My idea of heaven - The Seychelles

Sometimes I wish I had never been to the Seychelles.

Like amazingly good food, a comfortable but stylish pair of shoes or your first designer coat, the Indian Ocean simply spoils everything that comes after it. Is there a bluer sea? No.

Years ago I was on the boat to Comino with a couple from Mauritius and the look on their face when they saw our Blue Lagoon was priceless. Are there bluer skies? Hardly. The skies in the Maldives, for example, defy description and make you believe that God really exists and he went haywire on the palette.

Over the past ten years or so, resorts in the Indian Ocean have also become absolutely top notch and in some cases, the real 'all-inclusive' complete with quality champagne on tap.

Of course, you can still get duds. Last I heard a local agency was packing all its honeymooners in the same one in the Maldives 'Would you not mind if you were on honeymoon with a bunch of other Maltese couples' I asked a prospective one. 'What's wrong with that?' she replied. Well, I like my privacy.

Take a look at this amazing place: North Island in the Seychelles. Just 11 villas on what is effectively a private island. Food as you like it. Ice-cream brought to you by the butler on your own personal beach, 150-year old turtles for pets. Heaven, in all the colours you want as long as they are green and blue.

Mona Farrugia is a food and travel writer from Malta and Editor-in-Chief for http://www.planetmona.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.