MAURITIUS
Fugitive party person
Michael Barrymore hid out in Mauritius with his lover Shaun Davis after the inquest into a man's death during a party at his home. Twelve security staff guarded the Villa Royale - the most expensive suite at Le Saint GÀran. All the celebs have stayed at the Saint GÀran, from Sharon Stone to Geri Halliwell, Sting to Camilla Parker Bowles.
What they paid: £23,000 for a week, excluding flights and security staff.
What you can swing it for: Five nights' half board in a junior suite from £1,930pp, including flights from London with Abercrombie & Kent (0845 0700 611; ; www.abercrombiekent.co.uk).
SEYCHELLES
Premier vacation
Tony and Cherie Blair were guests of Richard Branson on FÀlicitÀ in the Seychelles when they holidayed on La Digue, a few miles away. An annex of La Digue Hotel, FÀlicitÀ is way up there in exclusivity. Guests have a luxury yacht, there are three river reserves and brilliant snorkelling.
What they paid: A week costs £26,320.
What you can swing it for: From £4,839pp for five nights' full board, return flights from London and transfers, based on four people sharing, with Elite Vacations Ltd (020 8864 4431; www.seychelles-travel.co.uk).
Hollywood royalty
Brad Pitt was so camera-shy he hired all 16 villas on FrÀgate island in the Seychelles for a holiday with his wife Jennifer Aniston. For seven days they had the run of nine beaches on the three-square-kilometre island.
What they paid: £120,000 for seven nights.
What you can swing it for: £6,000pp for five nights' full board, including return flights and helicopter transfers with Seychelles Travel (01202 877330; www.seychelles-travel.co.uk).
Beatle and bride
Paul McCartney and Heather Mills kicked off their honeymoon on Cousine Island, near FrÀgate, so exclusive you can only reach it by private chopper. Occupancy is limited to 10 people but Macca booked the whole 25 hectares of private nature reserve.
What they paid: £26,000 for two weeks.
What you can swing it for: Five nights' full board from £4,120pp, with return flights from London plus helicopter transfers with Kuoni World Class (01306 747001; www.kuoni.co.uk).
MALDIVES
The on-again, off-again couple
Sven-GÀran Eriksson and Nancy Dell'Olio recently paraded their undying affection when Sven splashed out on a five-day trip to the Maldives' Àber-exclusive Soneva Gili Resort, a collection of low-lying wooden huts threaded with jetties, a 10-minute boat ride from the capital, Male'. Gareth Gates was also spotted in the Maldives.
What they paid: £15,000 for five days.
What you can swing it for: Seven nights at the Soneva Gili Resort and Spa will set you back £2,364pp (room only) based on two sharing, including flights from Gatwick and transfers with Kuoni (01306 747001; www.kuoni.co.uk).
Five Indian Ocean hideaways
St Anne resort, Seychelles
Opened in November, the hotel is in the middle of the Sainte Anne Marine Park, and all the villas are sea-facing. There's a 'wellness centre' with all the traditional treatments plus balneotherapy - massage with jets of water in a bath. Beachcomber Tours (01483 445610) has six nights' B&B for £2,141pp until 7 April.
Cocoa Island, Maldives
Be one of the first visitors to the private Cocoa Island this year, the latest in a line of hotels by Christina Ong including the Halkin in London and Parrot Cay in the Caribbean. This private island has spa facilities including massage pavilions and Ayurvedic treatments. Seasons in Style (0151 342 0505) has two weeks' B&B from £2,450pp.
Taj Exotica, Maldives
Another resort with villas on stilts, but in the Taj Exotica, which opened last year, they are laid out in a pattern like the veins of a leaf, each wooden verandah facing outwards at the end of its own pier. It's just a splash from the villa into the lagoon, and the private verandahs are perfect for dinner À deux. Get the full benefits with yoga and t'ai chi sessions. Abercrombie & Kent (0845 070 0616; www.abercrombiekent.co.uk) has seven nights' B&B from £1,930pp with a £64 daily supplement for full board.
Legends, Mauritius
Built to follow the concepts of feng shui, the rooms have been decorated following the five elements of ancient Chinese philosophy - metal, water, wood, earth and fire. There are also lots of figures using the lucky Chinese number of eight - there are 198 rooms, most of which measure 48 square metres. ITC Classics (0870 751 9360; www.itcclassics.co.uk) has two weeks' half board from £2,461.
Le Touessrok, Mauritius
Not new, but it should be as good as new after a $50 million refurbishment. Chintzy and traditional has given way to modern and minimalist with vibrant red and purple furnishings, plasma screen televisions and enormous stone baths. Carrier (01625 547030; www.carrier.co.uk) has one week's half board from £2,372pp
