Mauritius - another day in Paradise

Mauritius still remains one of my favourite destinations. It’s a short 4 hour flight and offers a magical island experience complete with beautiful hotels, sandy beaches, great food and wonderful people – the Mauritians are always so warm, welcoming and friendly. Besides the beach, Mauritius offers a wide variety of different experiences and excursions, so you can choose to do as little or as much as you like on your holiday. It’s a wonderful family/couples/groups or honeymoon destination. In my latest visit (Aug ’13) I had the opportunity to visit the Attitude group of Hotels as well as the beautiful St Regis Resort. I also revisited the Heritage group of Hotels, namely the Heritage Awali, Heritage Le Telfair and Heritage Villas which are 2, 3 and 4 bedroom Private Villas located around the Heritage 18hole championship Golf course. The Attitude Hotels visited included Coin de Mire (3 Star), Emeraude Beach (3 Star), Récif (3 Star Superior) and Le Marina (4 Star).

My favourite of the 3 Star hotels is Emeraude Beach Hotel. It’s located on the North East coast, across the road from one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Mauritius – Belle Mare.

It’s a great family hotel and all packages are based on a Soft All Inclusive i.e. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily with selected drinks and beach service is included, providing excellent value for money.

It’s a small contemporary style hotel, comprising of 61 rooms in total and was completely renovated in 2010. It has complementary Wifi in all public areas, 24hour reception, a kid’s mini-club and a small Spa.

Récif Attitude is a superb small 70 room Mediterranean-style 3 Star Superior hotel dressed in white and wood and is located in the North West. It’s easily accessible from both the lively village of Grand Baie and the capital Port-Louis. The West Coast of the island offers the most magnificent sunsets and is more protected from the trade winds that tend to blow from the East during the winter months (June-August). Récif Attitude is the ideal hotel for romantic couples and honeymooners who are on a budget, but it does also cater for families and has its own mini club. It also has a Spa which offers free Hammam to all guests. It’s situated directly on the beach and has a beautiful slate rim-flowing pool. It offers 2 restaurants and bar, with the L'Océan being an à la carte seafood restaurant which has a “bare feet on the beach” approach. Far from the hustle and bustle of certain beaches, you will appreciate the calm and genuineness of this small hotel and the still unspoilt coast of Mauritius. Le Marina, although not a new hotel, is a new addition to the Attitude family. It’s currently undergoing a major refurbishment and will be ready for sale to the South African market from November 2013. It’s a 4 Star hotel located on the North East Coast and faces a huge natural lagoon. It has a wide choice of accommodation: 182 rooms, including 41 located in the new wing called "The Marina Privilege Club" which is exclusively for couples and honeymooners. Packages are sold on an All Inclusive basis which also includes complimentary Wi-Fi in all public areas. The hotel offers a beautiful, well priced Spa which also has two massage kiosks that face the lagoon, a Kids Mini Club, Dive Centre, Kite surfing School and an interactive educational centre called Nauticaz which is dedicated to nature’s treasures in the lagoon. This hotel is great all-rounder hotel and caters for groups, weddings, honeymooners, families and couples.

But the highlight of my trip has got to be my stay at the exceptional St. Regis Mauritius Resort & Spa! Situated in the South West on the Le Morne Peninsula, the St. Regis is a 5 Star luxury resort with 172 guest rooms and suites, all come with a private butler service and beautiful sea views. Attention to details is impeccable and definitely adds to the exclusivity of this absolutely beautiful hotel and upholds its theme – “Bespoke Sophistication”. It is part of the Starwood Hotels Group and offers complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the entire resort. This traditional Colonial style hotel has 6 gourmet restaurants and a bar, a magnificent Spa called Iridium and the ultimate in Kids Mini Club. This is the ultimate luxury hotel for Honeymooners and Families alike. With its reputation for excellence, St. Regis Mauritius’ exceptional service and setting is sure to make anyone feel like royalty! I can’t wait for my next trip back to Mauritius to discover more gems on this piece of paradise!