After a hard week, sometimes you just want to lay back, relax and get comfy. This Friday, take it easy with an African Lullaby cocktail.

Africa is the world’s second largest and second most populated content full of just over a billion beautiful people and amazing natural scenic landscapes.  Home to the Marula Tree, which grows wild in the Savannah and attracts many animals (including elephants),this tree produces delicious fruits of which the pulp is used in making the famous Amarula Cream liqueur, a flagship liqueur of South Africa and key ingredient to the African Lullaby cocktail.

How to make your own African Lullaby:

-2 oz Amarula Cream Liqueur
-1/2 oz Coconut milk
-4 oz Milk
-A dash of nutmeg

In a blender combine all ingredients with crushed ice. Pour into a nutmeg rimmed cocktail glass and serve. If you like, garnish with a cherry.

Where you can find a great African Lullaby:

The Grand Mauritian, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa:
Spread out over ten hectares, bordered by the reef and nestled between a natural marine park and lush sugar cane fields is The Grand Mauritian on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Inspired by traditional Mauritian architecture this luxury resort captures the essence of luxury and privacy that is at the heart of your stay.

Maia Luxury Resort and Spa:
Known as one of the best resorts in Seychelles, Maia Luxury Resort and Spa is situated on a magnificent secluded beach amongst swaying palms and lush tropical boundaries. From award winning gardens, fine cuisine, a fabulous spa and activities such as snorkeling and kayaking can all be experienced here at this luxury resort.

One&Only Cape Town:
Only moments away from the famous Table Mountain, One&Only Cape Town is a contemporary resort embodying a chic island design with and African flair. Central to exciting nightlife and entertainment, this is an ideal gateway to the uniquely rare adventures of South Africa such as wildlife safaris, wine country excursions and endless water play along pristine beaches.

Morukuru Family:
Located along the river’s edge in the Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa, Morukuru Family is a lodge that walks the fine line between untamed nature, and unabashed luxury. This intimate luxury lodge is a perfect starting point to connect with nature in all its forms.

Naoura Barriere:
Naoura Barriere spreads out over nearly five acres and set in a magnificent oriental garden full of ornate white flowers in the heart of Marrakech, Morocco. Each of the luxurious suites here comes with a private butler, a large terrace and superb views of their garden. And after a long day in this exotic city relax and recharge at their U-Spa offering two hammams, and the only aquatic course in Marrakech.

Adrere Amellal:
This luxury desert eco lodge is a timeless escape to ancient Egypt in Siwa. Adrere Amellal invites you to leave the modern world behind. Each room is truly unique, built by hand and blends into the surrounding landscape. With no electricity, evenings are softly lit up with beeswax candles and the starry desert sky.

Asara Wine Estate & Hotel:
Asara Wine Estate & Hotel is set in the heart of South Africa’s Stellenbosch wine lands. If you have a passion for food and wine this is the perfect place to indulge at one of their three gourmet restaurants.  Have a fabulous glass of their award winning wine! And when you book exclusively though Kiwi Collection you’ll get our special Kiwi Rate which includes a complementary bottle from this fabulous estate.

Mchenja Bush Camp:
Combining the true safari experience with ultimate luxury is the Mchenja Bush Camp in the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Set beneath a magnificent grove along Luangwa River, with individual safari holidays tailored to meet your every need. For those of you looking for an amazing experience in the African wilderness, Mchenja Bush Camp is your place.

The Marine Hermanus:
Perched on top of the cliffs at Hermanus, in South Africa with one of the southern hemisphere’s most spectacular seascapes is where you can find The Marine Hermanus. Featuring 42 individually decorated rooms and suites, each has extraordinary views across Walker Bay or the beautiful internal courtyard.

Sheraton Addis:
Standing opposite the National Palace in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia the Sheraton Addis represents African elegance and impeccable service. Each window at this luxury hotel offers fabulous views of the surrounding country side and of the Entoto Mountains in the background.

Who doesn’t love the beach, the sun and a delicious fruity cocktail while you are busy doing nothing? Don’t take the deliberate sexual double entendre lightly, Sex on the Beach goes down easy and is sure to help make a night to remember.

This relatively young cocktail was invented around the end of the 80’s for the promotion of peach schnapps, and since sex is often associated with cocktails, the name Sex on the Beach fix quite nicely. This drink is perfect for any location and a hip open mind is required.

