Dream Destination: Royal Palm Hotel, Mauritius

More than a century ago, Mark Twain wrote, “You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first, and then heaven; and that heaven was copied after Mauritius.” And the Royal Palm Hotel, the island’s most prestigious address, easily lives up to that description. On arrival you are welcomed by a team of beaming staff whose mission, for the duration of your stay, is to see that you want for nothing. Advantageously positioned in a picturesque pocket on the island’s north-west coast, all of the hotel’s 69 stylishly decked-out suites face a lagoon that is outrageous in its azure beauty. There are also a plethora of water activities, an elegant Clarins spa set amid lush green gardens, and a groovy kids’ kingdom housed in a traditional Creole dwelling. Make time to eat often, since the three restaurants – La Goélette, La Brezza and Le Bar Plage – offer admission to a gustatory paradise.