The Beautiful Island of Mauritius
As a lover of all things travel I love to attend as many training sessions, webinars and events as I can to improve my knowledge and help me to advise my lovely clients as best I can. This week I joined some of my fellow local Travel Counsellors to hear all about luxury holidays to Mauritius. Now we all need some luxury in our life even if it’s just for a special occasion! I thought I would send you off into the world of 5* food, service and facilities.
Mauritius is a beautifully diverse island dotted next to Madagascar in the gorgeous serene waters of the Indian Ocean. I have been lucky enough to be visit Mauritius and I loved the fact that the island offered so much. The island is 12 hours flight from the UK but due to its location only four hours ahead so no jetlag which is great for those who suffer! The official language is English, but many residents speak French and Creole, so you can imagine the culture is very diverse. The interior of the island is mountainous with a tropical climate whilst the coast is littered with white sandy beaches and aqua blue seas – from one extreme to another! The best time of year to visit is between March and June and September and December where the temperature will be at least 25 degrees and up; although our summer months of July and August are also great months with little rainfall but slightly cooler temperatures.
The hotels on Mauritius are as truly stunning as the scenery and offer something for everyone. A few that I want to mention are the Shandrani which enjoys a great location on a private peninsular down on the South East coast and the Trou Aux Biches situated on the best beach in Mauritius on the North West coast. Then there’s the young and lively Le Mauricia which sits in a fab location on the North West tip of the island in the bustling village of Grand Baie.
The Shandrani is a fantastic hotel that offers guests an all-inclusive experience with four fantastic restaurants, a blissful Clarins Spa, Free kids club and even a sailing club! The hotel has three beaches, one of which is called ‘Wild Beach’ where the water sports are plentiful. The rooms are beautifully light and airy, and many have a delightful beachfront setting. Those with bigger families can enjoy space in the hotels two-bedroom apartments. This hotel which is classed as a 4*+ has so much to offer guests that I’d love to go here myself!
The other hotel I love is Trou Aux Biches (pronounced ‘trow-beesh’). This resort is renowned for its laid-back luxury with exceptional hospitality – so much so that the general manager Fatima will remember your name after meeting you only once! The beautiful hotel has six restaurants serving Creole and Mediterranean dishes as well as Indian and Thai food. The calm seas and white sandy beaches at Trou Aux Biches make it a truly romantic setting for weddings and honeymoons; plus, with all-suite accommodation you can relax in the most amazing surroundings, even enjoying a beachfront suite with a private pool. Imagine that!
And last but not least is the vibrant fun packed resort of Mauricia which enjoys a great location in the bustling coastal village of Grand Baie which makes it ideal for a fun packed holiday! With beautiful rooms and apartments, you can base yourself here and enjoy any manner of water sports including water-skiing, windsurfing sailing and snorkelling. For those wishing to take advantage of the sunshine there’s two large pools to laze by and take the occasional dip! By night the lovely little village of Grand Baie offers laid back bars and restaurants and even La Rhumerie, a nightclub open 6 nights a week! Of course, those of you with children will find this place great too as they have a kids club for 3 to 12 year olds keeping them well and truly entertained whilst you enjoy your holiday too!
If all of this hasn’t whet your appetite for a lovely Indian Ocean holiday I don’t know what will! Give me a call if you fancy some luxury!