Five of the best luxury destinations

Certain long-haul destinations consistently rate highly with British travellers for a reason. If you're thinking of splashing out on the holiday of a lifetime, don't book before you've checked out our shortlist of five of the best.

Dubai, the Emirates

Ideal for...
Honeymooners, short stays en route to Australia and families.

Why so special?
Only six to seven hours' flight time from London, the glittering city of Dubai is undoubtedly the jewel in the Emirates' crown. Championed by Kuoni as their 'big star' in 2005, Dubai is still the hottest long-haul destination for European travellers.

Where else in the world can seven-star towering hotels and architecturally audacious skyscrapers coexist with old-world mosques and souks? Where in the world is running out of land not a problem? In Dubai, you simply create more land on which to build your lavish hotels and their beaches!

What to do there
From sand-skiing on desert dunes to championship golfing and horse riding, Dubai has it all and a lot more. All types of water sports are well catered for. A few miles out to sea you'll find that the warmth and shelter of the gulf attracts sharks, sail fish and local grouper fish, making Dubai's deep-sea fishing and scuba-diving some of the best in the world.

Back on dry land, why not take time to see more of Dubai - zoos, museums, creeks, lush parks and desolate deserts all combine to make Dubai an extraordinary city of contrasts. And, of course, who could forget Dubai's main draw - all that glorious shopping at tax-free prices!