Praslin Paradise

There is no super cheap way to get from one island to another, the inter island plane is $60 each if you book on the Internet, and the ferry £45 each way. On our crossing, this included free entertainment: watching people drop like flies with sea sickness and ending the trip with the head of a very sick lady on my lap (she having passed out and been cared for by crew, they had to leave to put out the fenders or some other spurious excuse). Rough seas and a high speed catamaran are not a great combination and sadly we were unable to watch Praslin approach as it was shrouded in cloud. In all honesty I was too busy checking my new travelling partner had the sick bag to her face and ensuring my feet were out of the way of a direct hit to have noticed anyway.

It's easy to grab a taxi at the port and a 10 minute ride to your hotel will cost 250SCR or £14. You cannot take the bus as they do not allow suitcases on....can't say we were disappointed at that one.

Mango Lodge is set high up on a hill again (Steve has asked if I am actually trying to kill him) which affords a fabulous view across a turquoise bay and is so remote you can sleep with the doors open and the wind blowing through. The accommodation itself is a selection of A-frame chalets, individual huts with kitchen, bathroom and balcony all made from ply-wood. They are fine (not the Ritz) and heat up nicely in 30c, much like a shed. The knock out smell of damp from the bathroom means you don't take your time and it turns out all the taps are plumbed the wrong way around, so the Baltic cold showers we both had could have been avoided after all. That said, €100 per night including breakfast does get you a priceless vista, and a bed that is close to comfortable.

Quite a grey and drizzly afternoon has been spent scoping out the local eateries and the associated prices, obviously accompanied by a Seybrew and sit down in each. So far not too bad, given the captive audience we pose. A fish/chicken/beef curry will set you back about £10.00 and a Caesar Salad £6. Pizza and pasta are the mainstay, as the island is heavily visited by Italians, and these range between £5-£12 for a main course.

We have had one stroke of luck on the shoestring though; a beautiful bar with upper floor for watching the sunset, all decked out in rattan furniture, and sporting a private function section of the Verve Cliquot variety. Due to the lack of private bookings we were able to manoeuvre our way into the specially reserved part for free and while away some of the tropical downpour in the very comfortable surroundings, all for the price of a few drinks (admittedly not the cheapest we have ever had and at £6 for a cocktail you learn to drink slowly).