Hotel Arc en Ciel

The main area has a true beach-bungalow feel with a palm-thatch roof that hangs over the facade. The restaurant downstairs is light and breezy, almost entirely open-sided and overlooks the pool and patio. The surrounding gardens are lush with mature flowering and fruiting trees that offer plenty of shade and attract myriads of birds. Above the restaurant is an ideal spot to sit and enjoy the sunset, pretty cocktail in hand.

Just 10 chalets dot the property, making for a very quiet, decidedly anti-resort environment. Palm-thatch roofs and plenty of dense foliage reinforce the easy atmosphere, but the solid walls and parquet flooring lend them substance and a touch of class. Large sliding-glass doors open onto a covered veranda, which allows ample garden and sea views. En-suite bathrooms have hot showers with excellent water pressure. Air-con helps to keep things cool.

This is an island-escape to escape the island-escape and thus many travellers choose to spend their days rather idly - lounging and sunning, dipping in the pool, eating, cocktailing, and maybe reading or wandering the beach. If you're keen for a bit more action, there are options too. Staff can help arrange snorkelling with whale sharks, dives on pristine reefs or visits to other islands to check out the wildlife, turtles and lemurs, amongst them.