It ain't the vacation, it's the location
Geography does strange things to the mind. Put us in a foreign environment and we lose all sense of our old selves and those familiar worries of day-to-day life. In some respects, it's a little like those heady, early days when you first fall in love: past and future matter not a jot – it's all about the here and now.

This is one of the reasons why sex is so easily rekindled while on holiday. Not only do we leave work behind, but most of us find it easier to leave emotional baggage behind too, making us more receptive to the loving. To try and extend this feeling to when you get back home, set aside at least one night a week when you both agree to an emotional amnesty, throwing all that well-worn baggage and nagging about bill-paying and whose turn it is to put the cat out to one side. Chances are your sex life will enjoy the knock-on benefits of your temporarily carefree selves, too.

A fine romance
It might prove a little difficult to recreate a candlelit meal on the beach, complete with waves lapping gently at the shores, but that doesn't mean you can set aside the time for a romantic evening meal at home. Turn off the telly, turn down the lights and (gasp!) talk. Sharing a meal together is about exactly that – sharing. Take the time to enjoy one another's company and your physical enjoyment of one another becomes a natural next step.

Speaking of food, ever noticed how even the simplest fare tastes so good when you're on holiday? Again, this is all about expectation and pleasure – your new found willingness to live with very little of the former (seeing as how you're so relaxed and therefore easy to please and all) causes the latter to increase exponentially. Try the same theory at home and replace the overwrought, three-course, crystal-decantered notion of a 'special' meal with something a little more down to earth. A tapas selection from your local deli is easy, fun and sensual (especially if you ban the cutlery and go in for a little mutual finger feeding…).

If music be the food of love…
Holidays are all about the foreplay. All that sun, lollygagging about on the beach and meaningful glances over cocktails is a gentle symphony, building us up to the main event. Once home, however, it's all too easy to put Old Familiar (ie your relationship) at the bottom of your to-do list. Don't! Reprioritise each other emotionally and you'll reprioritise your sex life as well, putting it back where it belongs at the top of the list. Ahhhh, don't you just love that holiday feeling?

Familiarity is the enemy of an exciting, invigorating sex life, so bring that willingness to surprise and be surprised home with you and assign it a permanent spot in the bedroom. If you're the type of gal who buys sexy underwear for your annual holiday but think nothing of parading around in your best Bridget Jones's when you're at home, think again. Part of the reason holiday sex works so well is because we're willing to put in the effort. Do you need me to spell it out for you any more?

It's the little things that count
Holidays are a natural time to experiment – both in and out of the bedroom. But while hair beading and the local firewater tend not to relocate so well to England's greying charms, any spice you add to your sex life will happily survive the long journey home. Make it your mission to incorporate something local into your holiday sex play (we're thinking native sex toys or massage oils, rather than the local waiter - but whatever gets you off). And providing it doesn't defy the laws of HM Customs, pick up an extra one to bring back home. That way you'll get happy holiday memories – and orgasms – all year round.

It's not all about the grand gesture, however. Even taking a shower together can recapture a little of that just-back-from-the-beach feeling of sensual togetherness, while talking about the good times you've shared rekindles the closeness – and, by extension, sexual intimacy – you felt while you were away.

The point about all of this is that it's not the vacation itself that makes holiday sex great. It's because you finally spent some time together in which you both were willing and able to enjoy each other's company. A good holiday strips back the layers of stress and pressure we feel every day, reminding us of what's important – including emotional and physical intimacy with our partners. Carry that feeling with you and you'll be having holiday-quality sex all year.

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