In the past, bells were an integral part of decorating for Christmas. Songs like Jingle Bells and Carol of the Bells around during the season, but the decorations seems to have fallen by the wayside. Often, when people think of Christmas balls, they automatically picture the single cheap sleigh bell worn on a festively colored string by children. However, bells can be a classy and festive way to make your house feel ready for the holidays. Here are a few unique ideas for using bells in your holiday decor.

Napkin "Rings"

Aristocrats, actors and many modern artists are magnetically attracted to this exuberant, Italianate jewel many choose it as their retreat 

To give it its full title Nice la Belle (Nice The Beautiful) harbingers what visitors can expect in this, the capital of the Alpes Maritimes and the second largest city on the Côte d'Azur after Marseille (fifth largest in France). It is known for the Mediterranean lapping its pebbly beaches and its quietly delightful interior.Pines, pools, palms, portside posing, people ogling are the reasons why many come here. This is the birthplace of seaside glamour, where you can never be too brown or unashamedly ostentatious. And for families and individuals alike, once the fascination for Bulgari and boats wears thin, you can escape inland to mediaeval villages on the cypress-topped hills, with cobbled alleys, cafés and craggy ramparts, or just breathe in the Mediterranean's blue brilliance.

"Hot Desert" is the rather brutal phrase geographers use to describe the climate in Egypt's Red Sea Riviera.

It's brutal because the promise is actually more of a pampered, hedonistic holiday in the sun: beautiful people lounging by the pool, swimmers enjoying the company of dolphins and colorful fish, bikini-clad young women wistfully looking at a sea coloured azure, while dark-skinned locals mostly wear tailored servant uniforms and friendly smiles. The fun could be taking place somewhere like the Caribbean or the Cote d'Azur but this is Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera. And very few people had heard of it until the latter part of last century.Perhaps that’s because most of the shiny, beach-resort hotels aren’t on the Red Sea at all, but rather on the Gulf of Aqaba, a narrow strip of water separating Egypt’s Sinaï Peninsula eastern coast from Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Check your emails underwater

Aquapacs protect your devices from water and sand, while allowing you to use touch screens or Blackberry QWERTY keyboards on the beach or even underwater without a worry. There are Aquapacs for phones, GPS devices, digital cameras (even DSLRs), camcorders, tablets and e-readers. The camera cases have proper lens holders, so your photos come out clear and crisp, even when taken underwater. Prices start at £20 store.aquapac.net

There's an app to solve virtually every problem we ever had and loads we never knew about before. Here's a few that might just ease your globe-trotting.

Wi-Fi Finder