Le Prince Maurice, Belle Mare, Mauritius

Located in the Indian Ocean, the island of Mauritius has a history that sounds like colonial musical chairs. Fortunately, the French left their stamp on matters of cuisine, love and language. Had the British lingered too much longer the five-star luxury resort, Le Prince Maurice, might be known, rather less elegantly, as The Prince Morris.

The facilities

Pools and lagoons, thatched roofs, marble bathrooms, more great seafood meals than it is elegant to count, fitness centre, regal architecture, spectacular waterfront: Le Prince Maurice can count many attributes in its claim for true seraglio status. Situated on the northeast coast of this cane-clad, rainbow-gened island, this luxury resort can tempt you to just stay put, to read, snooze, or do nothing more strenuous than practice your French (or Creole) with the staff. There’s a saying that Mauritians have such sweet dispositions because so much of their country is covered in sugar and it really is worth leaving the luxury resort's Edenic ambience for a look at the rest of their island.

L’Archipel restaurant, located in Le Prince Maurice's main building, overlooks the pool and the beach. Meanwhile, the floating Le Barachois restaurant, surrounded by mangroves, overlooks a large natural fish reserve and enjoys unspoiled views of the mountains. Le Prince Maurice also does a wicked line in entertainment, especially its Sega Show. Out of Africa - and almost out of its skin - Mauritian sega dancing, accompanied by frenetic drumming, starts somewhere around the pelvis and doesn’t stop until the dancers are limbo-arched backwards in a wild, shake-that-thing convulsion. The Tahitian hula done on Viagra would look prudish compared to this.

The rooms

Accommodation at this luxury resort consists of 76 junior suites, 12 senior suites and one massive Princely Suite. Le Prince Maurice enjoys 60 acres of private land, ensuring maximum privacy to its guests. Its tropical gardens are full of rare, luxuriant vegetation and exotic fragrances. The setting alone makes this luxury hotel worth checking out, but the five-star hotel accommodations don’t hurt a bit.