Sometimes when you stay in a hotel, you keep thinking of little extras that would have made your stay even more memorable. At Le Saint Géran, management have thought of everything you could ever have dreamt up – and so much more.

This is an outstanding luxury resort on an island renowned for its high-end hotels. Want to taste the traditional Ti’ Punch in the pool bar? No need – your room comes equipped with all the ingredients to make it – and a butler on call to show you how. Thinking of renting a Stand-up Paddleboard to test out the latest way to keep fit in water? The Boathouse lends out the equipment for free (as well as snorkelling and water-skiing gear, pedalos, kayaks and more). Laundry for the under-twos is free, bottled water and healthy snacks are provided regularly by friendly beach staff and daily gifts seem to arrive in your room while you’re out enjoying the grounds. There’s even someone who periodically wanders down the beach offering a sunglasses cleaning service.

It’s no surprise then that Le Saint Géran has an impressive number of repeat customers who keep coming back for the smiling service, the excellent cuisine, the large and luxurious rooms and for a big old dose of sheer relaxation. The resort was built in 1975, long before five-star tourism hit the island. Being a forerunner in its field, the hotel nabbed a prime piece of Mauritian real estate, tucked away on a peninsula on the northeast side of the island, with 270 degrees of calm lagoon waters edging the property.

Most rooms face the ocean and many have direct access to the beach, though they also come equipped with loungers and lazy chairs should you want to stay on your terrace and avoid the two-metre walk to the sand. Facilities are stellar, from the spa sitting in the hotel garden, to the beach bar jutting out into the ocean, the pool bar with its resident rum guru, Valayten (who has worked here since the resort opened) and the trio of restaurants. Everyday dining (and lunching for that matter) is available at La Terrasse, whose varied menu features a good range of Mauritian specialities like octopus curry or fried noodles as well as sandwiches, salads and pizzas. But you also have to try Prime, a steakhouse serving the best Angus beef, and Rasoi, which offers a modern and elegant take on Indian cuisine thanks to Michelin-star chef Vineet Bhatia.

Le Saint Géran doesn’t offer an all-inclusive option as many hotels on the island do, but the vast range of sporting options are free for anyone who wishes to burn off a few of the calories gained in the restaurants. As well as water sports, there’s a 9-hole golf course, tennis courts and bicycles to borrow. For families there is also a superbly equipped ‘Kids Only’ centre offering activities, kids meals and a babysitting service (the latter for a small fee).

You only need to spend a day here to realise why Le Saint Géran’s guests just keep coming back year after year. Whether you can stay for a weekend or a fortnight; whether you can afford to return year upon year or just make this a one-off treat, a sojourn at the One&Only is most definitely worth the splurge.