Have great sex on holiday

Forget the figure

Once you're away, it's time to stop worrying about your 'beach body' - if you haven't managed to get the perfect bikini bod, there is no way you should be wasting valuable holiday time angsting about it.

Remember, most blokes prefer a confident woman with bulges to an unconfident woman with bulges. You are what you are - flaunt it!

Get the room right

We're talking about the accommodation here... if you've got young children, and your budget can stretch to it, pay up for interconnecting rooms, rather than a sea view or a better hotel. Invest in a bit of privacy and pay to have the kids elsewhere when you sleep.

If yours are older or elsewhere, treat yourselves. Spend what you can to achieve a romantic retreat to put you in the mood.

Sex in a tent

First, it can be done. If you're with kids, once you think they're asleep, shine a torch on their faces. If they don't wake up, you're on.

There are a few rules, which apply whoever you're with: Rule 1) No dirty talking - you don't want any of that overheard. Rule 2) Be quiet. Rule 3) Be prepared for interruptions.

Getting close under canvas will bring back that fab saucy secret feeling you had when you were teenagers with parents in the house.

Protect your parts

When you can, change out of your wet bikini before going for walks or heading off for lunch. It's unfortunate if you wear next to nothing all day then end up too sore to be touched at night. A little talc helps prevent soreness and Canesten is brilliant if you do end up with an irritation or a fungal infection. Take both.

Make the most of kids' clubs!

We love them - shamelessly! Sign the kids in and head straight back to the bedroom. Even if you really want to sunbathe and read, it's a good idea to prioritise your sex life (and relationship) by making love while the kids are well and truly out of the way. And you'll both enjoy the sunbathing and the book so much more after a bonk.

Forget full sex?

Yep. And get into petting big time. Lots of couples ignore petting at their peril and their sex life really suffers as a result: they just go for penetration and forget all the fun that can be had without full-on sex.

But if you and the kids are all in the same room and you're too self-conscious to go for full-on sex, full-on foreplay will do.

And if it's just the two of you, you can indulge in some highly erotic kissing and touching on the way back to where you're staying.

Take time to talk

While you're away, spend time together and listen to each other.

Yes, sex with complete strangers à la 'The Bride Stripped Bare' is a fab female fantasy but if you do happen to know your partner, your best bet for great sex is to be his friend as well as his lover.

Eat, drink and feel sexy?

'Holiday' does mean great food and fab wine to most women, but if you do plan to go for it at night, resist the second dessert from the buffet, and the second bottle of wine. Otherwise you're likely to nod off the instant your head hits the pillow and all your carefully made plans for a night of passion have gone out of the window.

Stir yourself

Sex requires energy - it's unreasonable to do no exercise for 50 weeks of the year and think you'll be able to get off your back and do it all night long. Instead make sure you do a bit of exercise while you're away. Dance when you get the chance, walk, swim... it will all help.

Try something new

Finally, make one of your aims of the holiday to find a new sexual preference or position. Get a sex book and pore over it to find something fab you know you'll both like. Make sure that at some point over the holiday you make it happen. Incorporate the new idea into your love life when you get back and all the money spent on the holiday will have been worth every penny!