1 The person you meet on holiday does not necessarily bear any resemblance to the person they are at home.

City cynics turn into hopeless romantics, our brains turn off and our libido switches to high. If they seemed really keen at the start but appear to be cooling off as the holiday progresses, it could well be because they're worried about what will happen if you meet in the real world and discover they aren't the person they're pretending to be.

2 Don't leave your friends stranded.

If you are travelling with friends - most particularly just one friend - think twice before you skip off into the sunset with the dishy someone you met in the bar, leaving a forlorn and rejected friend alone at dinner. Statistics aren't great on holiday romances lasting long-term. A good friend can last for life.

3 Choose your prey with care.

If you're stuck with the same group (on a cruise or at a resort), hold off for one or two days before making your move or accepting their advances. Most people will assume you're an item once you've 'had relations' and it's no fun trying to avoid them the rest of the holiday when they turn out to be a twerp.

4 All the normal rules of dating are put on fast forward on holiday.

Forget about subtle flirting. The gorgeous person you spot at a bar could disappear in seconds if you don't act now. This doesn't mean you need to rush into sleeping with anyone (unless that's all you're after) but it does mean you need to make it very clear you're interested.

5 Be realistic. It may feel like you've met the love of your life, but chances are it's lust at first sight. The majority of holiday romances don't work out so, if your object of desire hasn't made contact within a week of you getting home, give up and put it down as a pleasant holiday fling.

· Tracey Cox presents The Sex Inspectors on Channel 4, Mondays 10.50pm