I have just got back from an amazing trip to Mauritius where I was lucky enough to visit a handful of the amazing resorts we sell and wow did they exceed all my expectations!
We landed after flying overnight with Air Mauritius, who did a great job looking after us on their direct service from Gatwick and headed straight to SALT of Palmer which is an adult only, boutique property located on the Easterly edge of the island in a town called Palmar. When we arrived, we headed straight to a fabulous breakfast from where we could look out towards the amazing ocean! I indulged in waffles, and some fresh local fruit – their coffee was superb and was exactly what I needed to wake me up after a 12 hour flight. The rooms were amazing, some with ocean views and dyson hairdryers! From here we went to a cocktail making class, and made the hotels signature cocktail – No Smoke without Fire – there is an amazing story that goes with this! We then proceeded to a 7-course lunch – the food was incredible and for me this hotel is for those looking for a small boutique hotel, at a great price but where food is a priority!! My favourite thing about the hotel is one of several efforts in sustainability which is the work they do with locals on the island, SALTSHAKERS, which is where guests can go and spend time with locals in their homes/communities and it is also amazing for foodies!!!
We then jumped on the boat and took a 5 minute boat ride down to LUX* Belle Mare – where we were met with a glass of champagne. I was blown away by the beach here – an impressive stretch of 2.2km!!! This hotel has a modern, clean and fresh look – all whites with thrashes of greenery thrown in and around all of the public areas! The pool here is the largest in the Indian Ocean, I managed several lengths one morning, and it was lovely to see the small children paddling with the separate little area for them – very shallow and gradual! My Junior Suite followed the style of the hotel – all white wash with splashes of colour – I loved the separate dressing room, just what everyone needs! The bathroom was spacious with a huge rain shower and the hotels own brand toiletries were lovely to use – as I had forgot my own!!! The food at LUX is amazing, this is what the brand is most proud of and does so, so well – we ate both nights in their signature restaurants, Amari (Indian) and the Duck Laundry (Chinese), both incredible! Breakfast is a lengthy affair with so many stations, meaning so many choices, impossible for someone like myself who struggles to make a decision, so a little bit of everything was the way forward. Continuing the food theme, all LUX* hotels have ICI which is an ice cream station – again spoilt for choice so I indulged in 2 servings on my first day – the almond ice cream I highly recommend! The hotel has a very laid back feel and in the evening it comes to life, with live entertainment most nights – this hotel for me is a really good option for everyone: families, couples, honeymooners, multi generation families, there really is something for everyone!
Another hotel we stayed at was LUX* Grand Gaube. This hotel is located on the North Coast of the island, just 10 minutes from LUX* Grand Baie. The hotel welcomes families, couples, honeymooners and for those seeking “peace” they have The Banyan which is a part of the hotel that has a pool, restaurant and a cove for adults only! We enjoyed the “Hug me Honey” experience which is a new area in the hotel where they have onsite bee keeping to help save the bee population and produce local honey for guests -we enjoyed some drinks and canapes whilst the keeper chatted to us about the journey of this evolved at the hotel. From here we enjoyed a wonderful lunch in the Wine Cellar!
LUX* Grand Baie – which is located just 5 minute walk away from the busy little town of Grand Baie is where you would venture to for a little bit of local nightlife. However, when staying at Grand Baie you get exclusive access to the hotel’s small night club Ai KISU – I enjoyed a dance and a cheeky cocktail after our amazing dinner at Ai KISU restaurant which serves up Asian fusion cuisine. This hotel is very stylish and sophisticated, again another design by Kelly Hoppen but in complete contrast to the other hotels – it has quite an Asian feel to it with dark wood and black decors. The hotel does have one of the islands best beaches, not so much in length but quality of sand and calm waters – just stunning! Again superb food here, we enjoyed lunch at Beach Rouge – it was a Mauritian BBQ so just what I was after, some yummy salad and protein after eating like a queen for the few days before! This hotel is perfect for couples and those seeking some uber luxury, exclusiveness and glamour, it is very much a place to be seen! I also feel it is a fantastic option for families with older children as it has access to Grand Baie where there are bars/restaurants so you can get out and explore!
Our final stop was at the magnificent LUX* Le Morne! For me, this hotel is all about the location – just stunning with the mountain of Le Morne as your backdrop! The beach is long, deep and has gorgeous white sand, stunning turquoise waters at the shore and a reef just a few minutes away by boat so great for those keen to wind or kite surf! This hotel has a laid-back feel but oozes exclusivity. The rooms are modern and light in design, and are all in small, low-rise pavilions scattered throughout the grounds! Another foodie hot spot with 3 restaurants and I really recommend dinner at Vik’s one evening, located down the beach where Vik himself will introduce you to the flavours of sea urchin! This hotel is very relaxed, peaceful and I really loved the design of the rooms – clean, fresh and modern! This hotel welcomes families, however there are other hotels I would send families to before Le Morne – this hotel for me is more for couples/honeymooners.
To find out more about any of these resorts in Mauritius, contact our Travel Specialists on 01494 678 400.
