Amanda Statham

The word ‘paradise’ is thrown around a lot when it comes to the islands of the Indian Ocean, but this archipelago a thousand miles east of Kenya is just that. Across the 115 islands, you’ll find some of the world’s most beautiful beaches (the white sand of Beau-Vallon on main island Mahé instantly springs to mind), making them a nature-lovers dream. Here, you’ll find dramatic rock formations, and exotic plants and animals, like Praslin's UNESCO Vallée de Mai where the rare coco de mer grows or Frégate island, where giant tortoises roam. Seychelles is up there with the best of them, thanks to its avoidance of environment-ruining development and royalty-approved eco-aware hotels. Here, we’ve handpicked the best of them; whether they boast astonishing views, gourmet cuisine, nature-focused themes or eco credentials. Have a scroll through our pick of the best hotels in the Seychelles and plan a utopian getaway. Updated September 2024: We have no idea how this one wasn't on our radar until now, but better late than never when it comes to STORY Seychelles offering private garden terraces, and unobstructed views of both Indian Ocean and Morne Seychellois National Park. Dreamy. Other places you may like:🇲🇻Discover the best hotels in the Maldives🇲🇺Book into one of the top Mauritius hotels🇮🇳Your ultimate guide to hotels in India Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays.

This archipelago of 1000+ islands scattered across the Indian Ocean boasts more than 100 atolls, which are ringed by soft white sand and home to some of the best hotel accommodation on the planet (there are more over-water villas here than you can shake a flip-flop at). It's no wonder that the Maldives is a honeymoon hot spot and regular fixture on calendars of the elite and anyone looking for picture-perfect, sun-drenched things to do. It’s an expensive destination, but prices drop for the rainy season (May to November), which really just means sporadic showers and higher humidity. Besides, if you take advantage of viewing the incredible marine life, you’ll spend most of your time getting wet anyway… RECOMMENDED: Our essential guide to the Maldives Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

An Indian Ocean isle blessed with incredible beaches, a wild mountainous interior and more than its fair share of luxurious five-star hotels, Mauritius boasts Michelin-starred chefs, designer furnishings and golf courses on private islands; it’s a sybarites’ dream and a celebrity magnet. And despite its small size, there's so much to see and do, from nature reserves to botanic gardens. It's really just the perfect getaway.  However, there’s another side to Mauritius, away from the glitz and glamour, where small boutique hotels are quietly going about their business offering rustic ocean-view bedrooms and laid-back dining for a fraction of the price of the larger resorts. And for those wanting to really immerse themselves in nature, there are some great new eco escapes too. Read on for our pick of the best hotels in Mauritius. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.