Flights to Mauritius (MRU)

It’s worth catching a flight to Mauritius for the luxury hotel resorts alone. With plenty of leisure and activities on site – from swimming pools to spas, gyms and dive centres – the temptation would be to stay within the four walls. However, to do so would be to miss out on all the fun Mauritius has to offer, from a day at the Champ de Mars racecourse, to hanging out with the locals and relaxing on the beach.

Port Louis is the bustling centre of shopping and dining, where a lot of hidden gems lie waiting to be discovered. When it comes to food, the island boasts an incredible mix of Indian, Chinese, French and African influences. Add in the fertile soil of the islands and you have an abundance of fresh produce, not to mention the sublime seafood. From fine silver-service dining to a low-key shack serving cheap but delicious street food, each meal is an adventure. Don't forget to try the local dishes too, such as the famous Mauritian delicacy dholl puri, a warm, flat bread with a savoury filling.

And when you've had your fill, there is Sega dancing to experience – a traditional dance that’s usually performed for tourists. This is where you might find some of the original instruments such as the ravane, a wooden hoop covered with a strip of stretched goatskin.

Ultimately, though, the call of the beach in Mauritius will be too hard to resist. Your choices are plentiful and the white sands and blue sea will leave you in no doubt that there's such a thing as paradise on Earth.