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.