This renovation has been a real success – the light, airy and clean lines of the new architecture successfully maintain a local Mauritian flavour whilst creating a sense of space and symmetry, with wonderful panoramic views across Ile aux Aigrettes in the turquoise lagoon and the sphinx-shaped ‘Lion Mountain’ looming on the mainland.

The Preskil Island Resort is in a great location on the southeast coast, on one of the most attractive seascapes in Mauritius. Its close, but not too close, to the airport (with no noise disturbance) making it a great choice for arrival and departure – you can be sitting on a sun lounger on a white sand beach 40 minutes after touchdown. There are also plenty of interesting local things to do nearby, such as the Blue Bay Marine Park, the historical town of Mahébourg, a guided tour of Ile aux Aigrettes nature reserve or an inland excursion to La Vallee de Ferney.

The hotel describes itself as 4 star but, in truth, it’s not far off being a 5 star property. As you cross a short bridge over a pretty little waterway on to the island and enter the hotel, your eye is taken immediately to a ‘sea of dappled blue’.

The new Preskil Island Resort has been very well laid out and cleverly designed, using local natural materials such as ravenala, eucalyptus and bamboo, with island-style thatched rooves. Of three restaurants to choose from, two are included in the half board or ‘all inclusive’ options, a well–appointed boat house has a decent array of complementary water sports including water skiing off the jetty and twice daily snorkelling trips, a brand new Banyan Spa features holistic gemology treatments, whilst, best of all, the accommodation is very impressive.