Make your own sex on the beach:

-2 oz. Vodka
-1 oz. Peach Schnapps
-2 oz. Orange juice
-2 oz. Cranberry juice

Bring all of the ingredients into a shaker, shake and pour into a highball glass filled with ice.

Need a beach vacation? We’ve got some of the most luxurious places from around the world to enjoy that perfect Sex on the Beach:

Sivory Punta Cana:
Located in the fabulous Dominican Republic and situated on a private beach, Sivory Punta Cana is a Caribbean dream. Each luxurious suite is designed with privacy in mind along golden sand and clear water. Take time out for yourself and relax in their spa or dine on world class gourmet cuisine. Once you experience this luxury resort you may never want to leave.

Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort Phuket:
Indulge in a tropical escape at the Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort in Phuket, Thailand. Set on a lovely beach at Chalong Bay, enjoy sweeping ocean views from their roof top decks, rest up in their beautiful gardens or catch some sun in one of their beachfront lofts with private swimming pools. Be sure to take advantage for their Wellbeing Centre offering therapeutic massage, beauty treatments and holistic healing.

St. Regis Princeville Resort:
What could be better than a perfect island setting at one of the most beautiful hotels in Hawaii? The St. Regis Princeville Resort on the island of Kauai is world famous for its ocean views and is just minutes away from well known Napali and Waimea Canyon. Spend your days here soaking in the sun with your cocktail or play a few rounds on their golf course which is one of the best  in America.

Amanwella:
Situated amidst a mature coconut grove close to the village of Tangalle in Southern Sri Lanka, the Amanwella luxury resort is the perfect place to enjoy your sex on the beach. Each of its 30 beach front suites offer their own private plunge pool and open up on both sides to enjoy the cooling sea breezes off the Indian Ocean.

Conrad Bali:
Imagine seven hectares of secluded tropical gardens, cascading waterfalls, lagoons and a pristine 350 mile beach. This is Conrad Bali, one of the most beautiful luxury resorts in Thailand. And with a 24 hour personal assistant to cater to your every whim, you might just start to think you are in heaven on earth.

The Chedi Muscat:
Simple elegance and ageless charm is the perfect way to describe The Chedi Muscat located on the stunning Boushar Beachfront in Oman.  All of the rooms and suites offer exclusive access to the crystal Gulf waters, turquoise pools bordered by cabanas, a water garden and a private stretch of beautiful sandy shore. This is truly the perfect luxury oasis.

Pacific Resort Aitutaki:
Escape to one of the most beautiful islands in the world; Aitutaki, Cook Islands. Enjoy pure white sandy beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters and coral atoll at the Pacific Resort Aitutaki. With just twenty seven luxurious beachfront bungalows, suites and villas all with their own personal panoramic view of this world-famous lagoon makes for a perfect romantic getaway.

Maia Luxury Resort and Spa:
Located on the main island of Mahe in the Republic of Seychelles, an archipelago nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, is the beautiful Maia Luxury Resort and Spa. This area is widely considered to be the world’s most perfect, unspoiled islands. Bask in the lush green surroundings and savor the panoramic view of the ocean from their villas on the hillcrest. Maia also offers the most delectable Mediterranean cuisine complemented by Asian and Creole influences.

Mandarin Oriental Sanya:
Overlooking the South China sea from China’s only tropical island is the Mandarin Oriental Sanya. Every room has a perfect view of the sea, lush landscaped gardens and their pristine protected coral beach. Spacious interiors combine contemporary design with artistic touches inspired by Sanya’s ethnic minority culture. This is a place you won’t find anywhere else.

Hotel Punta Islita:
Come and get pampered with authentic Costa Rican charm at the Hotel Punta Islita in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Developed in full synergy with its neighboring communities, inter-weaved with nature and featuring local art, gives this luxury hotel a truly authentic feel. And if you are a spa lover you are in for a special treat at their Casa Spa which offers treatments in the traditional healing arts with herbal wisdom of the native Chorotega tribes.

Maia Luxury Resort and Spa is the perfect beach resort for an exotic vacation in Seychelles, Africa. You won’t find a better way to relax than by visiting this spa hotel on one of the world’s most untouched island nations.

