Pick the right hotels for your customers and bask in reflected glory, says Joanna Booth
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Mauritius is famed for its lovely hotels, and there are certainly a few to choose from. The glossy brochure pages make every property look stunning, but it can be hard to pinpoint exactly what renders each one unique. Travel Weekly spoke to a range of experts to help you choose the right hotel for your clients.
PERFECT FOR… COUPLES
Attempting to pick a perfect hotel for couples in Mauritius isn’t easy. There are so many options to choose from, and every couple wants something a little different.
Bright, contemporary and brand spanking new, the three-star-plus Astroea Beach won’t blow guests’ budgets but also won’t make them feel like they’re suffering for lack of quality. This 16-room property in a quiet location is exclusive to Kuoni in the UK.Watersports such as pedal boats, snorkelling and canoeing are complimentary, and scuba, fishing and catamaran cruises are available at an extra cost. There’s a beachfront restaurant and a spa, and extra facilities can be found at the larger sister property Preskil beach, just a mile away.
Sample package: Kuoni offers seven nights’ half-board in a standard room includingflights and transfers from £1,349 for departures in May.
01306 747008
Lovestruck honeymooners or couples who seek privacy and exclusivity will love Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa. The Private Travel Company classes the accommodation at this private villa resort as the best on the island. Sitting in a stunning 27-acre site on the west coast, the resort has 65 villas, all with private pools, outside living areas and 24-hour butler service.
There are two restaurants, a pan-Asian spot with a teppanyaki grill, and a beachfront choice with Mediterranean and Mauritian cuisine. However, guests needn’t appear in public – they can have a romantic candlelit dinner on the beach or select dishes from the two restaurants to be served in their villa at any time.
Sample package: The Private Travel Company offers seven nights’ half-board in a luxury suite villa from £2,525 including flights, transfers and a lounge at Gatwick.
020 7751 0880
PERFECT FOR… YOUNG FAMILIES
Mauritian beaches all have fine white sand that won’t scratch young skin, and almost the entire coastline is surrounded by a reef that knocks out the larger waves. Shores dip gently into the warm water where the temperature ranges from 23C to 29C depending on the time of year.
With the hotels on the island enjoying a reputation for splendid service, Mauritius really appeals to frazzled parents.
It can be hard to find resorts that cater well for the very young without losing their atmosphere of deluxe glamour, but Le Touessrok has really cracked it.
Deluxe rooms are really spacious and extra beds can be added for children. If clients have big budgets, the Ocean Suites can interconnect to adjacent Junior Suites, and there are three three-bedroom villas with private swimming pools.
The kids’ club, open from 10am until 10pm, has a flawless reputation, and is tucked away to one side of the resort in a log-built hideaway surrounded by trees. It has play areas, a tree house and walkway, its own heated pool, arts and crafts facilities, computer stations, and even its own restaurant – kids can bake their own cookies for afternoon tea. Activities include fishing and star gazing as well as more traditional games. Kids don’t miss out on the watersports that are free to every guest either, as child-sized equipment is on offer.
Sample package: Sunset Faraway offers seven nights’ half-board for a family of four sharing a deluxe room from £5,200 including flights and private transfers for stays between April 16 and September 30.
020 8774 7100
PERFECT FOR… TEENAGERS
The last thing any parent wants is to spend a small fortune dragging their offspring to a paradise island to have them pout and complain that they’re ‘bo-ored’. Little angels formerly happy with a bucket and spade and an ice-cream now require far more to keep them occupied, but luckily there are resorts that cater for them.
Five-star Sugar Beach offers kids who share their parents’ room a discount, but also realises there are families who don’t want to spend a whole week crammed on top of one another. The hotel’s family rooms have interconnecting spaces so everyone can have a moment’s peace. Separate from the kids’ club, there’s a teens programme, @Sungeneration, for 12 to 17-year-olds.
It offers sports and recreation, plus adventure outings and excursions to ward off the ever-present danger of boredom. They won’t even have to spend the hours after dark hanging out with mum and dad – there are beach barbecues and pizza nights organised to fill the evenings too.
Sample package: Gold Medal offers seven nights’ half-board for a family of four – two adults and two children over 12 – in interconnecting family rooms from £6,516, including flights and transfers. Price valid for departures between August 13 and September 23.
0800 014 7777
Four-star Tamassa Produced By Lux is a lively and energetic all-inclusive resort that’ll keep teens on their toes with plenty to do. There’s a separate teens club, Studio 17, for 12 to 17-year-olds, offering plenty of activities, from dance and language classes to beach sport activities and exciting adventure trips around the island.
The colourful, stylish rooms will appeal to younger tastes, and there are interconnecting family rooms with private terraces, satellite TV and complimentary Wi-Fi, so teens will be able to surf social networks to their hearts’ content. There’s a games room and computer lounge, and sportier adolescents can have a go at tennis, table tennis, beach volleyball, mountain biking and a wide selection of watersports. The main restaurant has a wide choice and evening entertainment includes live music. There’s even a fully soundproofed nightclub.
Sample package: Travel 2 offers seven nights’ all-inclusive for a family of four in a family deluxe room from £4,049 including flights. Price valid for travel between May 1 and July 15.
0800 022 4182
PERFECT FOR… GOLF AND SPA
Whether they’re older couples, groups or single travellers, there are plenty of tourists who like to supplement their sun, sea and sand with a bit of tee-time or an hour or two of pampering. Certain Mauritian resorts are particularly suited to this market.
The four-star-plus Heritage Awali is a great value option, as a stay here allows guests to use all the facilities on the Bel Ombre estate in which the resort is located. These include a championship golf course – the golf is free – and a large Seven Colours spa inspired by the oriental philosophy of the Chakras, where those who book anall-inclusive package with Hayes & Jarvis get a 60-minute spa treatment free of charge.
Sample package: Hayes & Jarvis offers seven nights’ all-inclusive from £1,599 departing on July 9, including flights and transfers.
0871 200 2211
