resorts of Langkawi and Pankor, my first glimpse of the buzzing lights of KL was an exciting antidote!

I stayed at the Equatorial Kuala Lumpur, located in the heart of the city’s commercial and entertainment district, within easy walking distance of the world famous Petronas Twin Towers - the world’s tallest buildings.

This five-star hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and fully-equipped fitness centre, which was good for my waistline as the hotel is renowned in the city for its award winning Chinese and Japanese restaurants! Malaysia is a haven for food-lovers, from top-class restaurants to incredible street food in China Town. Home to a diverse mixture of cultures, races and cuisines including Indian, Chinese, Malay and European people, it’s impossible for a visitor’s taste-buds to get bored!

Shopping is unrivalled in KL, with sprawling shopping centres offering everything from designer brands to traditional Malay handicrafts. There is even a Topshop for those missing British high street bargains!

I would advise anyone visiting KL to see the commercial district at night. Thousands of fairy lights illuminate the Petronas Twin Towers, while people dine in candlelight at the open air restaurants scattered around the Golden triangle.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it is completely free to go up to the top of the Twin Towers. One tip I would give though, is to arrive before nine in the morning to get your complementary tickets, as there are only a limited number allocated each day and the queues can get quite long by mid-morning. The views are fantastic and a guide accompanies your group to explain all of the sights. There is also a museum at ground level which is worth a visit.

I really couldn’t have chosen a hotel with a better location than the Equatorial Kuala Lumpur. It really was great on all levels, from service and facilities to the little extras, such as the complementary foot massage - greatly appreciated after a hard days shopping and sightseeing!

My family and I stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Sharm El Sheikh after it was recommended to me by a friend with children. Sharm El Sheikh is a popular resort on the southern tip of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and is famous for its world class diving and watersports.

My husband and I were avid divers before having our two young children but for obvious reasons don’t often get the chance to enjoy our hobby. However, we got to take part in amazing morning dives each day while our boys were entertained at the kid’s club.

There is top class diving and watersports on the hotel’s beachfront so no time was wasted traveling to and from the dive centre, and the kid’s club was a real hit with the boys! We never felt like we were having more fun than them!

Generally, the entire holiday was a success. The hotel had beautiful grounds, a lovely beach with its own private coves and bays, the reception staff were spot on and the diving school staff were a lovely bunch of people.

As well as excellent diving and watersports the hotel had extensive facilities including a spa and fitness centre, an Arabian massage tent and an outdoor pool complex which was another huge hit with the children. When my husband was busy playing volleyball in the pool with our sons, I was able to enjoy the indoor heated whirlpool tub, sauna and steam rooms.

Altogether a wonderful place to stay for parents with water babies!