Where can a discerning traveler enjoy the beach in luxury, but also enjoy the natural beauty of an unspoiled island? The Republic of Seychelles, of course! This stunning country is made of a cluster of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. About 1,500 km east of mainland Africa, Seychelles is northeast of Madagascar.

Of course, if you’re going to travel to Seychelles, you’ll want to go to Mahé (the largest island). This is where 90 percent of the country’s total population lives. We recommend staying at Maia Luxury Resort and Spa, which is right on Anse Louise beach (a secluded beach on Mahé).

This Mahé resort only has 30 villas, giving guests a unique and intimate experience. Each villa has a fantastic view of the Ocean and features a luxurious gazebo with a thatched roof, a bar and an oversized day bed. Guests also enjoy the services of a private butler, catering to their every need.

After a relaxing stroll along the beach or some tanning on the resort’s tanning deck, you will definitely want to visit Maia’s Spa. You can not only enjoy a variety of spa treatments at this gorgeous Seychelles resort, but also catch up on your yoga, shiatsu and qi gong – all exercises that are designed to strengthen the body and bring peace to the mind.

And, no spa vacation is complete without healthy and nutrient-filled meals. All of the cuisine served at Maia is made with the finest and freshest ingredients.

You will eat well, sleep well and find your vacation with Maia totally relaxing and rejuvenating.

Seychelles: Banyan Tree

The third property we stayed in was the Banyan Tree. Like Maia, the Banyan Tree is located on Mahé, so there are a wide range of local cultural activities to participate in within driving distance. Again like Maia, it is the property itself that is the star at the Banyan Tree.

Nestled on the hill and along one of the world’s most charming beaches, the Banyan Tree really feels far from civilisation. The property consists of 53 private villas with plunge pools, a main building (housing lobby, bar, two restaurants, and the main pool complex), and the spa. The buildings are designed in a colonial style that seems very practical.

Our experience started at the entry to the Maia Luxury Resort and Spa, where the Banyan Tree limo (or rather, 4×4) picked us up. The “de rigeur” cold towels and water were offered by the driver once we had entered the comfortable, leather clad interior of the car. The driver, who had been with the Banyan Tree since it opened, was extremely professional and a treasure trove of information regarding the Seychelles (and Mahé in particular). He started the engine, turned on a soothing CD, and we were off on the third leg of our adventure in paradise. I’m not sure that it would be possible to be more relaxed than we already were after our two previous experiences, but I can assure you that if it were possible, it would have happened.

The welcome was fantastic. Drinks on the veranda of the main building, a brief check-in procedure, and then we were given the choice of having a tour of the resort or to be taken to our villa. We chose the latter, with a view to taking the tour at a later time.

Our villa was lovely. It consisted of four main areas: the lounging/dining pavilion and deck, incorporating the plunge pool; the bedroom/bathroom; the sun lounging deck (with a two person Jacuzzi); and the spa pavilion. Each area had fabulous, picture postcard views. The beach, the ocean, and the surrounding hillside consisted of vibrant greens, blues and whites framing the hotel villas and main building.

We were in one of the highest placed hillside pool villas, and the drive from the main building took a few minutes. But it was well worth it, and certainly did not affect the levels of service we received in any way. All meals were delivered rapidly and the food was excellent. One evening we had the pleasure of dining in the Thai restaurant and the food there was also excellent.

At the Banyan Tree we discovered that there was a lot more to do in the Seychelles than we had originally expected. From trips to local artists’ studios, to helicopter tours of the island (from the Banyan Tree’s own helipad), there is no excuse to ever feel bored.

More than anything, the Banyan Tree made us feel comfortable. With views to stimulate the senses, excellent food, and service levels at the top of their league, we felt truly pampered.

Unfortunately, due to our schedule we were only able to stay at the Banyan Tree for two nights, but we still had a fantastic experience. The first day we relaxed in our hillside villa and had dinner in the Thai restaurant. The second day we stayed in our villa and took a trip down to the beach, sat on towels provided by the pool staff, and watched the ebb and flow of the tides. We stayed there until it was time for dinner, which we had in our own private villa. On the last day, we stayed in our villa – there really was no reason to leave and as we were hoping time would forget us and we could stay forever.

