As far as luxury destinations go, very few even compare to the paradise island that is Mauritius. Turquoise blue lagoons lapping onto golden sand beaches, some of the finest hotel resorts in the world and a warm sunny climate (all year round) all add to the charm and allure that is Mauritius. But don’t take our word for it – as Mark Twain himself suggested “Mauritius was made first – then heaven was copied from it”.

Mauritius is a large island situated along the tropical latitudes of the Indian ocean – it’s 2045 square km and enjoys a lovely 330km of coastline.

While Mauritius is perfectly suited to high budget travellers visiting plush resorts such as The Hilton, there are also several cheaper choices for the budget conscious traveller. Indeed, anyone can indulge in the tropical paradise that is Mauritius.

You may think that Mauritius is all about longing in front of a gorgeous beach and enjoying all inclusive service 24 hours a day – there is that, but if you’re considering it as a holiday destination you ought to know that there’re much more to it than just that.

There are some awesome natural wonders, as encapsulated by the national parks of Black River Gorges (southwest Mauritius), Bluebay and Balaclava (Western Mauritius). Here you can enjoy the splendid nature that Mauritius offers the tourist and enjoy activities such as hiking and bird watching among others.

And no experience to Mauritius is complete without a visit to Port Louis – one of the most vibrant spots within the island, and one that’s simply crawling with wonderful restaurants, streets bustling with busy shops and some homely bars and café’s. As you may expect, Port Louis is actually the economic core of Mauritius, being the country’s business district.

Honeymooners should also know that Mauritius rates in the top ten of holiday destinations in the world for honeymooners.

Many couples actually tie the knot at one of many of Mauritius’ top resorts that offer marriage services – and practically every hotel caters to honeymooning couples.

That’s not to say that kids are not welcome – indeed, many resorts offer top of the range kids clubs and activities. In short, there’s something for everyone.

Mauritius is also a wonderful place for food fanatics. The mix of cultures within the country means that there are some very interesting fusion cuisines available.

There are different dishes which show influences from various countries including India, Europe, China and Creole. There’s a whole world of food and drink to discover in Mauritius.