My guide to
Beach Holidays
Blue skies, sandy beaches, clear blue ocean lapping at the shore, cool cocktail in hand... Are you there yet on the beach holiday of your dreams?
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Looking for long lazy days? Then you can't beat the Maldives or one of the many exotic Caribbean Islands.
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Mauritius is my top pick for family holidays with its beautiful beaches, excellent watersports and plentiful activities for the kids.
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Want more than just relaxation? Many destinations are perfect for a more active or cultural holiday - Turkey, Thailand and Bali are incredibly popular, and if you want to see some wildlife too, Sri Lanka or Costa Rica are a perfect choice.
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Wherever in the world your perfect beach may be, I arrange it all for you. All you need to do is pack your flip flops!
My Three To See
Mauritius
Whether it's a family holiday, romantic honeymoon or adventure filled getaway, Mauritius has something for everyone, and its ease of travel, beautiful hotels and welcoming locals draws visitors back time and time again.
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Beautiful beaches and turquoise lagoons are excellent for watersports. The warm waters are surrounded by coral reefs, so you can hop on a boat and explore underwater too. On land you'll find world-class golf courses, and hiking trails in the forests and highlands of Black River Gorges National Park. La Vanille Nature Park is fascinating with its collection of giant tortoises and over 2,000 Nile crocodiles.
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Due to its location in the Indian Ocean and its colonial past, Mauritius is a melting pot of Creole, French, English, Indian and Chinese cultures. This is reflected in its cuisine, and you'll find unique dishes such as gateaux piment (chilli fritters), camarones (prawns in hot sauce) and the popular rougaille - a Creole tomato-based stew with meat or fish. Vanilla tea can be found in the highlands and not forgetting its potent rum! Enjoy sampling both of these on tea factory and rum distillery tours.
When to go to Mauritius
With a tropical climate, its seasons are largely the opposite of our own, although there are only two distinct seasons. Summer runs from November to April and winter from May to October. The higher temperatures of summer coincide with the region’s rainy season while the cooler months tend to be drier.
As Mauritius is a small island, it is often hard to forecast the weather, as the topography also causes a number of microclimates – it could be beautifully sunny where you are but raining up the road.
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In general, January to March is the warmest but wettest time with the occasional chance of a cyclone.
It's still a great time to visit, as showers are often heavy and short lived so won't spoil your day too much.
Our summer months, July and August, coincide perfectly with school holidays – it’s dry season with cooler temperatures, so ideal for children who don't like it too hot.
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The mercury rises again in September and with longer sunshine hours from here through to November, this is a lovely time to visit.
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If you're wanting the best value for money, then consider May and September when hotel rates are lower.
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A well known phrase when discussing Mauritius weather is 'west is best', as travelling during the off peak seasons, the weather will be warmer and more favourable in the northwest of the island.
My favourite hotels
These are all in the northwest so perfect for a year-round holiday
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When I became an independent travel adviser, one of my first trips to Mauritius was with the tour operator Beachcomber. With eight hotels on the island, they have a resort to suit everyone, and as I have stayed at three of them and have visited all of them, I can give you personal recommendations.
Mauritius
Victoria Beachcomber
Located on the North West coast of Mauritius, Victoria Beachcomber Resort & Spa is conveniently situated between the tourist hub of Grand Baie and Port Louis, the capital city. Set in extensive, lush gardens, the beach is equally as impressive with wide, soft white sands and clear blue waters.
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The rooms here are incredibly spacious making it an ideal family option, with complimentary kids and teens club, land and watersports you'll struggle not to keep everyone entertained.
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It's also a perfect choice for honeymooners with Victoria for 2, the adult only area of the resort.
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With 23 ocean view rooms and 17 stunning swim up rooms it's a popular option so needs to be booked well in advance.
Victoria for 2 has its own adult only dining options - Morris Beef and Nautil Cafe and guests can use all the restaurants and facilities in the main resort.
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The all-inclusive upgrade here is exceptional and offers the option to dine nearby at two other Beachcomber hotels - Canonnier and Mauricia.