When we did leave the Banyan Tree, it was again in one of their private cars. Again the driver was professional, relaxed, and shared interesting anecdotes about the local environment. When we got to the airport, the driver even found a trolley for our bags and escorted us to the correct check-in counter. I have rarely been so sad to leave somewhere at the end of a holiday.

How do we define paradise? We all have our own definition, however, I cannot think of a better one than a place that stimulates all your senses with its beauty, level of service, and generosity of spirit; a place that provides memories you treasure in your heart, and that you vow to return to. For me personally, the Seychelles represents this type of paradise.

When my wife and I left after our 12 day stay we felt completely rested, both mentally and physically, and ready to take on the mantle of our regular lives – until our next visit…

Seychelles: Maia Luxury Resort and Spa

The second property we stayed in was Maia. The Maia experience, like the North Island experience, started the moment we walked off the plane. As we exited the domestic terminal our driver was waiting for us and escorted us to our car. Once inside, we were offered the usual cool towel and bottle of water. The drive from the airport to Maia took about 30 minutes, along the coast then across to the other side (west) of Mahé and a bay called Anse Louis.

Maia is a relatively new property, opened in September 2006, although you would never know it from the setting. The phenomenal plantings really seem mature. It consists of 30 independent villas all of the same design (when you have a perfect design then why alter it!). The only thing that differs between the villas is their location and their view. Some of the villas are along the small but perfectly formed beach (these are the most popular villas with families), and the remainder are spread up (or down depending on your perspective) the hill.

Once we arrived at Maia we were greeted at the entrance and whisked by buggy up to our beautiful hillside villa, where our butler was waiting for us. Welcome drinks, fruit platter, etc., were all part of the plan, and executed perfectly. We hardly even noticed when our butler Salim asked us for our credit card to cover “incidentals”.

The experience at Maia is very much linked to the villa and your own private butler. There are some lovely communal areas such as the lounge, the bar, the restaurant, and the communal pool in front of the beach. And of course there is also the lovely beach, although most guests choose to remain in their villas. It is also important to note that only guests and staff are allowed into Maia. That means that guests will never encounter outsiders strolling around the property, using the spas, or eating in the restaurant. This is a very firm policy and not even relaxed for local VIPs.

Maia really is a private hideaway. You can enter your villa, close the door, spend the remainder of your stay in the haven of comfort and tranquility that is your villa, and never leave except for excursions to the beach, to the restaurant (if you want to eat in the restaurant rather than in your villa), and for the unpopular event of leaving.

The villas are amazing. They consist of five areas: a small lounging/dining pavilion with the butler’s bar, the bedroom, the main bathroom and toilet, the plunge pool, and the dipping pool/outdoor bath. The buildings are solid concrete, with tall thatched ceilings that give them a Balinese feel. But the real trump card here is the quality of all the modern conveniences; the fittings and fixtures in the rooms. iPod docks, built in Bose speakers, Sony flat-screen TVs, a sound system that pipes music to all areas of the villa, Nespresso coffee makers – the list could go on forever. The rooms are extremely comfortable. The beds are possibly the most comfortable beds we have ever experienced in a hotel or resort; the sheets are a delight, and the goose down duvets are light and fluffy. The toiletries in the bathroom are La Prairie, which my wife couldn’t get enough of – their body lotion was fantastic.

Maia provided us with a series of pleasant surprises throughout our stay, beginning when we entered our villa (a Signature Villa overlooking the ocean and the mainland) and we were struck by two key things. The view, which was spectacular, and the plunge pool (~ 8 meters x 4 meters), which really drew us in with its azure blue promise of cooling comfort.

From the moment you arrive, to the moment you leave, your butler is your single point of contact for all things. They are on call 24 hours and are always keen to help out. Want to arrange a barbeque on the beach? They will sort it out for you. Want to arrange a fishing trip? They will arrange it for you. If you just want to be left alone they can, of course, arrange that too. Just hang the coconut on the door to your villa and you will not be disturbed.

So what did we do at Maia? Well, out of respect for the philosophy of the property we spent most of our time in the outstanding villa and at the magnificent spa. The routine was simple: wake up, eat breakfast in the villa, sit in the sun loungers, read a book, have a dip in the plunge pool, take a trip to the beach, take a dip in the plunge pool, have lunch in the villa, have a rest, take a dip in the plunge pool, and have a treatment in the spa. In the evening we went down to the restaurant for dinner so that we could see who else was at the property. We were sure that we recognised a group of ladies from North Island, but since we had only seen them from afar we were not entirely sure.

