I had had the pleasure of staying in Villa Rosamund on two occasions before, but it is not of course until you are back there once more beneath the domes and turrets that you remember quite what a truly special place it is. The total antidote to the modern day package tour where hordes of people arrive like cattle on a plane only to enjoy the sunshine version of what they had left behind back in Blighty, my two week stay in Villa Rosamund offered a complete and much needed contrast to the stresses and strains of life back in London.

Built recently and extremely sympathetically in the Moorish style, it overlooks a banana plantation with stunning views from most angles which can barely have changed for centures . Close enough to the banks of the Nile to be able to walk with ease (not much more than 5 minutes), yet far enough away that you avoid the hustle and bustle and mosquito colonies that enjoy to assemble after sundown- you get the perfect feeling that you are of Luxor, but not necessarily in it. The beautifully designed thick walls and well connected air conditioning meaning that bedrooms are always seductively cool- even when temperatures outside are pushing 100 degrees.

Space is another major plus point here. This well proportioned villa is large enough to accommodate up to ten people comfortably whilst still allowing enough space and nooks and crannies to escape from one another! The roof terrace is a particularly delightful feature- allowing views across the banana plantation and over to the Nile on the one side and to the mountains and the Valleys of the Kings and Queens to the rear. The free standing kitchen on the ground floor is similarly tastefully done (in the French country style) and offers a pleasant environment with a large enough table on which to eat, should you so wish to have a day or night in.

One of the great hidden advantages of booking Villa Rosamund comes in human form- in the form of local celebrity Khyry. With a solid relationship with the owners going back many years, Khyry is the man in the know who can make things happen. Always with his ears to the ground, Khyry makes your every need is catered for- from cheerfully picking you up at the airport (helpfully included in the cost of the rental) to arranging cooks for breakfast and lunch should you so choose, to arranging whatever excursion your own heart desires. Egypt, as they say, is the land of possibilities. I only hope I shall return soon...