The InterContinental Resort Mauritius at Balaclava on the north-west coast occupies one of the island's most historically resonant sites — adjacent to the ruins of a 19th-century French arsenal that has been carefully preserved as a garden feature within the grounds. The resort itself is large and comprehensively facilitated: 210 suites and villas arranged around a lagoon beach backed by tropical gardens, with the arsenal ruins visible from the main pool terrace. The beach faces west and catches the full drama of Mauritius's famed sunsets, the sky turning rose and tangerine over the uninhabited islands of the north-west. Rooms are IHG-calibre: spacious, well-fitted, with good bathrooms and consistent air conditioning; the sea-view suites are significantly better than the garden rooms. The YUMI Japanese restaurant is among the best on the island, a genuine culinary destination that draws guests from Port Louis 20 minutes north. The spa has a strong Ayurvedic menu and a dedicated yoga studio with morning classes at sunrise. The IHG One Rewards programme offers meaningful benefits here.