THE MALDIVES
When to go: All year round
Flight time: 10.5 hours direct to Malé
Time difference: +5 hours (GMT)
Sometimes only the Maldives will do – a place where the sand is eye-searingly white, the water is as swimming-pool blue as it looks on the postcards and the deliciously reliable weather makes it a winter-sun showstopper. The archipelago is thrilling to fly over – that seaplane view of the pancake-batter atolls blasts away any long-haul fogginess. And while the perfect beaches, colour-popping coral reefs and hammocks under swaying palm trees come as standard, it's the hotels that give each one of these islands something different to offer.
In the Maldives, more than anywhere else, it is crucial to pick the right home for the week. Constance Halaveli in the North Ari atoll manages to be both incredibly spoiling and completely laid-back, with slick restaurants serving elegant food (sushi lunches at Kaika, grilled seafood at Meeru, Asian-European fusion at Jing), as well as a kids' club that hits the high notes. Relax with the resort’s wellness treatments on the Holistic Journey or venture into the wine cellars to sample some of the 1780 vintages. And of course here is some of the best diving in the world – you can even spot manta rays and reef sharks from the terrace of your overwater villa.
Slightly further south is Constance Moofushi, which is a proper all-inclusive retreat made even smarter after a recent renovation. That means fantastic wines straight from the cellar and terrifically good food, but no need to reach for your wallet. There are 110 villas, each as lovely as the next (overwater ones shaped like dhoni fishing boats and beachside houses with sun-bleached wood and lots of natural materials), but it feels charmingly intimate thanks to the vibrant atmosphere, ever-smiling staff and wonderful service. Unpack and settle in at Halaveli or Moofushi, or hop from one to the other to get a blast of both.
Book Constance Halaveli, Maldives from $640 USD per night for a double water villa, including breakfast.
Book an all-inclusive stay in double beach villa in Constance Moofushi Maldives from $655 USD a night, or an all-inclusive double water villa from $720 USD a night.
Rates do not include the compulsory Green Tax (around £4.50) and transfers.
MAURITIUS
When to go: All year round; summer is November to April
Flight time: 11.5 hours direct
Time difference: +4 hours (GMT)
It's as popular with families as it is with honeymooners, which says something about the enduring allure of Mauritius. With flour-like sand, sugar-cane plantations, year-round, soul-soothing sun, a manageable overnight flight and that dreamy tropical setting, it strikes an irresistible chord. And it's brilliant for both May and October half terms when the gentle trade winds mean no one will overheat.
Keep the children blissfully busy at Constance Belle Mare Plage, where they can roam the 2km of beaches, try a cookery class with the beaming chef, or join the adventures at the kids' club, while parents seek out the two championship golf courses or a sunbed in the shade of a palm. A recent renovation has refreshed modern, minimalist Prestige rooms and the main restaurant has been completely made over, open kitchens giving guests a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the chefs at work.
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Wine buffs should head to the quietly glamorous Constance Prince Maurice where 25,000 bottles are stored in the Indian Ocean's largest wine cellar. A sommelier-picked vintage is a particularly good way to round off the day alongside supper on the floating decks at Le Barachois. Spa buffs are equally well looked after with treatments from French brand Sisley, and power pedicurist Brice Nicham has his team on site to polish and shine fingers and toes.
Book a double junior suite, plus breakfast, for two guests in Constance Belle Mare Plage from €320 per night.
Book Constance Prince Maurice for two guests from €490 per night, staying in a double junior suite with breakfast included.
THE SEYCHELLES
When to go: February to October
Flight time: 10 hours direct from London Heathrow from March 2018
Time difference: +4 hours (GMT)
The Seychelles doesn't get as much airtime as its other Indian Ocean island siblings. Perhaps it's because until now it's felt slightly trickier to get to. But the new British Airways door-to-door service to Mahé is a game changer. This extraordinary archipelago, 1,600km off the east coast of Africa, is still sensationally unspoilt. Its dramatic natural topography – vast boulders, towering trees, unique and indigenous coco de mer palms – makes it feel almost otherworldy. There are protected nature reserves and untouched atolls, as well as a pair of UNESCO World Heritage sites. And there are also deeply smart places to stay.
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Go fully horizontal in the Indian Ocean's largest spa at super-luxe Constance Ephelia – there are authentic traditional treatments and terrifically good Ayurvedic and Balinese massages, as well as high-tech anti-ageing facials and bracing Kneipp water pools. For more active types, the resort’s nature hikes – taking in spots such as rocky coastal path Anse Major, the panoramic Morne Blanc, and the Sauzier waterfall – are the cleverest and most convenient way to explore this incredible landscape.
Constance Lemuria on Praslin is a stellar setting, right by the turquoise-and-white glory of Anse Georgette beach, and the service matches the impressive site. Sink your feet into the sand while enjoying Seychellois ceviche at beachside Takamaka, or for something more sophisticated, flick through the extraordinary wine list at Diva, where the contemporary design and modern food could rival any restaurant in London. Sleek rooms pop with carved wooden wall art and bright textured fabrics, and a focus on sustainability – the resort has held the ecotourism Green Globe Certification for almost a decade, and guests can get involved in the mangrove-planting and turtle conservation schemes during their stay.
Book Constance Ephelia Seychelles from €430 per night for a stay in a double junior suite, including breakfast.
Book a stay in a double junior suite, plus breakfast, at Constance Lemuria Seychelles from €790 per night.
