Our top picks for a relaxing holiday

The Maldives, the Seychelles, and Mauritius are the castaway trinity when it comes to laidback luxury in the Indian Ocean.

Over 100 all-inclusive island resorts make the Maldives one of the world’s most beautiful and romantic locations. Staying on any of this marine nation’s tropical atolls will leave you feeling a million miles from the responsibilities of home. Overwater villas, swim-up lagoons, underwater restaurants, and feet-in-the-sand bars are just the icing on the cake.

If you’re looking for paradise with a side order of history and culture, the Seychelles is a smaller cluster of islands for a discerning clientele. Choose between deluxe accommodation on the main islands of Mahé and Praslin, or make an extra hop for a complete escape to the smaller islets of Silhouette and La Digue.

Some of us need to stay where relaxation is the main distraction, but others prefer to know there’s an option for adventure. While the Maldives offers spectacular diving and the Seychelles has fascinating towns, Mauritius should be the first choice for travellers who get itchy feet after a few days on the sand. Stay in a five-star spa and golf resort with a range of restaurants, a private beach and an array of activities on your doorstep. Swim with dolphins, cruise on catamarans, and explore protected forests. Hop on a quad bike, enjoy a horse ride or hike. See wild animals and go zip-lining at Casela. Visit rum distilleries and sugar museums around the island. Or combine restful days with lively nights among the nightlife of Grand Baie.

Over the past few decades, Dubai has redefined luxury just eight hours from the UK. In a city filled with unique attractions and spectacular landmarks, the resorts and hotels of Dubai have made unwinding an art form. Spacious rooms beside exclusive beaches, infinity pools reflecting the desert sun, world-class international dining, and some of the most elegant spas on the planet, Dubai holidays invite guests to indulge - however they choose. To understand Dubai’s dedication to relaxation, you only have to look at brunch. While this most relaxed of meals is popular around the globe, Dubai has taken it to new levels. Leisurely grazing of decadent foods with sparkling drinks, cocktails, mocktails, and aromatic teas and coffees makes brunch in Dubai something special.

An additional bonus of Dubai is Emirates’ comprehensive flight network, making it perfect for combining city energy with shoreline serenity when you choose a Dubai and Maldives package or a Dubai and Mauritius package. It also works perfectly as a stopover before your next relaxing destination.

Exciting, energetic, and even exhilarating, the megacity of Bangkok and vibrant resorts like Patong or Pattaya may not be among your first thoughts when you’re seeking relaxation. Thailand, however, has plenty of tucked-away places and tranquil beaches. Choose a quiet spot on Koh Samui’s Chaweng Beach, sit back and take in the scenery in Krabi’s Phang Nga Bay, kick off your shoes on Koh Phi Phi, get off the beaten track at Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi, or find an idyllic cove on Koh Lipe. Famous for its welcoming hospitality, invigorating massages, and calm temples among some of Asia’s most beautiful locations, Thailand is a perfect choice for slowing down. For an unforgettable experience, spend a silent night in a floating tent among the mountains at Elephant Hills.

If the Indian Ocean or southeast Asia don’t float your boat, you could always head west. The Caribbean Sea is spotted with island nations where white sand is surrounded by blue water and the rum cocktails flow. Step back in time in the romantic St Vincent and the Grenadines, swim with pigs and walk around uninhabited islands in the Bahamas, or take it easy beside the waves in Jamaica. Luxury hotels and exclusive boutiques can be found across the region, or you can discover it all from the sea.