Réunion

There’s a little appreciated travel fact that we at Original Travel are trying hard to overcome – Brits tend to travel in former British colonies, while French and Spanish tend towards their former dominions. Not surprising, really, given common languages and the fact that there are far more direct flights between post-colonial chums. What it does mean, however, is that some seriously spectacular destinations often slip under the radar for the British traveller.

A classic example of this is the delicious Indian Ocean island of Réunion, a former French colony, and a tiny verdant gem. A half hour hop from the honeymoon and family (not at the same time, obviously) classic that is Mauritius, Réunion dovetails with its larger neighbour perfectly. Where Mauritius is all about immaculate but often quite large beachfront hotels, Réunion is more about the place itself than the properties, although there are some lovely little boutique hotels to choose from. The real highlight here is the island itself, all jungle covered slopes and inaccessible villages, with beautiful beaches and lava flows for good measure.