WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN MAURITIUSdate.

The North of Mauritius is alive with a constant buzzing atmosphere. The tourist paradise of Grand Baie offers an ecelectic menangerie of surprises around every corner. Restaurants ranging from Classical Mauritius Seafood to Mauritian Chinese line the streets between every souvenier boutique and tour shop. The Beach at Perebere offers the bluest lagoon and arguably some of the softest white sand in the world. Modern hypermarkets and stores are just around the corner if you're feeling a little homesick...even KFC and Pizzahut make an appearence. Slightly inland, are the wonderful botanical gardens at Pamplemousses, boasting some of the largest water-lillies in the world, some of which can actually hold a baby without sinking. The wild deer and giant hundred year old turtles are also a rare and amazing sight.

The west boasts the longest beach on the island at Flic-en-Flac, and is the ideal place to find some entertainment at night. Simply pop into any of the many luxurious hotels here for around £25 per person and enjoy an evening of entertainment, all you can eat buffet Mauritius style, traditional Sega dancing and watch the stunning orange sunset dip below the horizon for an evening of a lifetime. The ideal place to take those perfect photos you've always wished for.

Take a trip to the south to experience the highest waves on the island at Gris-Gris, have an evening meal at Le Morne, or lunch up in the Mountain on the way to the stunning National park, where you can see monkey roaming free, bats, and gorgeous warterfalls, gorges and valleys that will take your breath away.

The east coast offers one of the longest whitest beaches on the island at Belle Mare, a modern waterpark equipped with entertainment for all the family. Not to be missed is a trip to Ille aux cerfs (or Island of Deer). This island is my personal favourite place in the whole of Mauritius. Perhaps a mile in diameter, nobody lives there and the island is vacated at 5pm every day. On the island are two restaurants, souvenier stalls, and various boat owners offering trips to other small islands, and the waterfalls where you can stop and dive in, or simply take photos if it all get's too overwhelming.

A trip to Port Louis market and Caudan waterfront are just what you need to break up a week of luxury and sunbathing and get a rich taste true of Mauritius Culture. The hustle and bustle and lively atmosphere are un-compareable. Other towns worth visiting are: Curepipe, Quatre Bornes, Floreal and Rose Hill.

FLIGHTS INFO te.

Air France
The lowest cost option to fly to Mauritius is by Air France. Offering flights from the UK at around £550 (roughly $1049 US Dollars) throughout the year, these flights are close to unbeatable all year round.

British Airways
For slightly more, you can enjoy the pleasures of British Airways' great service and onboard entertainment with most plains now boasting personal televisions on the back of every seat with a choice of great movies and radio stations to chose from to help ease the eleven hour journey.

Air Mauritius
Start your holiday early by flying with Air Mauritius, who pride themselves of bringing the "holiday feeling" onboard their flights to get you in the mood for all the excitement to come.

WEATHERe.

This stunning island in the heart of the indian ocean boasts great weather all year round. The coasts enjoy temperatures of between 24C and 36C in the summer months(November to March), with a humidity which makes it feel even hotter at times. If the heat gets too much for you, simply venture inland a little and the temperature can drop by around eight to ten degrees in places where the plateau is higher, giving you ample to chances to visit the studding mountains, national parks and shopping areas.