Island-style dream break

Published Nov 20, 2015

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Port Louis - Mauritius: the holiday destination of choice for many South Africans. It is conveniently close and accessible as island destinations go, with direct flights aboard Air Mauritius from Joburg, Cape Town and Durban.

For many it’s conveniently similar too, what with incentives encouraging South Africans to invest – meaning familiar retail outlets abound in the main centres.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a good thing in many ways. It’s just that I like to experience something different if I’m on holiday, so was thrilled to be headed away from the main centres to the eastern side of the island, and to Constance Belle Mare Plage, one of the island’s best-known resorts, with sister hotel Constance Le Prince Maurice just 15 minutes away.

Belle Mare Plage is huge. Not just in size, but also in character. It is fronted by a 2km-long white sandy beach and tranquil bay, set in tropical gardens of almost 15 hectares. Two 18-hole championship golf courses stretch for another 140 hectares. All the accommodation is luxurious, be it a room, suite or the massive 650m2 Presidential Villa, which someone once rented for a year.

And it’s busy. But at no time does one feel crowded or overrun. Hard to believe there are hundreds of other bods about, probably because the resort offers so much. And it’s nothing like home. It’s cleaner, more beautiful and guests were from all around the globe. I met one South African, a “golf widow” happy to be left to her own devices for all of her and hubby’s 10 visits. No green fees is a bonus when you have two beautiful courses – the Legend course and Links. I’m no golfer – though I can give the ball a fair whack – but a round was quite a treat in such a setting, trying not to injure any deer being my main aim.

Lunch in the open-sided Deer Hunter restaurant (deer hunting is big) at the clubhouse was another treat. Venison wasn’t on the menu, though I did have some at one of the other restaurants. Which it was, I can’t recall. Blue Penny Café? No, that fine dining experience – a fabulous wine pairing – remains vivid. Probably at a La Citronnelle buffet. Suffice to say I had more fine meals during my stay than I did the rest of the year.

But the outdoors was the main attraction. I tested my lungs a couple of times daily. Not in one of the four swimming pools, but mostly between the edge of the bay and the skiboat jetty. No sharks, but plenty of fish within the safe confines of the distant reef.

 

I’m not a morning person, but I didn’t miss a sunrise – from the balcony of my not-so-Junior (68m2) suite. And I certainly never missed a sunset, usually from the far side of the bay. Each was equally stunning.

The words “Mauritius” and “massage” became synonymous, melting together during my visit. Some hit the gym; I hit the tranquil U Spa by Constance. Thank you Priya, long may your hands continue to impart such good vibes.

I was footloose and fancy free, but what if you have kids and want to kayak, sail or snorkel? There are minders for tots and four- to 11-year-olds may have a better time than their parents. More than once, I sneaked a peek at what was going on at Constance Kids Club. And I think it’s safe to say none of them was pining for their parents.

I felt like a pampered, happy child myself by the time we clambered aboard our Holiday Factory shuttle, for part two of our adventure.

Visit www.constancehotels.com

Sunday Tribune

 

Packages and flights

Fly with Air Mauritius for as little as R5 896 per person from Johannesburg to Mauritius until March 15 next year. Two kids fly to Mauritius for free with two adults during the off-peak season. Air Mauritius flies direct daily from Johannesburg, three times a week from Cape Town, and twice a week from Durban. Air Mauritius connects you to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai from Durban twice a week, and offers a free Mauritius stopover on all non-connecting flights.

Call 011 601 3900 for more info or e-mail [email protected]

The Holiday Factory offers packaged holidays to destinations including Mauritius, the Seychelles, Maldives, Zanzibar, Thailand and Bali. Ask a travel professional for a Holiday Factory package or visit www.theholidayfactory.co.za, where you will find incredible low-season offers for Constance Belle Mare Plage (and other resorts).

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