If you can't get away on hot holiday this year, create a sensual holiday atmosphere at home where you can generate feelings as hot as the tropics without forking out on an expensive flight ticket!

When you are away from your daily routine, you have the time and energy for leisurely lovemaking where you can lavish each other with attention; making you more confident in yourself and your relationship. By recreating that carefree mood at home, where sex-perimentation doesn't feel threatening, you pave the way for taking your lovemaking to new heights, and experiencing new sensations. Follow these tips to create that sizzling tropical experience, shed your sexual inhibitions and relax, all from the comfort of your own home.

1. Dress for the beach
Slip into something sexy with a holiday feel - your bikini or a sheer beach wrap with a pair of slinky, strappy high-heels. Build your body confidence by taking the time to exfoliate, moisturise, and maybe apply some fake tan to give you that healthy holiday glow.

2. Change your routine
Don't rush! Agree with your partner to chill out, cuddle and speak lovingly to each other first. Because the idea is to take you out of your daily routine, ban your favourite or usual lovemaking spot. If you always have sex in the bedroom, for example, then it's off limits. Instead, rearrange your cushions in the sitting room to create a comfortable love-nest, light some aromatherapy candles that smell of exotic locations - jasmine and ylang-ylang are fantastic - and put on some South American or reggae rhythms to set a more tropical mood.

3. Use erotic massage techniques
Have some luscious coconut-scented suntan lotions to hand and slowly dribble it onto each other's body, taking turns to massage it in to each other's skin. While he's lying on his back, raise yourself above him and gently glide your nipples (having pulled your bikini across for the moment) and hips across his chest, stomach and hips. Such skin on skin action not only feels fantastic, but also releases oxytocin hormone, which will strengthen the emotional bond between you.

Teach your man the Exotic Eight Massage technique. Lie back as he gently undoes your bikini top and massages his hands outwards around your breasts, downwards towards your tummy button, then outwards again around the edge of your hip bones. Then guide his hands to your pubic bone where he can gently tease you, massaging in small circular motions with his fingertips, stimulating your clitoris without even touching it. Guaranteed to drive you mad!

Give him an eye-popping show by dribbling some of the sun lotion on to your nipples and in slow, sensual motions caress them. Then lie back and touch yourself. Men are so curious about what women do to themselves, and as they're incredibly visual creatures he'll get extremely aroused.

4. Use toys
Take a new sex toy and stimulate yourself, stroking it gently up and down your labia and around your clitoral region. Leave your bikini bottoms on, but pull them across to allow him just a little peak! Then, share the 'good vibrations' by stimulating him around his penis, testicles and perineum, the vibrations increase blood-flow necessary to sexual enjoyment. Find his million-dollar spot by stroking his perineum (the skin between his testicles and bottom) which is very sensitive.

5. Get fruity
Before things get too hot to handle, bring out a tray of fragrant tropical fruits - mangoes, papayas, pineapples, figs and bananas. Add to this your favourite fruity yoghurt, ice-cream, whipped cream or chocolate sauce. Using your fingers, break apart the fruit segments, dip them into the sauces, and feed each other. Pass a firm piece of papaya mouth to mouth, pausing to brush your lips against each other. He can also swirl the edge of a juicy mango around your breasts and then lick off the droplets of juice.

6. Experiment and be playful
Try some different positions as research has found most couples settle into their favourite two. For women who have difficulty reaching orgasm the best position is 'Girl on Top'. Men love it as it takes the pressure off them and for women it means they can control the pressure, speed and friction during lovemaking. Agree to experiment and be playful, for example, allow him five 'thrusts' before pausing and withdrawing, while you go back to some sex-play.

7. Go for a 'swim'
By now you should be covered in a film of perspiration, fruit juices and suntan lotion, so do something sensual like sharing a candlelit bath; teasing each other using a waterproof vibrator.

Keep up the carefree holiday vibe with some erotic mind play. While touching each other in the bath pretend you're lying beside the pool. Take turns describing the scenario to each other. Pretend to be single and ask your partner to chat you up. Try 'stranger sex' where you call each other new names rather then your actual names. For example, pretend you're the hotel maid who has come to restock fresh towels but end up asking to 'service' his needs instead!

Each and every one of your senses will now have been thoroughly stimulated. Scent through the tropical candles, hearing through the sensual rhythms of the music, the wonderful tastes of the food and drink, the sight of each other in sexy holiday swimwear, and all that touching and foreplay. By now, you should be well and truly on your way to the final destination of your fantasy holiday, have fun!

By psychologist Dr Pam Spurr, presenter on LBC 97.3 FM, Saturdays 7-10 p.m. (ring the show on 0870-90-90-973). Dr Pam is the author of 'Sinful Sex - The Uninhibited Guide to Erotic Pleasure' (Robson Books £7.99)