Sam and Liz hobble into the surgery complaining of sore feet. For the past eight years they’ve tackled a series of walking holidays, hiking in New Zealand, Canada and the mountainous bits of Europe. Now they’re ready to trade in their boots for beach shoes.

Sam says the penny dropped when they were travelling around Australia last winter and spent a few days loafing in the Whitsunday Islands: “It gave us a taste for lazy beach holidays. We loved the simplicity of it.”

They want to recapture that vibe on a week’s break in early December. They’re not looking for luxury, but somewhere quiet and secluded on a beach, with good food and decent weather. Their budget is £1,000pp and they would prefer not to fly from Gatwick, or for more than 12 hours.

SAM AND LIZ

Sam Bradbury, 36, and Liz Swallow, 35, live in Nottingham and both work in human resources.

Last CD bought
Sam: Rickie Lee Jones
Liz: Collected by Massive Attack

Last book read
Sam: Winter in Madrid by CJ Sansom
Liz: Black, White and Gold: My Autobiography by Kelly Holmes and Fanny Blake

Favourite food
Sam: modern Australian
Liz: Thai

Favourite tipple
Sam: new world riesling
Liz: chablis

Page 2: the Doc prescribes Zanzibar, Tanzania and the Seychelles

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PRESCRIPTION ONE: Zanzibar

Palm-lined, sugary white sand lapped by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean — Zanzibar really is a beach bum’s paradise. As an ancient Arab trading port with a turbulent colonial history, it also has an intrigue and exoticism I think Sam and Liz will appreciate. I suggest they unwind at the award-winning Breezes Beach Club, which has stylish rooms adorned with traditional furniture and textiles, great food, a gorgeous pool, a spa and watersports, all set in lush tropical gardens. The beach goes on for ever, so it’s easy to find a secluded spot, and the fishing village of Bwejuu is a short walk away. A week’s half-board, with flights from Heathrow via Nairobi, is £972 with Iglu (020 8544 6389, www.iglutropical.com).

PRESCRIPTION TWO: Manda Island, Tanzania

If Sam and Liz really want seclusion and simplicity they’ll find it on Manda, close to the island of Lamu, off the coast of Kenya. There, the Diamond Beach Village is a delightful little ecoresort, with just six traditional thatched bandas — each with ensuite bathroom and shady porch — overlooking a spectacular white-sand beach. There are no cars on Manda, you get about by boat; and days are passed lounging in hammocks, eating fresh seafood, watching spectacular sunsets, walking and snorkelling. For a dose of culture, Sam and Liz can take a boat trip to historic Lamu Town. A week’s B&B costs £808, including flights from Heathrow via Nairobi, with Tribes Travel (01728 685971, www.tribes.co.uk).

PRESCRIPTION THREE: Seychelles

The beaches in the Seychelles are spectacular, but, unfortunately, so are the prices: some hotels charge more than £1,000 a night. One specialist tour operator, Elite Vacations (01707 371000, www.elitevacations.com), has a solution. It has tracked down a dozen small, unpretentious hotels offering simple accommodation, home-cooked food and a warm welcome. One of my favourites is Anse Soleil Beachcomber in the southwest corner of Mahé, the main island. It’s a true hideaway, with just 10 cottage-style rooms on a pretty, sheltered cove. The snorkelling is superb and there’s a rustic local restaurant at the end of the beach. I’d also recommend renting a car for a couple of days to see Mahé’s granite hills, cinnamon plantations and botanical gardens. A week’s B&B costs £1,068, including direct flights from Heathrow.

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