Integrating into local life comes easy from its prime location on the promenade; just a short stroll and the town’s delights are within easy reach. It’s a selling point for sure, only, when faced with the hotel’s own charms ensconced within its flourishing gardens, the urge to leave starts to float away on the sea breeze. The Oyster Box lays claim to an enviable reputation for haute cuisine, from the renowned curry buffet at The Ocean Terrace to the Palm Court’s glamorous high teas and fine dining in the Grill Room. Not to mention the (rather contrary) glass-ceilinged wine cellar that plays host to private dinners regularly. Little ones are even successfully kept occupied with complimentary treats like milkshakes and toffee apples.  

Yet despite its elegant adornments and polished service, the atmosphere is as laid-back as the hotel’s resident cat, Skabenga. Nowhere is this more so than in its award-winning spa, snuggled away in the greenery where rejuvenating treatments use world-renowned products. Outside of this pocket of calm, downtime is languid and leisurely, with days often spent spotting dolphins from the terrace and relaxing by the two pools – or simply enjoying the endless coastal panoramas in the Lighthouse Bar, overlooking its namesake and the Indian Ocean beyond.