Taking a holiday in the Indian Ocean used to be the preserve of the super-wealthy or those on special occasion trips – honeymoons or big anniversaries – who had saved up for months, if not years, to go.
Not anymore. The proliferation of Gulf-based airlines such as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, along with an explosion in hotel development, has led to plummeting prices that have made trips more widely possible than ever.
Companies such as Tui, Tropical Sky, Travel Republic, Trailfinders, Travelbag, Loveholidays.com, On the Beach and DialAFlight are battling it out to attract customers, even often offering enticing discounts on packages.
When I spent two months travelling by cargo ships and ferries around the Maldives back in 2013 – for a travel book entitled Gatecrashing Paradise – I stayed mainly at simple B&Bs on ‘inhabited’ islands occupied by locals, rather than ‘tourist’ islands with resorts.
I simply could not afford the big hotel prices (and also wanted to get beneath the skin of the ‘real’ Maldives). But a dozen years on, rates are, thankfully, much more reasonable across the Indian Ocean.
Sri Lankan savings
Club Hotel Dolphin is an an all-inclusive hotel with excellent seafood, by a long, sandy beach
Club Hotel Dolphin is in Waikkal, less than an hour from the international airport, is especially family- friendly with children’s play rooms, entertainment shows and pools.
It’s an all-inclusive hotel (with excellent seafood, including fish curry) by a long, sandy beach. It’s close to Waikkal’s old-fashioned station and for a fun day trip, you can catch a rattling train into Sri Lanka’s capital, which takes less than two hours.
How much? From £1,029pp all-inclusive for a week with flights (tropicalsky.co.uk).
Indian Ocean views
Gaze out across the waves at Eden Resort and Spa, on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka on the golden coastline at Beruwala – and another bargain. This five-star, family-friendly hotel with 158 rooms has a pool and a spa.
There is loads to do round about, including visiting botanical gardens and a turtle hatchery, as well as the landmark Barberyn lighthouse and Ambalangoda Mask Museum – or booking a river canoe tour for a wildlife safari.
How much? From £1,080pp B&B for a week with flights (travelrepublic.co.uk).
Seychelles deal
Canopy By Hilton Seychelles Resort is a smart, modern hotel with an infinity pool and direct access to the beach
By a bay with a white sand beach named Anse a la Mouche on the south-west coast of Mahe, the main island in the Seychelles, Canopy By Hilton Seychelles Resort is a smart, modern hotel with an infinity pool and direct access to the beach.
It suits families as there is a children’s club and pool area plus a spa with treatments and a hot tub for adults. It’s a ten-minute drive from the renowned Jardin du Roi Spice Garden, dating back to the 18th century, when the French established the spice trade.
How much? From £1,169 B&B for a week with flights (loveholidays.com).
Stylish sands
Bentota Beach is one of Sri Lanka’s best-known stretches of sand, close to the Lunuganga Estate, the private residence of the country’s most famous architect Sir Geoffrey Bawa
Yet another one in Sri Lanka, which offers the cheapest prices for the Indian Ocean (and some of the best value). NH Bentota Ceysands Resort is on one of the country’s best-known stretches of sand, Bentota Beach. There is a huge pool, big enough for proper laps, a modern gym and spa.
It’s close to the intriguing Lunuganga Estate, the private residence of Sir Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most famous architect, with fabulous landscape gardens to explore.
How much? From £1,199pp all-inclusive for a week with flights (travelbag.co.uk).
Maldives secret
At Furaveri Island Resort and Spa, on Raa Atoll, guests stay in villas along the verdant coastline
This is a good choice for foodies as it has a seafood restaurant and a local speciality restaurant
Furaveri Island Resort and Spa is on Raa Atoll in the Maldives and guests stay in smart villas aligned along the verdant coastline of this olive-shaped island. There is a long, thin sandbar to explore at one end, a dive centre, tennis court, spa with treatments and yoga classes, and nightly entertainment.
This is a good choice for foodies as it features a seafood restaurant, Maldivian local speciality restaurant as well as a Mexican and an Indian.
How much? From £1,328pp B&B for a week with flights (onthebeach.co.uk).
Equator for less
Addu Atoll is at the far south of the Maldives archipelago and it has good spots for diving, including the remnants of a sunken shipwreck from the Second World War
Equator Village Maldives hotel is at the site of a former RAF base, which closed in 1976
Addu Atoll is at the far south of the Maldives archipelago of 1,192 islands and the Equator Village Maldives hotel is on the site of a former RAF base, which closed in 1976. There is even the officer’s old billiard table by the bar. This is a sleepy resort-hotel, on the island of Gan, with simple whitewashed rooms and a large, lagoon-style pool surrounded by palm trees.
There is good nearby diving, including the remnants of British Loyalty, a sunken shipwreck from the Second World War.
How much? From £1,342pp B&B for one week with the flights (tui.co.uk).
Family favourite
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives features villas over the sea, watersports and a spa offering treatments and yoga sessions
A short speedboat ride from the international airport connected to the Maldivian capital, Male, Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives features ‘water villas’ over the sea, watersports (including diving) and a spa offering treatments and yoga sessions. It is suitable for couples as well as families. Boat trips are offered to go dolphin-spotting at sunset and there are trips to ‘inhabited’ islands to give you a real flavour of local life.
All the meals are included and there are three bars plus a Tex-Mex restaurant.
How much? From £1,479pp all-inclusive for a week with flights (tropicalsky.co.uk).
Style and good value
The restaurant at Jalsa Beach Hotel, part of the all-inclusive deal, serves local dishes as well as Indian and Chinese food
Jalsa Beach Hotel and Spa, on the north-east coast of Mauritius, near Bras d’Eau National Park, offers large, colourful rooms with balconies facing the ocean.
One of its big plus points is that there is a beachside Boat House from which guests can rent kayaks, pedalos and snorkelling gear for free. There’s a children’s club, spa and a pool with a swim-up Rum Point bar. The restaurant, part of the all-inclusive deal, serves local dishes as well as Indian and Chinese food.
How much? From £1,646pp all-inclusive for a week with flights (firstchoice.co.uk).
More-ish Mauritius
The Le Peninsula Bay Beach Resort and Spa in Mauritius is near La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes nature park, where giant tortoises can be spotted
In the south-east of Mauritius, Le Peninsula Bay Beach Resort and Spa is beside a gorgeous, sandy lagoon and offers decent-sized rooms with balconies.
It is set in tropical gardens with palm trees and sun loungers by a pool, besides which is the Bar du Colonel, offering cocktails galore.
This is close to the village of Mahebourg, with its bustling market as well as the country’s National History Museum. There is also nearby La Vanille Réserve des Mascareignes nature park, with giant tortoises.
How much? From £1,662pp B&B for a week with flights (tui.co.uk).
Maldivian dream
Adaaran Select Meedhupparu hotel in Raa Atoll features smartly decorated ‘water villas’
Swim amid exotic fish on the house reef at Adaaran Select Meedhupparu hotel in Raa Atoll in the Maldives, which features smartly decorated ‘water villas’ above the waves.
Spa treatments on offer include massages, facials and wraps using Elemis products plus Chinese reflexology. Sunset boat trips to spot dolphins can be arranged, as well as visits to a ‘desert island’ and fishing excursions.
How much? From £1,669pp all-inclusive with flights (trailfinders.com).
Super Seychelles
The highlight of Mahe, in the Seychelles, is a long sweep of sandy beach
Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort and Casino is on the north-west coast of Mahe in the Seychelles.
The highlight is a long sweep of sandy beach but there is also a large infinity pool, plus a gym, spa, tennis courts and the casino of its name, complete with roulette and blackjack (from 8pm to 3am).
Diving excursions can be arranged and there is also a pizzeria, Indian restaurant and Chinese diner.
How much? From £1,720pp B&B for a week with flights (travelrepublic.co.uk).
Adults-only treat
The Lagoon Attitude Hotel is adults-only and faces the Anse la Raie lagoon
Stay at the Lagoon Attitude Hotel, an adults-only eco hotel on the north coast of Mauritius, which has a Marine Discovery Centre and faces the immense Anse la Raie lagoon.
Rooms are elegantly decorated in indigo, turquoise and navy blue, while the public areas feature tasteful modern art. There is a white sand beach, coral reef to explore plus snorkelling, three pools, a tennis court and gym.
How much? From £1,899pp all-inclusive with flights (trailfinders.com).
