Set on a powdery white-sand beach on the wild west coast of
Mauritius, this Indian Ocean escape is hard to beat in terms of
scenery – the sunsets alone are off the scale. Backdropped by the
556m-high peak of Le Morne Brabant, the surrounding area is one big
nature reserve teeming with giant palms and wild orchids. While the
vibe might be one of luxury and tranquillity, rest assured, the
hotel has plenty of personality, too. Picture retro touches such as
the classic red telephone box that allows guests to call home free
of charge, a nostalgic wooden treehouse by the sea, sure to inspire
memories of carefree summers past, and, just in, a fleet of
first-class baristas to deliver an organic caffeine hit whenever
one is required. Oh, and did we mention the on-site kitesurfing
school and the laid-back, beachside fisherman’s shack, Vik’s, where
you can try fresh sea urchin with just a squeeze of lemon?

LUX* Grand Baie is home to some of the most
in-demand rooms on Mauritius, thanks to interiors guru Kelly Hoppen
having waved her wand over a clutch of suites. But its not just
with its supermodel good looks that the hotel has its finger firmly
on the pulse. Its “Keen on Green” initiative, for example, caters
to vegetarians and vegans with astonishingly good plant-based
dishes (available in all the restaurants). Book a cabana by the
pool and you’ll have your own private sound system. Surprise your
main squeeze by booking breakfast next to the rooftop pool,
followed by a couple’s massage. Can’t function without your weekly
spin class? Fear not, there’s a dedicated cycling studio on the
premises.

A seven-night stay costs from £2,349pp, including flights
and transfers.

Looking for an adults-only escape? This 59-key east-coast hideaway is grown-up in all the
right ways: it’s chic, playful and genuinely eco-conscious.
Everything from the unbleached cotton bathrobes to the thatch on
the beach kiosk roofs is locally sourced, making for a far-flung
exodus minus the guilt. Local fishermen and farmers provide
ingredients for zesty ocean-to-table meals and, naturally, salt
plays a starring role in spa treatments, which include salt scrubs
and halotherapy – a first for Mauritius. The beach never feels
crowded, and so you’re likely to have the waters of Palmar lagoon
almost to yourself. Take a dip, snap on your snorkel, or jump into
a pedalo. Whatever floats your boat.

A seven-night stay costs from £1,449pp, including flights
and transfers.

When it comes to the Maldives – a string of pristine,
coral-encircled islands with scenery so sublime it makes you blink
in disbelief – expectations are always going to be sky-high. Anyone
who’s been will tell you that the beaches here are among the best
in the world, and the 4km of white sand at LUX* South Ari Atoll is no exception. Book an
overwater villa and you can slip straight from your deck into a
gin-clear lagoon populated by neon tropical fish. Or, hole up in a
beach villa and live out your fantasy of being shipwrecked
soulmates. Either way, paradise awaits. And when you’re not soaking
up rays, melting away stress in the spa or snorkelling with
stingrays, there are eight restaurants to enjoy, spanning Italian
to Japanese.

A seven-night stay costs from £2,399pp, including flights
and transfers.