I was one of the former, developing a unique obsession with the place after having to do a project on the ancient Egyptians when I was only eight years old. I researched the pyramids, mummies, embalming, the sphinx, pharaohs, hieroglyphics, Tutankhamen, slaves; hundreds and hundreds of things unique to a country that stands pretty much at the beginning of meaningful recorded time.

This was why I chose to find out if there were any Egypt Holidays I could book myself onto as an adult; having spent pretty much my entire childhood with a strong hankering to see the place I couldn't pass up the opportunity now it was within my grasp. Luckily, Egypt is as popular a destination as it ever was and there are some really good deals to be found from different airlines should you look around a bit. I ended up travelling with Monarch who were extremely good value for money, but I most wholeheartedly recommend shopping around for a better deal. You never know what is out there.

When I was in the country I visited all the places that I had learnt about as a child; I went to the pyramids, explored ancient tombs, went around the Sphinx, took a trip to Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt and had a look round Sakkara, its expansive necropolis, took a day out to visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, went to Coptic Cairo ? including the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue and spent a leisurely afternoon perusing the Citadel of Salah el-Din and the mosque of Mohamed Ali. It truly was everything I could have wished for.

One of the best things that I found about the country was the way in which everyone seemed to go out of their way for you. Now, this is not the false ?Have a Nice Day, sir!? American style of hospitality, directed at you with a painful grin and vacant eyes, this is the real deal. For all intents and purposes we had a tour guide-cum-chaperone for the entire trip. He was there from the moment we were, helping us through immigration and making sure everything from the hotel to the local restaurants were up to scratch.

If you can find a holiday package that comes with one of these inestimably helpful fellows then jump at it. We would not have seen half the marvels we did without him pointing a few things out to us. It is a truly magical country and there is more to discover than you can possibly do in a short holiday. But it is worth going anyway. We're going back!