There is a sign as you walk out of Sharm El Sheikh Airport that reads “Welcome to the City of Peace”.

Now, such blatant self-promotion is often best taken with a pinch of salt.

But 20 minutes after passing it, with the sun already set, a drink has been thrust into my hands and I’m stood about 100 yards from the calm Red Sea.

No need for salt here – unless it’s for your margarita.

I have arrived at the Holiday Village Red Sea Resort, perched perfectly on the edge of Sharm’s attractive coastline.

This isn’t your stereotypical part of Egypt.

No, here there are palm trees and lush green grass.

Yes, there is sand, but it comes mainly in beach form, rather than that of a dune.

Heck, there’s even a Starbucks on the main street!

This is western (and eastern European) tourist country. Sun, sea and sand are the order of the day here.

Sharm certainly does all three well and, given that it’s also out of the euro zone, it’s little wonder more and more people are flocking there.

This vast resort makes the perfect base for my five-day stay with my girlfriend.

Cleverly designed, there are attractive little apartment blocks peppered around the grounds, interspersed with charming gardens, winding paths and water features.

There are six pools in total and four a la carte restaurants, on top of a buffet option.

We had the fortunate luxury of a ‘swim-up’ room, which was part of a little cluster perched on the edge of an exclusive pool, making for a serene little spot.

Both kids and adults are extremely well catered for in the resort.

The activities staff do a great job of entertaining children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers, looking after them and keeping them occupied throughout the day.

They don’t limit the enjoyment to just the youngsters, though, as I found out when I hurtled down a zip wire high above one of the resort’s pools and one of its best features – the private beach.

It is a wonderful setting, as the beautifully clear Red Sea rolls calmly in front of you.

The resort has its own jetty, which extends a few hundred yards out to water.

It is great for a romantic stroll as the sun sets, or as a way to get a little further out for a swim.

And it is well worth taking a good look around the water for the incredible and colourful marine life the Red Sea plays host to.

Sharm is one of the world’s top diving spots, but it is just as much fun to buy yourself a snorkel and go exploring just below the surface.

After a hard day relaxing, there are plenty of places to unwind even further at night.

We enjoyed one particularly memorable night in the Sports Bar, watching Egypt win the African Cup of Nations.

To say the hotel’s staff were overjoyed would be an understatement.

They took a particular shine to us, after we purchased a few Egyptian flags to wave in a show of support.

But, even without that sweetener, you would be hard pressed to find a more helpful and friendly group – whether it was the bar staff, waiters, housekeeping or whatever.

They made our stay thoroughly enjoyable – as did the Thomson/ First Choice team on site, who were exceptionally helpful too.

Watch out for the mosquitoes, though – they’re not so friendly, but a bit of repellent spray should do the job!

If not, there is a good pharmacy just outside that can help with bad bites or other health issues.

But as good as the resort was, you can’t just limit yourself to that bubble in a country like Egypt – you have to get out and explore.

Sharm is not in the greatest location for the big sightseeing draws, although trips to the pyramids and Luxor are still possible.

But a visit to the Old Market in Sharm is brilliant, if only to try out your haggling skills and meet some of the locals.

For those interested in places of religious significance, there are also regular trips to Mt Sinai and St Catherine’s Monastery, offering a chance to see the Burning Bush and where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

So, whether it’s culture, relaxation or a mixture of both that you’re after, you won’t go wrong with Egypt and Sharm El Sheikh.

With flights soon starting from Bournemouth, it is becoming an even more attractive destination for people in the south.

FACTFILE

Accomodation First Choice offers a seven-night holiday in Egypt, staying on an all-inclusive basis at the 4 SUN Holiday Village Red Sea from £715 per adult, £369 for first child and £439 for second child. Price based on two adults and two children sharing, departing from Bournemouth airport on May 5, 2010.To find out more about this holiday, or to make a reservation, please call First Choice on 0871 200 4455, or book online at <&bh"http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/egypt">firstchoice.co.uk /egypt<&eh> or <&bh"http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/holidayvillage">firstchoice.co.uk /holidayvillage<&eh> Flights This is the first time there has been a route from Bournemouth to Sharm el Sheikh. It will operate every Wednesday – starting on May 5, 2010.

Flights for the summer season have been on sale for a few months now, and Thomson/First Choice have just announced that they will be operating through-out the winter period as well.