When you're looking to take a luxury holiday in Egypt, you're certainly not short of choice. The country has so much to see that you'll probably not want to limit yourself to just one city, but where to book an Egyptian hotel depends largely on what sort of activity you look for from your holiday. Here's a guide to some of the best holiday cities in Egypt and what you can expect from each one:

Hurghada: A Water Sports Paradise

With 250 hotels ranging from comfortable 3 star hotels up to decadent 5 star accommodation Egypt's luxury holiday makers are well catered for here. Without doubt, the main attraction of staying here is the activities available in and on the warm waters. It has become an international centre for aquatic sports, allowing visitors to partake in windsurfing, kite-surfing, sailing and deep sea fishing. The waters are also home to a huge variety of coral and fish, making it a dream spot for both diving and snorkeling. And if all that wasn't enough, Hurghada is home to some of the world's finest underwater gardens. If you love water based activities, Hurghada makes a great inclusion on a family holiday in Egypt.

Luxor: An Open Air Museum of Ancient History

For those with an interest in Egyptian history, Luxor is an excellent place to stay. Built upon the site of the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, if you make this the base for your luxury Egypt holiday you're basically staying in an open air museum! The modern city of Luxor houses the ruins of Karnak and Luxor's temple complexes. Across the Nile lie many more monuments, temples and tombs including the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Even if you don't make this your home for your family holiday in Egypt, a day trip to Luxor, perhaps from your Nile Cruise is essential for those with an interest in the country's ancient history.

Sharm El Sheikh: A Traditional Sun, Sea and Sand Hotspot

For the classic tourist interests of sun, sea, sand and shopping, Sharm El Sheikh is the unquestioned King of family holidays in Egypt. With a dramatic landscape, warm weather and long stretches of natural beaches, it's no wonder that people flock here in their droves over the summer. As well as diving opportunities to rival Hurghada (250 different coral reefs and 1000 species of fish!), Sharm El Sheikh also boasts an enviable nightlife with a number of bars and clubs guaranteeing a good time. Otherwise the various markets and shops offer a great way to spend those lazy summer days when you can somehow drag yourself away from the beach.

Cairo: All the Culture of the Capital

Finally of course, there's Cairo. It's the default choice for many of Egypt's luxury holiday makers with good reason: it offers an unparalleled mix of culture, art, cuisine and sightseeing opportunities, along with being a starting point for a multi centre holiday in Egypt. With the famous pyramids, various mosques and some fascinating museums, Cairo is a fantastic choice if you can cope with the bustle of the city.

Undoubtedly every one of these cities has something to appeal to Egypt's luxury holiday makers, so picking one really depends on what your holiday's main focus is. Perhaps the best way is to combine several cities in one multi-centre Egypt holiday. Whether its beaches, culture or shopping - a family holiday in Egypt has you covered.

Joanne Hensman is an Egypt holiday specialist for key2holidays, an online tour operator specialising in holidays in Egypt, as well as trips to Australia, Cuba, the Caribbean, Europe, the Far East, the Maldives, Mauritius and the Seychelles, Dubai and the Arabian Gulf. Key2holidays has a dedicated team of experienced travel consultants to share their knowledge and help you to plan and book your ideal holiday. http://www.key2holidays.co.uk/egypt/