Mauritius, Mauritius. We are still taunted by its beauty.

Large lagoons lined with fine white sandy beaches are the embodiment of paradise to those who seek to enjoy the sea and the sun. All around the island, large strips of beach offer unbeatable relaxing opportunities, environs of our wildest imaginings.

The coastline of Mauritius is approximately 330 km long and nearly everywhere you will encounter the white sandy beaches seen in the brochures. Another wonderful advantage of Mauritius is that almost the entire island is surrounded by coral reefs, which have created tranquil lagoons of crystal clear turquoise water all around. These lagoons are not only idyllic, with crystal clear water, but also provide perfectly calm water conditions, ideal for swimming, bathing, snorkelling and water sports.

On many of these beaches you are sure to find majestic hotels and sprawling beach resorts. However it is important to know that all beaches of Mauritius are public.

Most public beaches are safe for bathing and swimming, and ideal for coastal walks and scenic sightseeing.

Mauritius is a tropical island and like many tropical islands it has an abundance of lush green and colourful vegetation throughout the year. The climate is very pleasant and allows visitors to create perfect holidays all the year round. You can decide to come to Mauritius at any time of the year and you will be sure to have endurable weather during your stay. While we were there it rained many times, however the sun was so enthusiastic that we welcomed the cooling effect of the rain and I found myself stretching out my arms and looking to the heavens with gratitude on more than one occasion, in fact I remember doing it several times on just one day. We loved the rain and the relief from the heat and humidity made up for the brief disappearance of our friend, the sun.

When visiting Mauritius during the summer period (November to April), you are sure to enjoy bright sun and swimsuit hot temperatures. During the period of July to September, the temperatures are cooler and it can be a little too fresh for swimming and bathing in the sea, for some people.

Special care should be taken while visiting beaches for swimming purposes. Few beaches are dangerous for bathing, while others can be too deep for children. This is why before entering the sea, make sure to keep a lookout for of any notice boards with warnings regarding entering the sea. Nudism is not allowed in Mauritius and there are no nudist beaches on the island, however there is a tendency for some topless bathing which mostly goes unnoticed.

As all the beaches of Mauritius are public, including hotel beaches, it means that hotels, resorts or private villa owners can't prevent you from entering or crossing "their" beach.

When we travel, we are not that keen to stay in one place for the duration of our visit, so we normally just book the first few days to form a base and then we research our options. Some of the best hints and tips come form the locals we interact with, including waitrons, bar staff and interesting people we meet in public places. It is amazing how many gems we have been directed to through our "investigative" travel-tip gathering methods.

Thanks to our friend and client from Durban, we were privileged to meet with Sebastien Albert, who is the General Manager of Mystic Hotel in Mont Choisy. Mystic Hotel really exceeded every expectation we may have had of any hotel in all our travels.

Perfectly positioned right on the beach, next to a beautiful Sea Temple, you can really feel totally pampered. It's effortless!

Mystic Lifestyle Hotel is part of a growing hotel brand Memoris. It is the ideal place for your stay in Mauritius. The rooms are bright and comfortable, and of contemporary design, highlighting local craftsmanship in subtle tones.

Their #36 restaurant and sky bar are world class. The sunsets are the most beautiful we have ever encountered and their martini happy hour was a favourite not just for the tourists like ourselves, but for many of the locals too. It is always vibey and festive and a fabulous way to mingle with locals in a truly phenomenal setting. The bathing beach stretches away from the hotel in a long sweeping curve of white, caressed by the tranquil turquoise water. It is just a short ride from Grand Baie and we discovered the most tantalising artisan bakery just walking distance from our hotel. Fresh French baguette and the most delightful confectionary, my mouth waters just thinking about them.