Fire, Air, Earth, and Water - no, it's not a new Spice Girls song, even though Geri's gone a bit earth-mother of late. These are the four astrological elements under which we're all born, and some people say our sign can change the way we feel about our holiday plans. We got on the case, to find out whether that perfect getaway really is written in the stars.

Fire


All you easily bored, adventurous fire signs demand your holidays involve more action than a Paris Hilton video. The hotter the destination the better, as far as you're concerned. You'll do plenty of people-watching on your perfect holiday, eyeing up the crowd and flirting your way into photo albums everywhere, but when it comes to the crunch, there's no point in you sparky, sunny-souls even thinking about a holiday if it's not going to include some sort of mad encounter with something you'd never experience at home.

There are three fire signs - Aries, Taurus and Sagittarius - and all of you prefer your holidays to come served with a side order of thrills and spills. America fits the bill. From the cocktails and crowds of Manhattan, to the heat and hedonism of Las Vegas, to the rollercoaster ride that is Disney World in Florida, this vast country is full of the kicks you crave. To you, movies like Thelma and Louise and Road Trip have the plots your dreams are made of. The idea of rounding up your mates for a four wheeled drive across cowboy country gets your pulses racing like Lindsay Lohan (before the latest DUI) and if there are actual cowboys involved, well, you're just the sign to ditch them and ride off into the sunset. Hey ho Silver!

Indiana Jones was filmed in Moab, Utah, and Arches National Park. The locals here take pride in pointing out the caves that were filled with special effects for the movies. In Arizona, orange sand leaks into thorny beds of cacti, whilst rich, red rocks reach up to the sky in the shapes of animals and faces, which will seriously freak you out. More than any other, you'll embrace the extremes of Death Valley. Winter is the best time to visit this hot spot, which straddles Nevada and California and offers the driest weather, the hottest temperatures and the lowest point in North America. Here you'll experience sexy hot springs, expansive badlands of rain-sculpted mudstone, salt flats and the awe-inspiring Ubehebe crater - the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Can't get much hotter than that!

Famous Fire Sign: Britney Spears. Sagittarius.
She's not a girl, not yet a woman and is constantly playing with fire. Britney's life has been red hot and happening since she was a teenager, but thanks to a miserable comeback flop, a divorce, a court case and losing custody of her sons, she's in serious danger of burning out. Like her movie, Crossroads, we suggest she take a well-deserved road trip in a suitable disguise.

Water


True to form, the Scorpio, Cancer and Pisces companion is a go-with-the-flow kind of friend, but you're usually happiest when you base yourself near water. The sound of the waves crashing on a beach is more appealing to you when you're sunbathing than sticking your iPod on. It soothes your romantic soul and there's nothing like being near an ocean as deep as you, to make your holiday complete. Whether you're swimming in it, sailing on it, or staring out at it from a candlelit restaurant table, it's all about the sea for a water sign. But your adventurous streak will ensure you make a few waves of your own before your holiday's over.

New Zealand might capture your imagination and inspire the creativity your element is famed for. The panoramic landscapes, cascading waterfalls and abundant wildlife on the North and South islands remind you that the world can be beautiful without the aid of an airbrush, and as a sign who can settle into city life and hack a hectic pace like a pro, you love it when your bubble's forced to burst this way. Seek out albatross on the Otago Peninsular, gawp at gushing geysers in Rotorua and sail under rainbows around Lake Taupo.

Ireland too might appeal to you Water Babies. Dublin is rich with the cultural history your inquisitive mind desires, and the liquids flowing from the pubs on Temple Bar will tempt you just as much as the tourist traps when you take the train out for the day. You'll love nothing more than dancing by night to the touring fiddlers, before taking a canal-side stroll back to your hotel. Malahide Castle, set in 250 acres of park land is a must-see and even if it rains, you'll still be in your element, literally.

Famous Water Sign: Lindsay Lohan. Cancer.
We all know she loves her liquids, and it's her go-with-the-flow attitude that led our Lilo into deep, deep waters. Lindsay's getting back on track, but a quiet, beach side holiday somewhere private would actually suit this sensitive and impressionable starlet more than the action packed booze-fests she's been known to prefer.

