I was the lucky participant to be personally invited to explore the beauty of one of the islands of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius. Being my second visit I was delighted to see that not a lot had changed.
Mauritius is situated in the Indian Ocean just off the South East coast of Africa. The Island is of volcanic origin with coral reefs surrounding most of the coast except the South. Mauritius has the most beautiful unspoiled white sandy beaches with amazing sparkling turquoise waters. Mauritius is the perfect all year round destination, with temperatures in the mid 20's during April to October and rising to the 30's in the summer months between November and March.
The diversity of its people makes Mauritius a very unique destination. The population is just over 1 million people with a mixture of Europeans, Asians, Africans, and Indians who live in harmony. I found the Mauritian people to be warm and friendly and they always make the traveller welcome. The language spoke is predominantly French or Creole however; most Mauritian’s speak English as this is taught at school.
If you are looking for a destination with a fantastic range of sports and activities, you are a lover of food and wine or a lover of luxury then Mauritius is your dream holiday. The choice of rooms, apartments and beach bungalows are amazing. I have never stayed at such beautiful resorts in all of my travels. Every resort includes all the water and land activities and half board basis (breakfast and dinner) in their rates. This is unique as your holiday becomes hassle free as everything has been taken care of before you board the plane and then your time in Mauritius can be spent just relaxing and exploring the beauty of the island.
Having explored the whole Island, I really preferred the west coast as you can really maximise your chances of the best weather on the island. The east and south coast tend to suffer most from the southeast winds, especially from April to October. Mind you if you love to surf, then the east coast is perfect. The mountain ranges on the north and west coasts tend to provide more year round, holiday friendly weather and calmer, warmer lagoons and dramatic sunsets.
Luxury resorts in Mauritius are in a class of their own, your expectations are sure to be fulfilled. Butler service, maids, nanny or private chef, gourmet dining and heavenly spas, are all on offer.
I was fortunate enough to stay and inspect seven resorts on the island and trust me, it was difficult for me to pick a favourite, as they were all beautiful in their own way. One thing that did stand out to me was the absolute fantastic service from the staff at all resorts. I love the Mauritian people; they certainly offer such class and sophistication. Also the quality of the food in Mauritius is supreme. Having travelled to many South Pacific destinations, I can honestly say that if you are looking for quality food and beverage, go to Mauritius. Personally, you just do not get this level of service and sophistication in the South Pacific regions, which are very favourable to the Australian market. Also, The Mauritian resorts cater extremely well for families and the honeymoon market. Some resorts offer total seclusion and others have a livelier atmosphere for those that don't want to be isolated.
A lot of people ask me “But what is there to do in Mauritius?” My answer to that question is there is an abundance of things to do on the island. It is a very small island however there is plenty to do and see. There are plenty of fantastic markets to visit on the west coast where there is an area called Flic en Flac and Curepipe where you can purchase local crafts and exceptionally great clothing at the local markets. Just above Flic en Flac is an area called Quatre Bornes, which is like a mini city where there are loads of shops etc. A visit to The Pamplemousses gardens is a must, which is situated near Grand Baie where you can enjoy the various cafes and bars. If you are a lover of golf, Mauritius offers some of the best golf courses in the world. Please refer to this website for other places of interests. http://www.maurinet.com/
Air Mauritius fly to Mauritius once a week ex Melbourne on Tuesdays on a direct flight, which takes 12 hours. I travelled Business class on Air Mauritius on their A340 jet. I found Air Mauritius to be fantastic; the staff couldn't do enough for you. The seat in Business class is the older style type of Business class seat, ie- not the flat beds but they were extremely comfortable. I found the choice and quality of food absolutely delicious and the quality of wines and champagne, excellent.
On most packages to Mauritius, Air Mauritius offers a Business and First class upgrade option that makes travelling up the front affordable. When you arrive in Mauritius most resorts are around an hour and a half away from the airport. I would definitely opt for a private car transfer as the roads are quite bumpy and you will be transferred direct to your resort instead of stopping off at other resorts along the way. You will find sugar cane absolutely everywhere and once being taken off the beaten track you will discover the most beautiful aquamarine, white silky sand beaches.
