Mauritius holidays: Nick Knowles finds relaxation heaven in the Indian Ocean

Add to My Stories Share My only previous trip to Mauritius had been a very quick stopover, so when I returned this time with my girlfriend Jessica, we decided to spend it at a luxurious resort.Shanti Maurice sits on a pristine cove on the island's largely untouched south coast. Its 61 suites and villas are spread across 36 acres of fragrant tropical gardens - not surprisingly, it is an extremely popular location for weddings and couples on honeymoon.

Putting down the toolbox: Nick and Jessica ease into their surroundingsI usually like to go exploring when I'm on holiday. When I visited Kalymnos, Greece, for example, I loved seeking out ruined temples. Or if I'm in Rome, I can spend days walking around the city's many attractions.However, this time Jessica and I decided that, as I have had a really busy couple of years at work, this would be a relaxing, indulgent kind of break.Fortunately, Shanti Maurice has an excellent spa offering a huge range of massages and facials. Jessica had a stress-relieving treatment every day, and I had four or five deep-tissue massages, which effectively involved me in being beaten up by a small Indian woman. I also used the gym daily, so by the time we left I certainly felt a lot healthier.

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The massages were particularly good for my back - I have several old injuries from playing rugby, accidentally throwing myself off motorbikes and falling off trucks in Africa. I'm covered in a hundred scars and have been put back together Frankenstein-style with bits of other people.Funnily enough, even though my TV career is closely associated with housebuilding and repairs - I've presented the BBC's DIY SOS show for 11 years - I've never had a serious in! jury res ulting from DIY (touch wood!).Food is an important factor when I'm choosing a holiday destination. When I'm in Portugal, I love seeing fish coming in off the boats and being freshly cooked; in France, I like wandering around markets buying different olives, cheeses and breads.It doesn't have to be high-end food, but it's nice to enjoy a few little luxuries from time to time. So I was delighted to find two excellent restaurants at Shanti Maurice - one specialising in Indian food and the other offering European cuisine.We met Willi Reinbacher, the hotel's Austrian chef, who explained his passion for serving the best fresh food and why he believes that Mauritius is the perfect place for his style of cooking. The lobster dish he prepared for us was truly exceptional.In addition to its restaurants, Shanti Maurice has introduced 'Grandma's Kitchen' - this allows guests to dine at the home of the grandmother of one of the resort's team members.First, Grandma will tell her guests about Mauritian cooking and explain a little about the ingredients, which are all handpicked from local markets.Dishes include honey lamb with cinnamon, white wine, soy sauce and ginger; a spicy fish curry with tamarind, coriander and chillies; and Pineapple Bomb - a refreshing sweet treat made from sugar, pineapples, eggs and cream.Guests eat at a communal table and can listen to Grandma telling stories about the past. To complete the experience, they leave with a cookbook filled with a selection of Grandma's handwritten recipes and tips on how to recreate the flavours of Mauritius in their own kitchens.

Hideaway: The Shanti Maurice resort is a place where you can truly forget your caresWhile it was latterly a British colony, Mauritius has more of a French influence on its style and cuisine. During our stay, we visited a French restaurant called Le Pescatore in Grand Baie, and the food we enjoyed there was as good as an! y served at a Michelin-starred restaurant in London.Although I was intent on relaxing, Jessica and I went snorkelling one day, which was fantastic. Incidentally, if you like scuba-diving, Mauritius is a great place to indulge your passion.And I couldn't resist hiring a car and driving around the local area. I found a couple of lovely hotels tucked away - one of them has even started making its own rum.It was also fascinating to experience the unique mix of Indian, African and French influences that form Mauritian culture.The island had a tremendously relaxing effect on me - I came back feeling more refreshed than on any previous holiday I've had.I was ready to answer that DIY SOS call once more.

Travel Facts

Air Mauritius (020 7434 4375, www.airmauritius.com) offers return flights from Heathrow to Mauritius from 688 until July 14. For information on Shanti Maurice, visit http://shantimaurice.com.ITC Classics (01244 355 550, www.itcclassics.co.uk) offers seven nights' half-board in a junior suite at the resort from 1,759pp, including flights and transfers.