Mauritius

An Indian Ocean paradise

Long a little-known island lost in the Indian Ocean, 1,200 miles from Africa.  Today it's on of the most hottest holiday hotspots for jetsetters and discerning escapists alike.  Expect some of the Indian Ocean's finest world-class resorts and exclusive hideaway hotels.  Its craggy peaks and vast sugar cane fields are encircled by miles of casuarina-fringed beaches and coral reef-ringed lagoons.

There's an excellent argument to me made that Mauritius is the perfect holiday destination for the British traveller.  Right now this is even more true as there are some great offers out there, making the island even better value.

It's a long-haul, but at about 12-hours flying time, not excessively so - just enough to give a real sense of getting away from it all - and once there holidaymakers find a tropical Indian Ocean island with great year-round weather.

It has British roots and the fact that the Dutch, French and pirates also had a hand in the creation of today's nation of Mauritius gives the destination an additional zing.  Its melting pot mix of Indian, African, Chinese and French people has created a truly warm and welcoming environment for visitors and a dedication to hospitality that is amongst the highest in the world.

Having never succumbed to the lure of the mass market.  Mauritius has developed an infrastructure of resorts that are stylish - often using echoes of local or Colonial architecture - and broad enough to satisfy all the needs of the tourism industry.

Couples, honeymooners and special occasion holidays are one of the strongest markets for the island but with kids' clubs flourishing in most resorts families have taken to Mauritius with a vengeance.

A proliferation of quality golf courses over recent years has added golfers to the list of holidaymakers heading off to the island, while the warm Indian Ocean is a welcoming playground for divers, sailors and snorkellers, kite surfers and others seeking fun above and below the water's surface.

And with three airlines offering quality scheduled non-stop services from the UK, getting there is a breeze as well.

Mauritius Destination Information

JOURNEY TIME 12-14 hours

POPULATION 1,200,000

CAPITAL Port Luis

TIME DIFFERENCE GMT +4 hours

CURRENCY Mauritian Rupee

ELECTRICITY 220-240 volts

LANGUAGE English (French, Creole, Hindi and Urdu widely spoken)

VISAS REQUIRED FOR BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS No