Le Meridien Ile Maurice

Set in tropical gardens beside the beach, Le Meridien Ile Maurice is a large resort for divers who want the rest of the day to be properly easy: somewhere to eat without leaving the property, a choice of places to sit, and enough room to disappear into a quiet corner when the legs have had enough. The large pool area and direct beach access keep the sea close, while the wooden furnishings and bright natural colours give the rooms a straightforward, comfortable feel rather than a fussy one.

English is clearly catered for through the hotel's website, alongside French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Czech, Swedish, Portuguese, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Chinese and Japanese. That is useful before arrival, particularly when you are sorting out rooms, transfers or a day away from the resort. Children of any age are welcome, while several room categories form an adults-only Nirvana area for couples who prefer a quieter part of the property.

You are in Pointe aux Piments, on the north-west coast of Mauritius, with the resort directly on the seafront and access to a white sandy beach. Sun loungers and parasols are set up for the practical business of doing very little between swims. Pointe aux Piments Public Beach is about 300 feet away, and Balaclava Beach is roughly 0.3 miles from the property.

The location keeps you on the coast rather than in the middle of town. Mauritius Aquarium is about 1.3 miles away, while Port Louis, the capital, is roughly 10 miles from the resort. The Sugar Museum and the SSR Botanical Garden are both within reach by car, at about 6 and 7 miles respectively. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport is around 27 miles away, so the final transfer is not a quick hop across the road; the airport shuttle is available to arrange through the hotel.

The useful choice here is less about counting cushions and more about deciding how you want the evening to work. The Ocean Sky Junior Suites suit a couple who want a seating area and a view, with either a super-king bed or twin double beds. For three guests, the family suite adds a sofa bed and puts you close to the beach. It is the sensible direction when sharing a room matters more than a private adults-only corner.

Couples have several adults-only options in the Nirvana area, including rooms built around a more private, romantic stay. The Plunge Pool Hideaway is the substantial option, with a private plunge pool and enough space to make the room feel like part of the holiday rather than merely the place where the bags are kept. Access to the Nirvana swimming pool is reserved for guests staying in the three Nirvana categories, so choose that area deliberately rather than assuming every guest can use it.

Air conditioning deals with the tropical heat, while a ceiling fan gives you another way to keep the air moving at night. Each room has a seating area, satellite television, a private bathroom with separate bath and shower, and the useful combination of a coffee machine and kettle. Extra-long beds, daily housekeeping, Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and room service at any hour all help when your timetable has been dictated by tides, boats and the amount of sand that somehow gets everywhere.

The resort gives you six restaurants, with four named options covering rather different moods. Nomad handles international food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while Kumin works with Indian cuisine across the same three meals. Breakfast is served buffet-style, with continental, Full English, vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free choices. That is a useful spread when one diver wants eggs, another wants something lighter and somebody else is still pretending coffee counts as breakfast.

Waves is the more relaxed seafood choice, with barbecue cooking, Creole influences and service for lunch and dinner. Jade takes the evening in a finer-dining, Pan-Asian direction. A bar and minibar cover the basic need for a drink without a separate expedition, and room service runs around the clock. You can also arrange breakfast in your room, which has obvious appeal on an early departure day when conversation has not yet reached full pressure.

The large pool area and direct beach access make the simplest plan perfectly workable: swim, find a sun lounger, and let the day become less ambitious. The gardens, terrace and sun terrace give you room to sit outside, while the resort also has a children's pool and family facilities for trips where not everyone is interested in discussing decompression tables over lunch.

For something more active, there is a tennis court, tennis equipment, badminton equipment, table tennis, billiards and a games room. Kayaking, snorkelling and windsurfing are also available for days when you want to stay on the water without committing to another dive. Cycling, archery, aerobics, yoga classes and walking tours add further options, with live music, film nights and other evening entertainment when the sofa has not quite won.

The Explore Spa & Fitness Centre is the practical recovery department. It includes a gym, fitness and aerobic classes, saunas, steam rooms, body showers, a cold plunge pool and a Jacuzzi, along with massages and body treatments including scrubs and Ayurvedic treatments. Couples can book a couples massage, or you can simply choose the hot tub and stop making decisions for a while.

Check-in starts from 14:00 and check-out is by 11:00. A 24-hour reception, private check-in and check-out, concierge service, luggage storage, currency exchange and a tour desk keep the practical side in one place. Car hire is available, and the hotel has free private parking on site without a reservation requirement.

The airport shuttle is available as a paid service and can be arranged with the hotel. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Laundry and dry-cleaning services are available, as are packed lunches, room service and a minimarket on site. An infirmary is also available, which is the sort of detail you would rather know before you need it.

Children of any age can stay, with cots available on request for younger children and babysitting available. There is no age requirement for check-in. Pets are not allowed, and cash is accepted as a payment method. Cancellation and prepayment conditions vary with the accommodation selected, so the room category remains part of the practical decision rather than a bit of small print to ignore.