Mauritius Unveiled: Tamzin's Insider Guide

I set off from Newcastle at 08:00 on the train down to London Kings Cross; I was really looking forward to meeting all of the other agents. I got to Kings Cross and went to St Pancras, where I caught the Thameslink service to Gatwick Airport. I met all the other agents and chatted about what we looked forward to seeing and learning. Before we knew it, it was time to board the aircraft. We flew with Air Mauritius directly to the island on an overnight flight where two meals were served: an evening meal and a breakfast.

We checked out of Jalsa Beach and made our way to the first adult-only hotel visit of the day, Radisson Blu Poste Lafayette Resort & Spa. This hotel offers its guests the chance to be adventurous with themed buffets that can be Indian, Mauritian, or Moroccan. They also have a snorkelling trail with 23 stations where guests can see different sea life.

The All-Inclusive package starts when people check in and ends when they leave – not when they check out. We also visited The Nine Golf Course, an award-winning Course that has only been open since November 2022. From here, we visited the Radisson Blu Azuri Village, which has an infinity pool and direct access to the beach. The Blu passport means that clients can use facilities between the two hotels at no additional charge. Overnight stay at Pearle Beach, which has a pool bar and live entertainment every night.

We had breakfast at the Tarisa Resort & Spa. The breakfast was served by waiters, so it wasn’t the usual buffet-style breakfast. The hotel had 13 suites, 1 garden suite and 2 penthouse suites (only one of the two penthouse suites have a plunge pool). Sports such as mini golf, volleyball and tennis are available too. We then visited the Veranda Grand Baie, where we had lunch. The hotel was one of the first Veranda properties. All furniture in the rooms is hand-made by the locals, and the spa personalizes each individual’s treatments.

The restaurants are a la Carte and have no extra supplements; guests can enjoy the Ultra All Inclusive package, which allows them to eat where they want when they want. We had our overnight stay at the Intercontinental Resort, which has had £15 million spent in renovations and has 210 rooms spread across 10 blocks. They have some on-site shops, babysitting services, and no extra supplements for their a la carte restaurants.

We visited the capital of Port Louis, which had a traditional market where fresh produce, herbs, spices and clothing are sold. We ate lunch at the Sands Suites Resort & Spa, where we also had a guided tour. This is the sister property of the Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa and encourages fresh food to prevent wastage. They offer a free guided nature walk twice a week. We then visited the Varanda Tamarin Bay, which is big on sustainability and has an adult-only rooftop bar that overlooks the bay; each guest also receives a Tamarin juice drink upon arrival.

We visited the Outrigger Mauritius Resort, where all rooms will have a view. The hotel has themed buffet nights and a separate pool only for adults. From there, we visited the Heritage Awali, where a concierge service is available to guests. There is an option for guests to have Premium All Inclusive, and if you’re a golfer, you will receive a round of golf with this option. We also visited the Heritage Le Telfair Golf on the same grounds as the Awali. After a fantastic trip, it was time to fly back to the UK!

WHO WOULD THIS TYPE OF TRIP BE SUITED TO?

This destination is suitable for all age groups, but Mauritius may be a fantastic option for travellers looking for an extra memorable honeymoon.

Favourite Hotel Visited

I liked all the hotels during the trip, but the Veranda Grand Baie was my favourite. The facilities were of a great standard, and the rooms were spacious and had clean, modern décor. The location for this one was great as well. It’s around a 15-minute walk to the main resort centre, where you will find shops, bars, and restaurants, along with the public beach and casinos.

Best Experience of FAM and Why?

My favourite experience of the FAM trip was seeing the dolphins in their natural habitat twice. It was such an incredible moment, and seeing them in their natural habitat was more ethical. It’s truly a memory I will never forget.

General Comments and Tips:

I’d like to take this time to thank Mercury Holidays for having me and for the opportunity. It was great to see everything firsthand, and learning from a local tour guide was amazing, too! Thank you to Brinda from Cathay Tours and Josh from Mercury Holidays.

Air Mauritius has a daily direct flight from London Gatwick.