Soanambo Hotel

There's a really good restaurant serving fine dining, although breakfast and more relaxed meals can be taken on the terrace. There's a spa, a tennis court, a vibrant bar and of course, that unmissable, creatively curved outdoor pool with loungers facing seaward. This is the tropics, so gently rustling palms punctuate the skyline.

The buildings may look plain from the outside, but indoors, the rooms are delightfully decorated and very clean and comfortable. The beds are wide and super-comfortable, the seating is cosy (we loved the gorgeous cushions with their tropically themed appliqués). There's aircon, a sleek en-suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and furnished terraces with lagoon views.

Explore the island or take one of the excursions available. Sail to nearby Île aux Nattes to see the villages, the fauna and flora, and lunch in the gardens of Orchidée Napoleon Hotel. Set off to Ampanihy Peninsula, seeing plantations of vanilla, then board a pirogue to investigate mangrove swamps and dine on coconut-inspired cuisine. Go whale-watching, visit the north coast and the natural pools at La Cocoteraie, and explore the island's "Boy's Own" history, with a real pirate cemetery.