InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort

The Indian Ocean idyll of Mauritius is blessed with more than a few perfect stretches of coastline, and one of them, on the island’s northwest coast, is occupied by the InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort. It’s set on a substantial parcel of land overlooking Balaclava Bay, and spreads across several low-rise buildings, so that all of its 210 rooms and suites face the sea — some more directly than others, of course.

The immediate views from the units’ private patios or balconies are of the gardens, the pools, or the Indian Ocean; inside you’ll find all the comforts expected of a luxury resort of this caliber, plus a style that’s both sophisticated and warm, with plenty of color and local Mauritian character. The standard deluxe rooms are perfectly well suited for most purposes; the family rooms add extra bedrooms for kids, and the honeymoon rooms add jetted tubs on their private terraces.

Of course most of the appeal of a place like this is based on what goes on outside of the accommodations. Here the activities include everything from spa days and scuba diving to golf, tennis, and, for kids, the Planet Trekkers kids’ club; restaurants cover Mediterranean, contemporary Indian, and Asian fusion cuisines.