On one day we took a tour of the island by car. We had a driver, and of course our trusty butler along for the ride. We went up Mount Josephine and had magnificent views of Mahé, the other islands, and the ocean. We stopped at Beau Vallon on the beach for a delightful picnic, laid out by our butler, and then we returned to the property for dinner.

The staff at Maia are fantastic. Representing over ten nationalities and three continents, they have been honed into a finely tuned machine by the General Manager and his management team.

Given the amount of focus there is on the butler, the success or failure of the individual guest’s experience does depend on the butlers. Fortunately they have sourced the best there is. For our part, it was really thanks to our butler Salim that we had such a memorable experience.

Four nights seemed like a short stay as we were just starting to really relax and get used to each other’s company again when we had to leave.

We left the property with our butler as well as the General Manager waving us off. A very nice personal touch.

Seychelles: North Island

The first property we visited was North Island and the experience started the moment we disembarked from the plane. A representative from Mason Travel met us (holding that universally acknowledged “welcome mat”– the sign with the travellers name), and escorted us through passport control, luggage pick-up, customs, and through to the domestic terminal building where we would board a helicopter for a 20 minute ride to North island itself. Friendly, relaxed, efficient, and polite; he provided us with all the necessary information to make us understand where we were, and feel comfortable that we were in safe hands. He provided a brief description of where we were going and what the process would be, and we could not have imagined a more perfect way to start our “luxury” experience.

With the camera going nuts and the excited chatter of my wife and the helicopter pilot on the helicopter intercom, I finally saw our destination approach on the horizon.

Upon first impression the island was larger, greener, and more lush (this is becoming a theme!) than we had expected. It was no surprise to learn that North Island runs an environmental conservation program, which is heavily involved in bringing back endemic species of plant and animal to the island. North Island is a private island, with 11 guest villas supported by ~130 staff. The experience visitors have on North Island is truly a “super” Robinson Crusoe experience: all the pleasure of a beautiful island with few others, combined with all the modern conveniences you would come to expect in a modern city hotel – there was nothing missing!

We landed on one of the four beaches on the island and were met by Ronnie, the Guest Relations Manager, and Richard, our personal butler. We were driven in a little electric buggy to the main building where we were provided with cooling towels and a welcome drink.

Ronnie provided a high level description of the island as well as some of the activities we could do, then left us in the care of Richard who took us to our villa (villa #2) and showed us around.

Note that each of the 11 villas is pretty much the same with the exception of Villa #11, which is about twice the size of the others.

Our villa was perfect. It consisted of six areas covering a total of 450 square meters. Only two of the areas were fully enclosed: the master bedroom, and the guest bedroom/study. The other areas consisted of the master bathroom, the guest bathroom, the main living area (including a kitchen), and the main deck with the lounges and plunge pool. The décor could be described as rustic chic and is perfectly in keeping with the setting and the feel of the property. All the furniture was old but nicely weather worn, and the soft furnishings were fresh and looked completely new (a real feat given that they are exposed to the elements 24 hours a day, 365 days a year).

The miracle they have created on North Island is this combination of rustic chic with all modern conveniences. We did not want for anything. We had air-conditioning in the bedrooms, dimmer switches for the lighting, a Bose stereo, satellite TV, DVD, fully stocked fridge (with items we had requested in advance), and coffee maker. But best of all we had our butler Richard, for whom nothing was too much trouble.

The villa was fantastic, but the setting was stupendous. Stretching out in front of the villa is a lawn and then the pristine white beach, which stretches for 1.5km down one side of the island. All the villas 11 as well as the main buildings (restaurant, etc.) are located on this stretch of beach, but they are spaced so well that they are completely hidden from each other and feel completely private.

The first thing that struck both my wife and me was how private the villa seemed. This sense of privacy was to be reinforced throughout our stay on North Island. That is, everything about the island speaks of luxury, exclusivity, and privacy. Although all villas were full (occupied) we really felt as if we were almost the only people on the island. We hardly ever saw anybody other than the staff. One of the staff described working on North Island perfectly, “It’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle.”

