Mauritius

Mauritius is the twinkling jewel in the Indian Ocean off the south-east coast of Africa that punches way above its weight. While sunny skies, sandy beaches and the warm Indian Ocean (the water is rarely cooler than a balmy 23°C / 73°F!) all come standard on a Mauritius holiday, this diverse island can truly be said to have something for everyone, whether you want a vibrant resort town with ample nightlife or a quiet nook where you can go hiking or birding.

The easiest way to decide where to go in Mauritius is to divide the island into four and match your interests and expectations with the best stretch of coastline and best places to visit. The northern and western beaches are generally busier and have more amenities and tourist attractions if you’re after an action-packed, sight-seeing vacation while the eastern and southern beaches are quieter and lend themselves to a ‘doing nothing much’ holiday.

Of course, Mauritius is small enough that you can rent a car for the day and drive yourself to another beach or to see a particular landmark or tourist attraction – you won’t be ‘stuck’ in one place at all. Its coastal roads make for lovely driving and, along with a staggering selection of beaches, there are plenty of places of interest, like welcoming towns to pretty gardens and nature reserves in the island’s green and mountainous interior.