These were just the thoughts that rushed through my mind once all the final arrangements had been made and I had compiled an itinerary of activities for my partner, Richard, and I to do on our breakaway haven. Mauritius is an island of diverse ethnic groups and is made up of many cultures, languages and traditions. And because of this it is so easy to understand how my excitement soon took full control!
Legendary ServiceFrom the moment we stepped off the aeroplane we were welcomed by a friendly smile of the usher who whisked our bags from under us. We then arrived at the One&Only where our names were not asked for as they seemed to know exactly who we were. With our luggage following we were escorted to our Junior Suite. The suite had a European comfort and style, a walk-in cupboard, two queen-size beds and a terrace that had a view that extended over the white sands to the deep blue lagoon. I also happened to notice that there was a hedgehog that too shared our delight in the terrace and breathtaking view.
Once accustomed to our surroundings we were invited to experience the La Terrasse Restaurant. Set around the pool with the view of the Indian Ocean, we were presented with a bespoke menu with dishes that would simply melt in your mouth. There was an upbeat sound of the local band ‘Famous 9’ that soon fluttered into my ears and an instant island vibe was in place.
Back in our room, after making use of the dual vanity unit and roomy shower we were challenged with the choice of which queen-sized bed to sleep in. As I began to drift off, the excitement came rushing back as I could not wait to see what was in store tomorrow.
A Lazy Day
The next day started with an extensive buffet breakfast: choices included a variety of fruit, cereals, meats, omelettes, pancakes, flapjacks and the list goes on. With full tummies we took a brief walk along the still lagoon and allowed our curiosity to get the better of us. We soon found ourselves wandering all around the hotel grounds and learned that the One&Only had many activities to do throughout the day at no extra cost.
After our excursion, we indulged in a cappuccino at the pool bar and having found an opportunity to purchase my new Missoni bikini, we returned to the beach to enjoy the island’s tropical climate. Mauritius has been blessed with winter temperatures that vary between 17ºC and 26ºC.
With my sun-kissed skin I realized that the morning was already over and we made our way to the One&Only Spa. I soon discovered the spa is a privileged place for relaxation of the mind and body as we were treated to a full body massage with essential Mauritian oils.
It took place in an airy room situated in the middle of the hotel’s very own garden paradise with the sounds of the Grey Crowned Crane and goldfish splashing in the cool waters. Feeling completely at ease I soon fell into a light afternoon nap.Once woken we made our way to the beach to enjoy a complimentary glass of Merlot while Richard practised his photographic skills as he made memories by capturing the remaining light of the sunset.
Feeling renewed and refreshed after a hot bath we indulged in the international buffet supper and again the choices were endless! Walking back to our room, along the seaside we lay on the terrace hammock and as I began to enjoy the gentle sound of the sea, to my surprise we were again joined by the friendly little hedgehog. We then retired for the evening and I became aware of a sound I did not hear very often – very loud bullfrogs, which quickly put me to sleep.Hustle & Bustle
Our last day in Mauritius was to be an adventurous one. However (putting full blame on the bullfrogs) we had overslept. Having made a shamelessly fast choice of what to have for breakfast, we moved onto using the hotel’s mountain-bikes to ride to a few near-by stores to window-shop. Our next journey took us to one of the hotel’s many complimentary water sports, a glass-bottom boat trip. This offers excellent viewing of the creatures that I had only seen on TV before and the luxuriant plant life that is a spectacle itself. Our guide had many years of experience and could offer comprehensive and knowledgeable interpretations. As he took us back to shore Richard looked out at the crystal blue waters and asked “Why would anyone want to leave this place?”
Being on the east side of the island we took a taxi to the west where I was able to experience the rural areas of the Mauritian people. I often had to hold my tongue as I wanted to stop every 2 kilometres to take photographs of the things that inspired me. Luckily for me the taxi driver was very patient and informative, as he had pulled over on several occasions to show us black pepper, lemongrass, pineapples, historic sugar-cane farms and many other indigenous Mauritian fruit.
In a short drive of one hour we had reached the capital city. Port Louis has a wonderful mountain range and there we were able to gain an enriching cultural experience and insight into the local market. I saw foods I had never seen before, and we were able to buy souvenirs for our families at the Waterfront.
Richard and I soon had to make our way back to the hotel where I was to be treated to the prestige Bastien Gonzalez Chiropody, pedicure and manicure. Bastien Gonzalez is renowned for his Podiatry and Pedicure clinics in Paris, Monaco and London. His exclusive treatment had left my toenails shining for weeks! That evening we were invited to eat at the Rasoi by Vineet Restaurant featuring the acclaimed cuisine of Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia. This is a waterside restaurant where you are able to watch the swan couple glide along the lagoon while you enjoy the hospitality and a menu of modern-Indian flavours. Back in our room I began to pack my bag with a heavy heart as tomorrow we would already be on our way home.
A Wonderful Finale
Our 05:00am morning call began with a knock on the door and I was greeted by a gentleman with a trolley full of food. He soon began with a table setting on a table just beneath the bed; I watched in amusement as he was able to achieve all that so early in the morning. After enjoying a quiet breakfast we then made our way to the lobby and said goodbye to the nearby staff. Once at the airport we were again helped with our luggage by the same man who had helped us when we first arrived. Feeling very prestigious he showed us to our boarding gate and as he began his farewells I became overwhelmed with the feeling of my sublime holiday officially being over! But as he walked away I then realized that this was a wonderful finale to a holiday of perfect moments.For more on the One&Only Le Saint Géran hotel see the November issue of Woman & Home page 176.
