Taba

For decades both Israel and Egypt vied for control of Taba, and it's easy to see why. Shimmering stretches of golden sand cascading down into the see-through blue of the Red Sea are what adorn the shore here, while date palms sway in the light breezes and the craggy peaks of the Sinai hills rise and fall from the ocean. There's no question it's a paradisiacal place; one that was deigned to fall on Egyptian soil only as late as 1988. The result is that the paradisiacal draws have been enjoyed by both Egyptians and Israelis, and there's been boom and bust in the tourist industry here. First, great hotels were raised along the brilliant coast. Then, there were terror attacks and floods and investment troubles. More recently, Taba is trying to resurface as one of the premier spots on the Sinai coast, touting the Game of Thrones-esque Castle Zaman and good diving infrastructure. It's also well located as a stepping stone to much-vaunted Eilat across the border, and Dahab – the boho hub of the Egyptian Red Sea region.