We are looking at going away this Christmas/New Year, with my partner's mother and his sister and brother in law (who live in Zimbabwe), and four children. We want somewhere in Bali/Mauritius and need to have lots of activities and childcare. Any ideas?

Mauritius sounds like the ideal place if the other family live in Zimbabwe, as it's off the east coast of Africa, and it also fits the brief with fantastic, child-friendly hotels, although Christmas and New Year won't be cheap anywhere.

The Beachcomber hotel group has several properties on the island, including the all-inclusive Shandrani or the gorgeous Le Paradis and Dinarobin on the west coast, all with children's activities. The website, www.beachcombertours.co.uk, has detailed descriptions of the family facilities at each hotel.

You could push the boat out and visit the One & Only St Geran, where you'll hobnob with celebs, or the romantic (but still good for children) Le Touessrok. The colonial-style The Residence is good for families, too, with a wonderful children's club that offers snorkelling, hiking, beach picnics, pony rides, fashion shows and video evenings.

With a large-ish party travelling and different departure points, your best bet is to consult a specialist family travel agent. Quo Vadis (www.quovadistravel.co.uk) is a family specialist and knows everything about travel with young children, from which hotels have the best babycare to the best deals over the busy season. They're fully bonded, too: tel. 01279 639600.