Drake seaside Studio Apartments

The fit-out is a real strength. The apartments come fully equipped down to the last detail, with guests listing everything from a teaspoon to a washing machine and an oven, plus a coffee machine, kettle, microwave and gas cooker, and there is even a BBQ if you want one. Housekeeping is described as perfect, with linen and towels changed every other day, and the rooms are big and comfortable, with balconies that look straight out to sea, which guests can only sum up as wow.

The seaside setting adds the finishing touch. Some of the best snorkelling around is just down from the apartment, so you can be in the water within minutes of the door, and practical details make daily life easy, with a grocery right next to the building and free, safe parking on site. The service comes in for special praise, hosts who leave you to your own peace but are on hand and genuinely helpful whenever you need them.

One honest, minor note keeps things balanced. Amid the praise, a guest mentioned they did not like the mattress, a small quibble against an otherwise glowing picture. Set that single point against the outstanding service, the beautifully-equipped apartments, the seaside snorkelling and the paradise outlook, and it is easy to see why Drake Seaside earns its 4.9. For a self-catering stay with a genuine sea view, it is one of the loveliest small options on this coast.

Bel Ombre sits on the north-west coast of Mahé, a quiet, mostly residential village just south of the busy Beau Vallon bay, where the coast road runs close to the water and the shoreline is dotted with rocky snorkelling spots and small patches of sand. It offers calm, local surroundings within easy reach of the island's most popular beach, with Beau Vallon and its restaurants, dive centres and shops only a few minutes away by road and the capital, Victoria, about fifteen minutes further on. Supermarkets, a petrol station and a good spread of eateries are all close by, and the green hills behind give walkers mountain views, making Bel Ombre a handy and characterful base for the north of Mahé.