Mauritius
Canonnier Beachcomber
With spectacular views over the northern islands and sparkling Indian Ocean, Canonnier Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa is a friendly and welcoming resort set on a historic peninsula. Home to the ruins of an old fortress and several old cannons, its unique features include a relaxing spa set in the branches of a banyan tree and teens club in the old lighthouse.
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The tropical gardens dotted with cascading pools are the ideal place to relax, plus you are just a short drive away from the entertainment and shops of Grand Baie - so you really do have the best of both worlds.
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For me, it's the ideal resort if you are taking your first long haul holiday with little ones. Early dinners are an option for families with child-friendly meals and baby purees available. If you fancy a night off, babysitting can be arranged for an additional charge.
The kids club (ages 3-11) has a fun-packed activity programme in the safari-style tents, and teens are well catered for, with pool tables, foosball and sporting activities (ages 12-17).
Mauritius
Trou Aux Biches Beachcomber
How can I not recommend this beautiful 5* resort when my experience was a two bedroom villa with butler service?!
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This all-suite property is set on one of the best stretches of beach on the island and has an impressive choice of accommodation to choose from.
Tropical suites set in lush gardens, beachfront suites with their own plunge pool, or two and three bedroom villas for families with your own secluded pool.
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As with all Beachcomber hotels, there's complimentary kids’ clubs and many land and watersports available.
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Dining is exceptional here, with six restaurants to choose from and the option to upgrade from half-board to the Escape package, which includes lunch, afternoon pancakes and selected drinks.
Bali
My love of Asia means I have to include Bali on my beach list. It holds very special memories as it was our last big holiday before having our boys. I was pregnant at the time, so spending five days in the stunning Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay was the perfect antidote to the start of the holiday in hectic Hong Kong.
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Bali is an island that has it all - incredibly diverse landscapes, culture and history, beautiful beaches, jungle forests, gourmet eateries and luxury spa retreats. Ubud is the cultural heart of Bali and I always recommend a few days here before heading to your chosen beach.
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Southern Bali is one of the most popular spots and offers a beach to suit everyone. Busy Kuta with its shopping malls and nightclubs is perfect for the backpacker crowd; just along the coast, Seminyak is more upmarket with luxury hotels. This area comes alive in the evening, with a great choice of boutiques, high-end bars and beach clubs.
Bali
Sanur
For families, Sanur offers a more relaxed experience with long golden beaches, calm waters and laid back beach bars and restaurants.
Although purpose-built, Nusa Dua is very popular, especially with those visiting Asia for the first time. The white sandy beaches boast an excellent choice of luxury resorts which are perfect for those wanting a quieter resort-based holiday.
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As Bali is a volcanic island, natural white beaches are hard to come by so many visitors head to the Gili Islands just off the coast of Lombok.
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Top tip for travel to Bali - have your stopover on the way home.
With limited direct flights and an average of 18+ hours travelling indirect, Bali is a long way from the UK. Singapore is a fantastic city to stopover, but to make the journey as easy as possible I recommend a stop in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Qatar. From the Middle East, it's just over seven hours to the UK, so you arrive home feeling relatively refreshed!
The Algarve
Just a short flight from the UK, the Algarve has some of the best beaches the world has to offer. A mix of picturesque coves and immense stretches of sand, with almost 200km of coastline and 87 Blue Flag beaches - there's a beach to suit everyone here.
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Praia da Falesia has more than 6 km of golden sands and its clear waters and great location between Vilamoura and Albufeira means it's a popular spot especially in the summer months. Escape the crowds with a long beach walk or the hiking trail on the cliffs above. It's wonderful to stroll along the water’s edge, while you watch the impressive rock formations that characterise this beach.
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Pine Cliffs is an award-winning resort perched on the clifftop with direct access to Falesia beach. Offering a varied choice of accommodation including suites, apartments and villas, this luxury resort with its excellent facilities has long been one of Europe's best family resorts.
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The pretty beach resort Carvoeiro is firmly on my wish list. Not only does the town have a more traditional feel, it's also a great base to stay and explore the local area. This section of coastline is dominated by giant limestone cliffs with pretty sandy beaches, and hidden coves.
At nearby Praia de Benagil you can rent kayaks or take a boat trip to the famous Benagil caves to marvel at the 'eye' from inside the cave. With crystal clear waters it's a lovely spot for snorkelling.