Maldives is addictive and laid back... Away from it all in the tropics in the middle of the Indian Ocean where the island is the resort. It's so tranquil with plenty of room on the beach and sand like powder. There are no beach touts, no traffic lights, roads or sirens, there's nowhere quite like it.

I thought I would get bored, but it was the absolute opposite. You can do nothing but I couldn't get enough diving time; the underwater world has to be seen to be believed, and an underwater camera is a must. The dive schools are professional and are very safety conscious which was re-assuring, but no-one forces you to do it. One friend just snorkelled and loved every minute. One year we had rain but it didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves. The sea was still warm, so we canoed on the lagoon around the island, plus did all sorts of other watersports.

All the islands I've stayed on had a spa, which is my weakness, they're so rejuvenating; a favourite was a sand scrub massage on the beach at sunset - wow, I can't do that at home! The cuisine varies, anything from traditional local to buffets and a la carte dinners, with chefs from all over the world. For me though, beach bbq's are king!

Male the capital - the Vegas skyline of the Indian Ocean - is a buzzing city with plenty to see, like the fish and veg market, a museum and art gallery and lots of cafes.

Speed boats are the main mode of transport here, you feel like James Bond, but my choice would always be a seaplane. It's mind blowing and I'll never tire of taking off from and landing on the sea!

This year we are in the most southerly part, Addu, where the islands are joined by a road causeway, which is great for cycling and exploring on foot.

Maldives is unique: small and large islands which you can walk around in ten minutes or half an hour, it's so worth the long flight, and I always book for at least ten days.