They?re surrounded by a warm sea reflecting a rainbow of blues, have the obligatory palm trees fringing the beaches and the laid-back, island atmosphere that should be soaked up with cocktails as the sun goes down. A relaxing beach holiday doesn?t get much better than this. The area also offers great diving, some of the best game fishing in the world and is a playground for watersport enthusiasts.

The thing is, to enjoy this piece of paradise you?ll need to fork out A Lot Of Cash. Like, more than R1000 a night. So an alternative is to stay on the mainland at Vilankulo, gateway to the archipelago. It?s a super-chilled town which has grown apace with tourism and has a host of camp sites, dive and fishing companies, self-catering accommodation and a few lodges. But you don?t stay in Vilankulo for the town; you go there for the beaches (which are generally busy compared with the islands) and for the day trips out to the reefs and fishing spots off Benguerra, Bazaruto, Margaruque, Bangwe and Santa Carolina (Paradise) islands.

Back to the lodges and the R1000-plus price tag... is it worth forking out hard-earned cash for a night in paradise? We checked out six lodges and admit if we had the bucks, we?d go to them all. Marlin and Benguerra lodges are perfect for honeymoons; Bazaruto is a good place to celebrate an anniversary; to do a dive course, go to Indigo Bay. Holiday with friends at Vilanculos Beach Lodge and, if you?re wanting to escape from the world once in a while, stay at Dugong. But until we win the Lotto, we?ll stick to camping at Vilankulo.

Dugong Lodge
Dugong is set in a wildlife sanctuary on the mainland, on the edge of a quiet bay. No fishing is allowed around the lodge and thousands of fish now live in its waters. You can snorkel among them in front of your room. It?s quiet, far from the rest of the world and has a calm atmosphere about it ? perfect for relaxing.

Laid-back factor: *****
Go here if: You want to unwind or go fishing.
What to do: Snorkel, kayak, catamaran, fish, cultural drives.
Contact: (011) 463 3551, http://www.dugonglodge.co.za.

Marlin Lodge
With its subtle style, this lodge on Benguerra Island is good at doing romance and has become very popular with honeymooners. From most rooms you can lie in bed and see the beach; they all have their own verandas, a hammock and comfy chairs, and a raised deck leading onto the sand. There is often, however, a lot of activity (boats coming and going, being cleaned and so on) on the beach in front of many of the chalets.

Laid-back factor: **
Go here if: You want a holiday where you can totally relax, including being pampered in the wellness centre.
What to do: Snorkel, dive, tour the island, visit Pansy Island, dhow and yacht cruises, water-ski, knee board, wake board, fish. Wind surfing, kite flying, catamaran sailing and sea kayaking are free.
Contact: (012) 543 2134, http://www.marlinlodge.co.za.

Indigo Bay
This Bazaruto Island resort has all the trimmings of a successful hotel: a clean, quiet beach, great swimming pools, discreet staff, satellite television, an activities desk and a resident dive master. The rooms are quite private and spread out along the beach, tucked into the gardens. The resort can sleep 100 people, but because it?s big and expansive, it seems more exclusive than that. The honeymoon suite is a real treat.

Laid-back factor: *
Go here if: You want an air-conditioned room, satellite television and a phone next to the bed; if you want an effortless, smooth holiday where you can chill out or do as much as you want.
What to do: Dive, snorkel, fish, sunset cruise, horse rides, cultural drives, water ski. Kayaking, wind surfing and sailing are free.
Contact: (011) 467 1277, http://www.raniresorts.com.

Benguerra Lodge
Laid-back Benguerra has a bush-lodge-by-the-sea atmosphere. It?s set in coastal forest and the rooms have been built quite far apart from each other, between the milkwoods. They?re Robinson Crusoe-style: thatched roofs with walls less than a metre high, then there?s nothing; you close yourself off from the world by rolling down the reed blinds. It?s wonderfully romantic, but it does mean the mosquitoes buzz around at night.

Laid-back factor: ***
Go here if: You want the best of a bush/beach holiday; if you want privacy, to relax and still have an option of doing things.
What to do: Snorkel, dive, saltwater fly and deep-sea fishing (Andrew Parsons, world-renowned saltwater fly-fisher, is contracted to the lodge), picnic, bird watch, tour Benguerra Island.
Contact: (011) 452 0641, http://www.benguerra.co.za.

Vilanculos Beach Lodge
Rustic-style Vilanculos is on the mainland and has a lovely stretch of beach at the end of its gardens, beyond the pools. The property is sloped so most rooms have elevated views of the sea; they also have their own verandas with a hammock. The lodge is close to town and the harbour.

Laid-back factor: ***
Go here if: You want to holiday in a relaxed, stylish ? but not posh ? place where children are welcome. Go if you want the freedom to visit the town, eat at different restaurants and use the lodge as a base for exploring the area.
What to do: Non-motorised water-sports (sea kayaks, paddle skis, canoes, dinghy sailing, wind surfers) are free. Fishing, diving, island trips and snorkelling can be arranged.
Contact: (021) 691 1763, http://www.vilanculos.co.za.

Bazaruto Lodge
Because the lodge is at the northern end of Bazaruto Island, it?s pretty quiet; there are no day-trippers or busy beaches to contend with and it feels as though you have the island to yourself. Accommodation is in comfortable, air-conditioned A-frame chalets which have just been renovated; not all have a sea view though.

Laid-back factor: ***
Go here if: You want an active holiday filled with fishing, diving and snorkelling or like to take long walks on the beach.
What to do: Dive, snorkel, fish, dhow cruises, games room, picnics, island trips, water ski and wake board.
Contact: 0861 113 46, http://www.pestana.com.

This feature originally appeared in Getaway Magazine. For more, visit getawaytoafrica.co.za