I have never been a beach lover, and I still try and avoid them at all costs, and a bit like Christmas, I only do it for the kids. However offer me a chance to return to the Maldives and I will be there before you can say (Jack) Robinson (Crusoe). Why? Because they are so much more than just the desert island romantic retreat with those clichéd turquoise waters and pristine white beaches. This is not to say that they do not provide this experience, in fact they excel in this if that is what you want, but they have suffered from some fairly one-sided marketing, ie that they are only good for honeymooners or couples.

The truth is that no matter what your requirements, be it a family holiday with child care, an active holiday with sailing, sea kayaking, tennis etc, a spa/detox retreat, a gourmet paradise - there is an island for you, and sometimes the same island can work as well for one set of criteria as a very disparate other set, eg Conrad resort with its underwater degustation restaurant, kids club, spa village and watersports centre.

However, for me the ultimate resort is Soneva Fushi, the epitome of barefoot luxury and the pioneer of "no news, no shoes" resorts. Whatever your needs, you will find it on the island. Pop-corn and cocktails under the stars at the open-air cinema? Check. Champagne cocktails at sunset? Check. The freshest veg from their organic garden? Check. Private villas with full sized pools? Check. And for Oli's ultimate travel experience? They have access to some of the least dived coral reefs in the country, with whale sharks, manta rays, turtles and all manner of marine life. As an avid wildlife enthusiast this is the draw for me and why I would go back again and again.