LE TELFAIR RESORT ~ South Coast of Mauritius 6 Stars
Accommodation ranges from 4 to 6 stars. My first hotel visit was situated on The South coast close to the airport. The Le Telfair nestles on the site of the former sugar estate of Bel Ombre. The hotel is built colonial style and every room and suite is designed for maximum seclusion and tranquillity. Behind the resort lies over 3500 acres of unspoilt nature reserve where guests can stroll, venture on horseback or mountain bike and discover the amazing local fauna and flora. This resort has the most exquisite Golf club and 18 hole beautifully manicured golf course. The rooms and grounds of this resort are simply elegant. The restaurants at this resort are absolutely wonderful and I would have to say one of my favourite on the Island. All land and water sports including Water skiing are included at this resort. This resort has the most beautiful spa centre offering every possible spa treatment possible.
THE HERITAGE ~ South Coast of Mauritius 4 stars
Second stay was at The Heritage Resort which is situated next to it’s much larger neighbour The Le Telfair Resort. This resort is of African theme and boasts a beautiful pool that cascades into the ocean. What I enjoyed about this resort was the outdoor pool area and bar. I must say however, the service was not exceptional compared to other places.
BEAU RIVAGE ~ East Coast of Mauritius 5 Stars
Third stay was Beau Rivage, one of my favourites and this was because of the atmosphere that this resort had. It is located on a spectacular white sandy beach spread along glistening turquoise waters, I loved the beach at this resort as it stretched on for about 6 kilometers. With its typical thatched roof villas, Beau Rivage is the perfect setting for legendary Mauritian hospitality and tropical elegance at its best. This resort offers a beautiful outdoor restaurant right opposite the beach and the seafood cuisine is exceptional. The bars at night were fantastic as these are also situated opposite the beach and a band plays every night. I loved this resort because it is still truly romantic but has a livelier atmosphere during the day and evening.
THE RESIDENCE ~ East Coast of Mauritius 5 stars
Inspired by the turn of the Century colonial mansions, The Residence is built in the grand tradition of the plantation houses of Mauritius. My first impression of this resort was wow! This colonial style resort is the perfect combination of elegance, luxury and comfort. The restaurants and cuisine are truly an experience of their own. The settings are exquisite, opposite the ocean. The flavour sensation of the food and beverage was out of this world.
LE PRINCE MAURICE ~North/ East Coast of Mauritius 6 stars
I would have to say that Le Prince Maurice is one of the finest resorts on the island.
If you are looking for total tranquillity then this is the place. An all-private villa resort scattered amongst the tropical landscaped gardens and suspended over a private lagoon, this resort is simply stunning. The use of natural materials, wood, stone and thatch blends naturally with the beauty and simplicity of the environment. I would suggest this resort for honeymooners looking for total privacy; the likes of The Beckhams and other celebrities stay here because of its total seclusion and privacy. This has the most beautiful spa resort I have seen.
HILTON MAURITIUS RESORT AND SPA ~ West Coast of Mauritius 5 stars The Hilton is located in an exceptional position, protected from the winds by the lagoon. This resort also offered great atmosphere however and great food and beverage. I would recommend this resort to families. The only thing that let this resort down was the lack of a Mauritian feel in the rooms, to me I could have been staying anywhere in the world. ...I guess that's Hilton resorts for you!
Overall, what can I say; I truly have a passion for this country. I have also visited many other resorts on this Island and they just keep getting better and better. I do not think you can go wrong with any of these resorts. I guess each have a different atmosphere that would suit different types of travellers. This is truly a destination I would visit again because as I have mentioned before, the service, friendliness and quality are unsurpassed.
If you are looking to travel to Mauritius, please contact me, as I would be more than happy to help. It is certainly one of my favourite treasures in the world.
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