The beaches on Reunion Island’s western coast are sandy with coral reefs just offshore, and it’s here that many visitors put their feet up for a few days after touring the island on a self-drive holiday. Scuba diving and snorkelling are both excellent here and St-Leu attracts an international surfing crowd due its unusual ‘left hand’ waves. St Gilles-les-Bains is the number one resort with restaurants, cafes and night clubs providing a lively atmosphere when the sun goes down.