Mauritius

Mauritius is one of those rare places where French and English mix easily. In addition, travelers can enjoy fresh pineapple from a roadside stall while taking a break from seeing the island via moped. There are charming and inexpensive pensions in all the tourist towns and delicious Indian at a bargain. Many public beaches offer spectacular sand, snorkeling and sunsets.

Mauritius was named after Prince Maurits of Nassau, of Holland, after Dutch sailors who arrived there in 1598. The island later came under French and British rule before finally achieving independence in 1968 with the election of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who was prime minister for 13 years. The island elected a new prime minister, Ramgoolam's son, in 2005, unseating the ruling party of 22 years.

About 66 percent of the 1.3 million people in Mauritius are of Indian descent. Fifty percent are Hindu and 16 percent are Muslim. Creoles make up 27 percent, with the rest being of French or Chinese origin. There is a pervading atmosphere of tolerance and respect throughout the island. The official language is English, but you will hear French-based Creole spoken on the street. Mauritians are proud of living in such a beautiful place, and the economy has gained strength over the past several decades thanks to a booming textile industry, rising prominence in the technology sector and tourism.

There is a broad range of accommodation throughout the island. For more than US$1,000 per night travelers can stay in a suite at Le Touessrok on the stunning Île aux Cerfs. But visitors can also find inexpensive and charming apartments that are only a moped ride away from the beaches enjoyed by the less frugal. Because the island is so small, you can easily visit most of it in a week. Mauritius also makes a great stop if you are planning on visiting some of the other islands nearby,such as Réunion, which is just a 35-minute flight away, or even South Africa. You can even purchase an Indian Ocean Pass from such airlines as Air Austral, based in Réunion, or Air Mauritius, that allows you to fly between the Indian Ocean islands, such as the Seychelles, Comoros and Madagascar.

Once in Mauritius, you can buy food easily and cheaply from grocery stores and cook at your apartment, or visit restaurants. One option for those who want to feel what its like to have money to burn can purchase a day pass from Club Med, or a similar resort, and enjoy pristine beaches, food buffets and water sports. Low season rates can be found easily between May and August, and the weather remains beautiful pretty much year round.