Dubai

Pristine Coastlines, A terracotta-coloured desert and the dramatic, awe-inspiring vistas of the Hajar mountains - when you visit Ras Al Khaimah you can soak up the sunshine against spectacular backdrops almost all year round. So wether you’re looking for a holiday with thrills, somewhere to chill, a place to connect with nature, or a break that’s great for the whole family, Ras Al Khaimah is full of surprises to be discovered.

Thought Dubai only catered to the rich and famous? This United Arab Emirates city might court visitors with expensive tastes, but beyond the skyscrapers and Western brands is a desert destination with enough cultural and hip hotspots for a bragworthy weekender that surprisingly - won't break the bank.  So if you're longing to escape the cold, here is an alternative plan for a two-day short break in this Middle Eastern playground.

Upon first inspection, Dubai lives up to its reputation as a millionaires’ playground; it is chock-full of business folk impeccably turned out in Arab thawbs or designer labels, driving huge cars from one gleaming, gargantuan mall to the next. But while this futuristic city in the middle of the desert is great fun for those with money, it is also ideally set up for kids.

What makes the perfect family Holiday? Well, guaranteed sunshine 365 days a year is a must, all-inclusive packages make it easier to budget and there has to be a crėche, a kids's club and somewhere for teens to chill. Mum might be wishing for mammoth luxury shopping centres and indulgent spas. And for dad? A championship standard nine-hole gulf course, fine dining dazzling entertainment and knowing everything, and everyone is being taken care of.

Why have just one luxury holiday when you can plump for two if you are flying over to Mauritius via Dubai . Here are two phrases I never thought I’d hear in my life: one of them is, ahem, ‘foot virtuoso’ (more of which later), the other is ‘pastry library’. I am confronted with the latter at Stay, the swanky signature restaurant situated in One&Only The Palm, sister hotel to the brand’s Royal Mirage resort – itself located a ten-minute speedboat ride away on what passes for Dubai’s ‘mainland’.