Mauritius Gold Conference - A Truly Tropical Paradise
I flew out with my husband via Dubai with Emirates, one of the sponsors for our event. A nice touch on arrival outside the airport was a welcoming performance of the island’s signature dance routine, Sega dancing, by local musicians & dancers.
The venue and facilities were provided by our main sponsors of the Conference, Beachcomber Hotels in a stunning location on the Le Morne peninsular on the south western tip of the island and 45 minutes from the International airport. The Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa Complex comprised of two 5 star luxury Hotels, the Dinarobin and the Paradis with accommodation on a 7km secluded beach, a choice of eight different restaurants, a range of water sports as well as excellent Spa, gym and golf facilities. I had visited and explored Mauritius for a holiday in 2005 so I knew it was a beautiful Island but this location was truly magnificent. I just had to text family and friends to tell them, with photos, that I had arrived in paradise!!!
We had been allocated to stay in the Dinarobin Hotel where accommodation consisted of six crescents of suites each crescent having a shared pool as an alternative to the huge main pool. All were only a few yards from the private and secluded beach. We set off for a walk along the beach but as we emerged from the palm trees discovered we were opposite the beach bar so never got any further!!!
After a relaxing afternoon settling in and recovering from the long journey from the UK, we were taken across to the Blue Marlin fish restaurant at the Paradis Hotel where we had a welcome drinks reception and very enjoyable seafood dinner.
We had a choice of excursions next day and as we had toured the island before we had chosen to take a Catamaran cruise. We were taken out through the coral reef by speedboat to four Catamarans at anchor. We cruised along the coast and were privileged to see some dolphins along the way and anchored for swimming/snorkelling followed by a superb BBQ lunch before returning via the nearby lagoon. Other excursions available include tours to various parts of the island, Sugar Cane Plantations, the Botanical gardens at Pamplemouses, Grand Bassin Indian temple & sacred lake or shopping in the Capital Port Louis. In the evening we met up for cocktails on the beach at the Dinarobin Hotel followed by a superb BBQ at the Le Morne Plage restaurant with entertainment provided by local Sega dancers.
Next day I chilled out with friends by the main pool at Dinarobin while my husband played golf at the Paradis Course which he said was a fantastic experience with some spectacular holes and breath-taking scenery with the Le Morne mountain in view from everywhere on the course. In the evening we had a drinks reception in the club house at Paradis Golf Club followed by a black tie gala dinner in the beachside La Ravanne restaurant which specialises in Mauritian cuisine. Then it was back to the lounge bar at Dinarobin for a nightcap to round off the evening.
Mauritius really is a luxury tropical destination predominantly for relaxing in the sun, water sports and golf but there are also a variety of places of interest to visit on the Island for those who prefer to see the sights and experience the local culture. Many hotels on the Island can match the quality of accommodation, facilities and service as the Beachcomber complex of Dinarobin and Paradis but few if any can match the wow factor of the stunning location and spectacular setting of the Le Morne peninsular. It is truly a tropical paradise and one my favourite destinations in the world.