Ten ways to spend your bonus

With the latest round of bonus payments snuggling safely in the bank, Sarah Hanson lines up ten top ways to get the most from it, without blowing the lot

1. A well deserved holiday
You've worked hard for this bonus, so why not get away from it all on an island hideaway in the Maldives? The island of Dhonakulhi in the Haa Alifu is a natural paradise offering peace, tranquillity and serenity with not a laptop or Blackberry in sight. There are 43 luxurious villas—some with their own pool, sauna or Jacuzzi—tucked into lush greenery and scattered along the coastline providing the ultimate in privacy. www.island-hideaway.com Or better still, go one step further and take an entire island to yourself (and take up to 12 guests). The Rania experience is a private island that comes complete with your own 86ft yacht. However much—or little—you choose to do, you'll enjoy the dedicated services of a private chef, dive instructor, spa therapist, butler and crew throughout your stay. www.raniaexperience.com

2. A new watch for her
The latest creation from A Lange & Sohne is the Little Lange 1 "Soiree", a timepiece that combines the skills of watchmaker and jeweller. A limited edition (only 20 watches have been made), you are sure to be the envy of all your friends. The watch is encased in 18-carat white gold with sapphire crystal glass and 52 Top Wesselton VVS diamonds, each 0.8 carats. The dial is made of solid silver with a pink tint, the face is mother of pearl and the hands white-gold. The strap is made of hand-stitched pearly pink crocodile, with a white-gold buckle. Priced at £21,000, it can be purchased at Wempe, in Bond Street, London, Tel: 020-7493 2299.

3. A new watch for him
Bell & Ross have produced a limited edition Vintage 126 XL sold in a humidor fitted with a humidifier and hygrometer that holds up to 50 cigars. The watch itself is encased in 18-carat pink gold with a flat sapphire glass exhibition back. The dial is brown with gold plated counters and a brown alligator strap. Should you feel the somewhat perverse urge to take it diving, the watch is water resistant to 200m. www.bellross.com

4. A very special new car
Be one of 40 owners of Aston Martin's new Vanquish S Ultimate Edition. The ultimate model has a unique "Ultimate Black" exterior—a striking new colour that will only be available with this car. Inside, the cabin is trimmed in a semi-aniline leather and black chrome finish interior fittings. As for its performance, it retains all the capabilities of the standard Vanquish S—and accordingly, its position as the fastest ever production Aston, capable of a top speed in excess of 200mph. Priced at £182,095, for further details visit www.astonmartin.com

5. A fine piece of jewellery
If you fancy treating a loved one or yourself to something special then Ritz Fine Jewellery is the ideal place to start. The collection of jewellery and watches encapsulates all the style, glamour and sophistication associated with the Ritz hotel in London. The yellow and white diamond "waterfall" necklace offers supreme elegance, while the pink and yellow sapphire and diamond "fireball ring" is for sophisticated girls who want to have fun. For gentlemen, there are beautiful cufflinks in either white or yellow gold, set with precious stones such as pink tourmaline, amethyst, citrine and peridot in shapes such as the sugar loaf—an elegant soft pyramid—the cushion or the princess cut. www.ritzfinejewellery.com

6. Champagne and food pairing
If you don't want to blow your bonus in one go, then a Decadent Saturday at Pearl restaurant is a fun and inexpensive way to celebrate. The extravagant new champagne and food pairing events invite guests to enjoy an evening tasting several super-premium champagnes alongside luxuries such as oysters, truffles and caviar. For more information, visit: www.pearl-restaurant.com

7. Invest in wine
Fine wine is increasingly becoming a "must have" part of any self-respecting financier's investment portfolio. The Wine Investment Fund, whose purpose is to generate capital growth through the buying, holding and selling of investment-grade wines, aims to double subscribers money in the course of each of the Fund's five year tranches. And the good news is that it is currently well on track to fulfil this objective. Of course, if values don't rise as expected, you always have the fallback position of drinking your stock. The current 2007 (1) Tranche is now open to private investors until 31 March 2007, with a minimum subscription of £10,000. For more information, visit: www.wineinvestmentfund.com

8. A beach buggy—for the road
It may be not the most sensible investment but it's certainly a lot of fun. The Rinspeed eXasis, unveiled by Swiss maker Frank M Rindernecht at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, looks like no other vehicle before it—a drivable 'glass' car with a completely transparent body and floor made of makrolon (a transparent high-tech plastic). Weighing in at only 750kg, one horsepower has to shift only 5kg—which gives this toy the same weight to power ratio as a Porsche Turbo. The biggest thrill is glancing down through the transparent floor while the car is moving. And the "eco-worriers" can breathe easy in the knowledge that it is fuelled by bio-ethanol. www.rinspeed.com

9. Own a piece of Tuscany
If you have always dreamed of owning a holiday home but were put off by the burden that comes with it, fractional ownership is the way forward. Who can argue with a flexible and affordable shared ownership scheme that's free of the responsibilities and concerns of property ownership abroad? You know it makes sense. Borgo di Vagli, is a lovingly restored 14th century hamlet set in the heart of Tuscany offering a lifelong, unlimited, flexible use of 10 residences based on a rotating priority system. www.borgodivagli.com

10. The new Leica Digilux 3
Camera buffs will love Leica's new Digilux 3, which maintains the best aspects of traditional photography with all the advantages of up-to-the-minute digital know-how. From the removable lens to the ability to adjust everything manually, there's a comfortably analogue feel about the Digilux3, that allows you to maintain creative control. Best of all it's packaged in a classic, classy and elegant camera body with the iconic red Leica badge. For stockists visit: www.leica-camera.co.uk