This north coast spot from rapidly expanding Mauritian brand LUX* near the boat-and-bar seaside town of Grand Baie has so much to offer – some of the best gastronomy on the island, first-rate kids club and wellness – yet it is bringing a large dose of sun-drenched high glamour fun to the island. Three sunbathers with competing Dior beach bags tuck into chilli-flecked guacamole and margaritas as a DJ spins sundowner tunes. At the adults-only rooftop bar, a lithe septuagenarian and her young, sculpted paramour engage in a photo shoot on the swings that sway over the pool. Not just the vistas over the cobalt surf, but the colourful clientele drawn to its bonhomie. At sushi restaurant Kushi sit chef side for seared red grouper with miso teriyaki, rounded off with a treacly Chamarel on the rocks at the convivial Te bar.Īddress: Coastal Road, Trou d'Eau Douce, MauritiusĪt the island’s most lauded hotel, come to marvel at the views. The pagoda-style spa looks a little ordinary, however, consistently delivered the most deft-handed massages we had on the island. The blow-your-budget villas start at £20,000 a night, which buys you a private beach and team of staff.Įlsewhere, there are four tennis courses and two pristine golf courses (a big draw for the Brit-centric crowd here). In the morning, open bedroom doors to gaze upon red, white and blue Pirogue vessels gliding the flat waters, fishermen foraging the depths for bream. The best for young children and buggies though are the (cheaper) Hibiscus rooms that lead directly onto one of the resort’s six beaches (but those bothered by startling dawn sunlight should request black-out blinds).
The plusher rooms in the Frangipani wing come with free minibars (old school M&Ms and paprika Lays rather than artisanal veg chips). The hazards here are utterly inconsequential – snagging buttery fingeres on crustacea claws and avoiding the odd sea urchin – and afternoons are spent wallowing in rock pools with glasses of chilled Chateau Minuty.īack at base at this old-timer resort on the east coast, it's earthily organic with tables formed from petrified teak trunks and rattan twisted into day beds. More runway than Castaway – Chanel sarongs add a splash of patrician colour to the island’s earthy palette – here the scent of BBQ-ing lobster fills the air.
These are the best hotels in Mauritius.Ī 10-minute chug from the smooth curves of Le Touessrok takes you to its private island escape, Ilôt Mangénie. But the tourist ecosystem is also dominated by some exceptional homegrown brands who are shaping the country’s industry with a proud, hands-on approach. These resorts lure some of the finest Gallic talent to their kitchens from Michelin titans such as Paris’ George V. With its burgeoning boutique rum industry and host of emerging artisans – from textiles to ceramics – be sure to pack an empty suitcase for your return journey.Īnd travellers who venture here post-covid are richly rewarded, with newly refurbed retreats, pristine beaches and, at present, amazingly good rates (some five-star spots start from £200 a night). It may not have the private island feel of the Maldives or the Indiana Jones giant fauna and tropical jungle of the Seychelles, but offers faultless service, activity (golf, and then some more golf, hiking and biking) and farm-to-table gastronomy. While some other tourist destinations were swift to get their industry back on track, Mauritius stayed closed until October 2021.įor nature lovers, the island is landscaped with verdant trails and with pirouetting birds – from lime-green Echo Parakeets to teal-capped Mascarene Paradise Flycatchers. Now, it is emerging from two consecutive blows – an epic oil spill in 2020 and a throttling Covid lockdown which cut off its main source of income for two years. Mauritius, an island nation castaway 1,200 miles off the coast of Madagascar on the east coast of Africa, is a nation of enterprise and looking forward.
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