Mauritius - The Star and Key of The Indian Ocean

Mauritius is an island that truly does have something for everyone and it didn’t disappoint on a recent trip that my husband (Simon) and I took to celebrate our anniversary. Mauritius is best known as a honeymoon destination, and it’s easy to see why with the stunning beaches and turquoise waters. It is however fast becoming a popular choice for family holidays with many choosing it as an alternative to Europe during the summer months or as another option for those who favour the Caribbean in winter months. Direct flights from the UK take 12 hours but we opted to break up your journey with a stop in Dubai , a great way to experience a two centre holiday The Mauritius weather is ideal, year round, with average temperatures rarely dropping below 24 degrees Celsius. The island does have rainfall year round, but it tends to fall in short, sharp showers( we saw a few of these but they lasted typically about twenty minutes and then the glorious sunshine returned) The wonderfully temperate climate, year round sunshine and low humidity is an obvious appeal for holidaymakers and families in particular. You can be as active or relaxed as you like in Mauritius. The island caters to a wealth of activities on land and sea. We particularly enjoyed a boat trip to the Ile aux Cerfs and a visit to the waterfalls…..although I can recommend relaxing with a coconut daiquiri too We took the opportunity to hire a car to enable us to explore the island, get off the beaten track, experience local life, shop with the locals and really get a feel of the island. I highly recommend this, although be prepared for some “erratic” driving in larger towns – particularly Port Louis ! Driving on the left does make life easier though! We were fortunate enough to be in Mauritius for their Independence Day celebrations and were entertained by local children singing the national anthem “Motherland” in French, English and Creole. We certainly felt at home and very welcome on this enchanting island. You don’t even need to pack travel adaptors as everywhere has UK sockets. That left a little extra space in my bag to bring back some of the St Aubin local rum ! Mauritius is a strikingly beautiful island that I feel sure will leave a lasting impression on everyone who visits, however my lasting memory of Mauritius will be the Mauritian culture which is based on the diversity of its population, that's why there is no “official religion” in Mauritius. Hindus, Tamils, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and others from all over the globe live in harmony and respect the free practice of all religions in Mauritius.

What a wonderful way to live …………….. Who wouldn’t want to visit such a wonderful example of how simply beautiful life can be.

"You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first, and then heaven; and that heaven was copied after Mauritius?" Mark Twain