Salalah, Oman

This is our favourite resort in the Sultanate’s second city, and it’s not hard to see why. Spread along a beautiful palm-fringed beach, it's rooms and whitewashed pool villas are designed in a fresh, contemporary style, but have a distinctive Middle Eastern feel, with dark wooden or marble floors, antique carved doors and shutters on the windows opening on to sunny terraces with uninterrupted ocean views (lit by lovely traditional lanterns after dark). If you can resist the combined allure of the infinity pool and beach, there are plenty of activities on offer to keep guests busy, from watersports to tennis, camel rides and cookery classes. Alternatively, book a four-hand massage in the spa and feel any residual travel tension evaporate under the exotic oils. Children are well catered for here, with lively kids’ and teens’ clubs and plenty of child-friendly options on the menu. Best of all, at least for history buffs, is the proximity of the ruined Frankincese city of Al Baleed, whose remains lie across the lagoon from the hotel.