Article: Carla Williams from Men's Health

Or perhaps it's just the thought of escaping the real world. One thing's for sure: hotel rooms are absolutely guilt-free. You can stay in your room naked – or barely clothed – the whole day and night, order room service, have bubble baths, do practically nothing ... and that bed is always the most prominent piece of furniture in the room. You watch TV from the bed, you often eat your room-service meal on the bed. That's just too tempting for most couples. It is for me.

Leave a light on for me

Something that's always fascinated me about hotel rooms is the astounding number of lights they possess. Overhead and side lights, desk and bedside lamps and perhaps the odd mood or low light thrown in for effect. Take note of where and how they switch on, off and dim – for these are your tools Obi-Wan.

Every woman, no matter how perfect, can be made to look and feel even sexier with beautiful lighting. I, for one, wouldn't want the main overhead beaming down on me like a spotlight – unless I'm in a particular mood, of course. Ambience is everything.

I like to keep the lights on – but turned down low. Enough for my man to see the arch of my back, my legs stretched out and the fullness of my breasts. But also enough for me to feel like he could be anyone, and that I could swing my hair down across my face and pretend to be someone completely different myself. A hotel is conducive to this kind of fantasy.

You called, sir?

My personal favourite? The highly-sexed French Maid who runs rampant in the hotel, tight black shift dress barely covering her lacey French thong, seducing every man in the path of her feather duster. I also enjoy playing the role of the innocent French Maid, especially when Mr Big Daddy surprises her from behind. This may be a well-travelled path, but it works for me every time – it's all part of letting the restraint of a normal life fall away. A hotel room is the perfect blank canvas for you to explore some of the kinks in your system – whatever they may be.

Plug it in

Your fantasyland comes complete with pay-to-view "adult" films and channels, so don't forget to enquire about those when booking. I've yet to meet a woman who can honestly say she isn't just a teeny weeny bit turned on by some porn. If it's really not your scene (yes, yes, whatever), choose a music station that's able to keep the pace – whether it's Metallica hectic or Usher tender – with your love-making.

This guy Jack and I once signed up for the pay-for-porn-channel, had an intense session of heated, Champagne-fuelled sex and then fell into a deep sleep with the adult channel still playing when we woke up seven hours later. I like to find something positive in every negative, and figuring he'd already paid so much on his credit card, I thought we may as well make the most of it, so we picked up where we left off the night before.

Tie it up

Most hotels also inadvertently offer you a good opportunity for a bit of gentle bondage – a wall-mounted bedside light or night stand, even a four-poster bed in one of those lovely conservative Midlands guesthouses.

If you're in a relationship, hotels are great places to introduce some tie-me-up action. If it doesn't work out, you can always call for help and leave the whole embarrassing experience behind you, a distant memory, when you pack your bags and head for home. And if you're married with children, it's much easier to get in the mood when there's no chance of one of your kids wandering in and asking why Mommy's tied to the bed.

Feed your passion

Room service is a lifeline to the spent lover. Hell, even a pizza can be intimate shared in post-orgasmic bliss. But room service should also be valued as a fast (and steady) supply of the best sex toys.

No self-respecting hotel would dare have a room service menu without Champagne, oysters, strawberries (or any soft ripe fruit), caviar, ice cream and chocolate sauce. Just thinking about being behind closed doors with my partner and any one of these foods gives me goosebumps. And here, I assure you, I am not alone. They aren't just fuel to ready you for another bout of love-making, they're toys for playing, touching and feeding each other.

I've shared Champagne in bed with my man, sipping it and then slowly kissing each other. The feeling is electric. He can do anything he wants to me after that. Sharing strawberries and letting the juice run down my neck is another favourite foodie fantasy. When he eases his body down on mine, licking the juice off my breasts and ending up between my legs, he loves the taste of the fresh fruit still in his mouth. Mangoes and juicy peaches are especially good for this. And, when you're staying in a hotel, who cares about spilling on the sheets!

And let's not forget the mini-bar. Ah, the mini-bar, complete with over-priced dinky Champagne bottles and enough ice to keep even the most frigid of lovers' nipples erect and begging to be sucked and tantalised.

If you've reached the point in your stay where you are starting to feel like you must get out and try the famed hotel restaurant; encourage your lover to go knickerless. After a delicious, although probably quick meal, you'll be back in your room and ready for the next round.

Image: Stefan May/Men's Health