Sainte Marie Lodge

The main house, renovated in 2009, combined quaint colonial charm (dark wooden floors, antiques and local items of historical interest) with the mod cons that make life run smoothly. The ffect is intimate, and the hosts make sure you are comfortable. There's a spacious lounge area with a bar; a well-stocked library with deep chairs for reading, and a piano; and a games room. Meals, prepared by your hostess, are served in the library or on the veranda.

The accommodation is varied, ranging from two rooms for couples to suites and villas that can accommodate nine people. All are spacious and individually decorated, with large draped beds and furnishings that sleekly combine European and Malagasy style. The recent refurbishment ensures that all is clean and pristine. Some villas and a suite have a private pool, most have a veranda and all have lovely views of the garden or sea.

Snorkel the reefs, grab a fishing rod and head for the pier to try your luck (the cook will prepare your catch), or loll in the pool. Other activities can be arranged, at an extra cost – go scuba diving (and perhaps see one of the shipwrecks that dot this coast); hike the forests to admire the vegetation and the creatures that live there; bike around the island via the only road; or zoom off on a quad bike.