Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives are undoubtedly three of the most beautiful island countries in the world. 

All three have the ingredients of a classic tropical island vacation, but all offer unique charms and provide visitors surprisingly different experiences. To make the most of your precious time away, it's vitally important you choose the right destination.

In today's online world, there are more reviews, influencers and vlogs that you can shake a flip-flop at. We’ve summarised the nitty-gritty of these incredible island nations to help you plan your perfect holiday.

Before diving in, it's always useful to try to picture what you want to experience from your time away. Who will be travelling? Do you want an action-packed break, or one spent relaxing on a tranquil beach? More resort-based, or at a smaller boutique lodge-style hotel? Bearing these in mind beforehand will really help you choose which country will work best for you.

Geography

Mauritius is comprised of a single, almost circular island which is fringed by beaches and reefs around it's entirety. It is the furthest south of the three countries and lies off the eastern coast of Madagascar.

The Maldives is made up of roughly 1190 small islands within 26 beautiful atolls. Only around 190 islands are inhabited and, of the islands that cater to tourism, almost all of them are home to just one resort. The Maldives are the furthest north and are found just to the south of India.

The Seychelles is made up of an archipelago of 115 islands and rests somewhere in between these two. The country is made up of some large and developed islands as well as other tiny, deserted oases that can be either accessed by speedboat or short flights. There are a number of 'outlying islands' which are several hundred kilometres to the south-east!

Weather

Ahh, clear blue skies, not too hot or muggy, with a slight breeze - the perfect holiday weather! 

In general, all three of these countries have warm, tropical climates that are interrupted by monsoons throughout the year. It's outside of these wet monsoon spells that is the best time to travel.

Being very close to the Equator, the temperature in the Maldives barely fluctuates at all. The Seychelles also enjoy a tropical, humid climate with constant high temperatures throughout the year. Mauritius is slightly further from the equator and as such has a very slightly more variation in temperature.

In a nutshell, the best time to visit the Seychelles and Mauritius is from April to October, and the Maldives is from November to April. 

It's important to understand that it may rain during any month in all three countries. Tropical climates are, well, tropical after all!

Accommodation

While all three countries have a really broad range of resorts and hotels that cater to all, there is a general rule that we tend to follow:

Resorts in the Seychelles a generally smaller and the lodgings can be more luxurious and private. We consider the Seychelles best for couples and honeymooners looking for a quiet time away from the crowds.

Despite the small size of the islands, Maldives is known for over-the-top and opulent resorts with overwater villas, underwater restaurants, spas, activity centres etc. These islands are, again, best for couples and honeymooners who are looking for a destination with plenty of water-based activities on offer and a some evening entertainment.

Mauritius is home to the largest resorts of all. We consider Mauritius to cater best for couples looking for activities of all types, and also for families.

Activities

In the Maldives, the majority of the sight-seeing is done underwater! Scuba diving and snorkelling conditions in the Maldives are some of the best in the world. With each island normally being home to just one resort, you typically won't travel to any other islands during your stay. Most resorts offer a broad range of on-water activities such as sailing, surfing etc too.

With a long tradition of conservation behind it, the Seychelles is home to several marine parks as well as forest and mountain reserves. As the country has banned all motorised sports for conservation reasons, the diving and snorkelling conditions are superb. Mahé and Praslin are both home to unique flora and fauna - we would recommend leaving your resort to explore the diverse ecosystems if possible!

Mauritius is the home of activities! If you want to jet-ski after breakfast, windsurf before lunch and have water skiing booked for the afternoon, then this is the place to go. Internally, there are plenty of mountains, forests and waterfalls to explore – not to mention the famed Seven Coloured Earth Dunes at Chamarel.

Access

Mauritius is the more accessible of all three destinations - being a single island country, you will only need to think about getting to the mainland and then getting picked up by a transfer. 

In the Seychelles and the Maldives, the chances are you will need an additional flight (although not strictly true if you are staying on the Seychelles island of Mahé). Maldives resorts nearest the airport in the North Malé Atoll can be reached by a short boat transfer.

All three countries have direct overnight flights from the UK, or are easily accessible connecting through one of the main transport hubs in the Middle East.

Food

Mauritius tends to serve up a a blend of Chinese, Indian, Creole and European food. 

In the Maldives you can expect a variety of Arabic, Indian, Sri Lankan and Oriental food, while in the Seychelles a mix of French, British, African, Chinese and Indian food is traditionally served.

Which country appeals most to you? Which of the three would be your perfect holiday destination?

There are, of course, many more superb beach destinations across the African continent that combine very well with safari, or as destinations as themselves. Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania's beautiful Zanzibar archipelago, the relatively unknown island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe off the west coast of Equatorial Guinea? All of these wonderful countries would make a fabulous beach holiday destination.