After our initial introduction to the island and its services, the six days we were there passed in perfect bliss. We woke up in the morning, ordered breakfast (anything we wanted, from eggs Benedict to pancakes, muesli, or fruit), took a stroll down the beach, or drove our electric buggy to the main building to kick off that day’s activity. During the day we had the option of going diving or fishing in the crystal blue water, body surfing on one of the pristine beaches, sitting on our deck in our villa, sitting by the main pool, visiting the spa, hiking around the island or up the mountains etc. In the evening we went to sunset beach for a drink – to watch the sunset of course (a bit of a ritual on North Island). This was often the first time in the day when we would see more than one other couple. We then had a choice of places to have dinner, and when we finally went to bed we were exhausted and content. I have rarely fallen asleep so quickly, or slept so well.

The sense of freedom we experienced was exhilarating. Since everything was taken care of by the Guest Relations team and our butler, we had nothing to concern us other than relaxing and doing the things we wanted to do. On the first day we did nothing other than stay in our villa, relax, and explore the island. On the second day we also stayed in our villa and explored the island. On the third day we took scuba diving lessons and went out snorkelling in one of the two boats they have on the Island. On the fourth day we relaxed by the main pool, followed by a private barbeque on Sunset Beach. On the fifth day we had a picnic on Honeymoon Beach, and on the sixth day we went to the spa on the hillside overlooking the Indian Ocean. Like so many other aspects of North Island, it left us speechless.

By the way, they do have internet access on the island and there are plans to install wireless in the villas. I have to admit though; I was not even faintly tempted to look at it.

We left the property the same way we arrived, by helicopter, and both Ronnie and Richard were there to wave us off.

How do you define paradise? Most people would agree that we all have a different view of what paradise is, based on our experiences, our preferences, our expectations and our state of mind.

The Seychelles is an island paradise. I was thrilled to visit there with my wife in March.

Our trip started during the planning stage, a few months in advance of our physical visit. It was very straightforward to organise our trip so we had a lot of time to think about the visit and read up on the islands. Tale after tale told of their beauty and the relaxed nature of the Seychellois, but nothing could have prepared us for the truly amazing experience that awaited us.

The Seychelles is an archipelago of 158 islands, 1600km off the east coast of Africa. It plays host to a wide variety of flora, fauna, sea-life, and some select tourists intrepid and lucky enough to experience it in person. It is still relatively underdeveloped in comparison to many other tropical paradises, and as with many Caribbean islands, it still possesses a lot of the local Creole flavour from its African, Malagasy, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, and French origins.

The population of the Seychelles is ~80,000. The majority of these people live on the main island Mahé, the capital of the Seychelles, and home to most of the country’s administration and the main international airport. Mahé is located on the north western edge of this island archipelago in a section called the Inner Islands. The Inner Islands are granite islands as opposed to coral reefs like the majority of the islands across the Indian Ocean. This means they are home to a wide variety of unique flora and fauna, and also to the majority of the hotels and resorts in the Seychelles.

Disembarking from the plane at the Seychelles International Airport on Mahé provided us with a taste of things to come. It was an absolute pleasure! The approach gave everyone a good look at Mahé, and what struck us was how incredibly lush it appeared. The mountains that make up the island seem to rise right out of the ocean, are stunningly lush (covered by a wide range of trees and plants), and fringed by the most beautiful white sand beaches.

After the 10°C, overcast weather in London, it was a shock to the system to be hit with the 30-35°C humid heat of the Seychelles.

It was slightly overcast when we arrived, and the humidity hung low in the air, but no one seemed to mind, especially the Europeans who were all eagerly anticipating their stay in paradise.

The pace of life in the Seychelles is unhurried and relaxed. The moment you get off the plane the heat penetrates your limbs and relaxes you. The infectious and genuine friendliness of the people puts you at ease, and before you know it, you are smiling uncontrollably and saying “Hello” to everybody you pass.

On our visit my wife and I stayed at three very different and unique properties; each consists of less than 55 villas, and each has its own personality.

• North Island, the quintessential barefoot luxury island retreat.

• Maia, a main island resort on Mahé that redefines the term “full service private luxury hideaway.”

• The Banyan Tree, a main island resort on Mahé in an extraordinarily tranquil setting, overlooking one of the world’s most beautiful beaches.

Over the next few days, I will post my experiences visiting each of these island propeties.

Cheers!