A friendly, sun-soaked island in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius has made tourism its number one industry and it’s fair to say that they make a great job of it. Easy to combine with an African safari, this is a holiday destination famous for its beach activities as much as its golf, and as comfortable with honeymooners and couples as it is with families with children.
But you know all that. What you might not know – and should – is that Mauritius is a destination greatly affected by the year’s seasons. And you should probably learn a little beforehand about the type of accommodation you’re going to be staying at: there aren’t many six-bed tented camps in Mauritius. Many operators offer big discounts for couples, but as a honeymooner, do you really want to be a hotel with lots of children running around?
Put aside the glossy brochure: here’s what you need to know about Mauritius.
LOCATION: WEST IS BEST
Marooned in the Indian Ocean, some areas of Mauritius can be windy at certain times of the year. The island’s east and south coasts are especially exposed and you may find that your beach holiday becomes more of a swimming pool holiday. The west coast is more protected, and no place more so than the north-west of the island: it’s got lots of accommodation and of course it’s where you’ll enjoy the sunset over the ocean. Although it is cyclone season from November to May, this is most certainly not a reason to dismiss travelling in this period. There is a matter of a few days (if any) of weather disturbances and cyclones tend to pass within 48 hours or so.
ACCOMMODATION UPSIZE
If you’ve just come to Mauritius from an intimate little safari camp, then you’ll need to take a moment to adjust. Resorts in Mauritius tend to be large compared to safari camps: instead of 32 rooms there will be between 200 and 350 at 4-star resorts and entry-level 5-stars with fewer suites or villas at the 5-star luxury addresses. Rooms are spacious, with a more relaxed and down-to-earth feel; most resorts will serve their meals as buffets, with different nightly themes such as Indian or Italian.
Service is still great, and because these are usually all-inclusive resorts, you’ll enjoy all non-motorised water activities for free, and some resorts throw in free motorised sports too – including water-skiing. There are wellness spas, pilates classes and yoga sessions, volleyball and tennis courts, and even the gym is free.
ALL-INCLUSIVE OR HALF-BOARD
It’s tempting to try and save a bit of money and go for half-board: breakfast and dinner. But Mauritius has made a name out of its all-inclusive approach to holidays and you’ll find it better value to go all-inclusive where all meals and drinks are included. You don’t get drinks with half-board, and when you do ask for the lunch menu, you’ll realise you should have gone for all-inclusive.
SCUBA DIVING
Mauritius is famous for it, whether you want to learn to dive, or you’d like to add a few wreck and reef dives to your list. Diving is best on the north-west and south-west coasts and there are professional PADI dive centres at many hotels. Remember that all the diving activities are for your own account, and we’d recommend visiting between November and April for the best conditions – clear water, warm weather and an ocean temperature up to 30°C (86°F).
IT PAYS TO CELEBRATE
If you’re planning a honeymoon or special occasion for a couple, then it’s hard to beat what several Mauritius operators offer. A full 30% off the entire package – three meals a day, selected drinks (on All-Inclusive package), and accommodation; some resorts add extra activities such as massages, horse-riding and parasailing to their deal. And, if you’d rather not have the sound of children on your special holiday, then simply request the ‘adult-only’ section of the resort. Then everyone is happy.
The offer is valid for a year after your wedding day – you’ll need to produce a wedding certificate – for a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary, the criteria is easy: every five-year period qualifies as an anniversary – your fifth wedding anniversary, your tenth, fifteenth and so on – and travel within 6 months either pre- or post-anniversary.
MAURITIUS WITH CHILDREN
Families with children make up about 70% of visitors to Mauritius: it’s a big thing. And why not? Mauritius is malaria-free, its beaches are protected by reefs and the weather is generally fabulous. Can you bring everyone? Again, why not? Resorts have dedicated baby rooms with sterilizing equipment, kids clubs brimming with activities for the three to eleven year olds and teen clubs for those between 11 and 17. They even have programme co-ordinators to make sure the kids don’t spend all day on their phones, and everything is guided, monitored and age-relevant.
WHAT ABOUT MY ECO-IMPRINT?
Good question. Gone are the days of conspicuous consumption and waste in the Mauritius tourist industry. Today, you’ll see solar-panels on hotel roofs but you won’t find single-use plastic in the restaurants. Water comes from hotel desalination plants; honey from their bee hives; excess food is re-distributed, local entrepreneurs are given retail space and conservation programmes supported. Tourism is changing – dramatically – and Mauritius, again, is ahead of the game.