Earth


Earth signs are known especially for being highly organised, as well as hard-working. You might need that holiday more than most, but you can bet your bottom dirham you'll have been planning it for months, on top of your workload. In spite of what most might think, Earth is the element least likely to relish pitching a tent in the pouring rain and getting soaked by Mother Nature - you're total suckers for luxury! Well, when you work that hard, you're damned if you're not going to reap the rewards.

That's not to say our Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn folk don't appreciate the world's natural beauty, of course. It's just than an Earth sign's racing mind never quite slows down enough to take it all in properly. If you're not concentrating on your day job, you're learning about a new culture, remembering a recipe, working out exchange rates and fighting over who should read the map (you usually win). You like to mix things up a bit, but Earth folk crave intellectual stimulation at all times and a hint of culture and discovery on holiday make it all the more worthwhile.

Food should feature dramatically in an Earth sign's holiday schedule. As an element so sensitive to its surroundings in every aspect, you like things tastier than Orlando Bloom in a pair of swim trunks. A stay in the beautiful South of France would provide the opportunity to combine everything your heart desires. The glamour of a Riviera holiday would be well worth stretching the wallet for, and the Côte d'Azur, for example, is likely to appeal. Here you've got the scrumptious cuisine, opportunities to explore, the excitement of an unpredictable view and the greenery of nature at work... although of course, after trekking a forest on horseback, or photographing fluttering butterflies in clever, sepia special effects, you're first to the spa for a full body massage and a glass of smooth Merlot, on the balcony of whichever five star pad you've booked to aid unwinding.

Famous Earth Sign: Sienna Miller. Capricorn
Sisi works hard for her money, but thankfully she gets to lock lips with gorgeous men and party all night with celebs to make up for it. True to her sign she's got a finger in every pie, and it seems to take a lot for her to relax. We suggest an escape in a French farmhouse, learning to cook, chasing the chickens and painting fenceposts - you know, like the ordinary people do.

Air


The element of air blows our Gemini, Libra and Aquarius pals around the world faster than the Spice Girls on a huge reunion tour. You're as carefree as a bunny in a field of clover when it comes to travel plans - in fact, you're so spontaneous you've been known to reach the airport and get on a totally different plane, to somewhere you suddenly deem more exciting.

Little, obscure facts about a place can be enough to take you there, just to see if they're true. Is the blue-coiffed, beach-dwelling songbird really bigger in Puerto Rico than Mexico? Let's just hit them both and find out! Trips off the beaten track are high on your list and the idea of a package holiday holds only marginally more appeal to you than the re-introduction of green denim jeans and shell-suits. The further away you can jet, the better. Nothing excites you more than the idea of waking up somewhere new each morning, never knowing where the wind might blow you.

South East Asia would be a great escape for an inquisitive Air sign. In Cambodia, the lush foliage and breathtaking history evident in Angkor Wat will blow your mind, and you're likely to journey out to the small town of Skuon, just to see if they really do deep-fry spiders as a delicacy. The pace of Vietnam will inspire a souveneir shopping frenzy and you'll trek the 9-13th century Khmer temples with a view to finding yourself, only to lose yourself again over a good few cocktails with new found friends on a deserted beach.

All in all, the intricate weave of undiscovered culture and the promise of adventure lifts you Air people higher than Pete Doherty, and you'll leave no stone unturned in your quest for excitement on holiday. With energy to burn, living like a local floats your boat more than a stay in a luxury hotel, too. There's nothing like immersing yourself completely in all things authentic and you don't mind roughing it occasionally - you never know who you might meet!

Famous Air Sign: Angelina Jolie. Gemini
Airy Ange is certainly flighty, only she can afford to do it privately these days, with her very own pilot. She already uses her fame and fortune to travel the world and has invested in causes to help others along the way - but if we were her we'd think about doing something selfishly indulgent for a change, like hopping on a yacht for a year.

*Article first published in Jet Set - Ahlan's regular travel supplement