The beautiful holiday island with stunning seas, amazing views and even private butlers
A MERE 47 steps. That’s all that separates my bed from the sea.
And not just any sea. I’m talking about THE sea — the pristine, turquoise one you picture when you think of a holiday in paradise. Or Mauritius.
I was in a suite at the JW Marriott, on the golden sands that sit beneath the towering Le Morne mountain.
It’s a breathtaking backdrop — one of many on the island, where it’s difficult to not feel constantly awe-struck.
That so much natural beauty is crammed into such a tiny country, just 28 miles by and 40 miles, seems unfair.
But I was fortunate enough to enjoy it every time I ventured outside my room.
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Its presence even reached inside my room, too, with the calming sound of the Indian Ocean helping me drift off to sleep at night before gently waking me in the morning.
The JW was the first of three Marriott resorts that I stayed at during my visit to Mauritius and it couldn’t have been a better start to the break.
It has only suites, for starters, so guests are guaranteed a luxury experience.
I was taken to my suite by my own butler, who dismissed any ideas I might have had about lifting a finger.
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The suite was lavish beyond belief.
The king bed was soft as a cloud, and the bath so big that all 6ft 4in of me could lie down in comfort without touching the ends.
Outside was a veranda with a sofa more comfortable than the one in my living room at home — on which I could recline with a drink at the end of the day and watch the deep-orange sunset give way to a blanket of glittering stars.
Between my suite and the sea was a row of sunloungers spanning the entire 800-metre stretch of beach.
Every bed had its own parasol equipped with service button so that cocktails, snacks and even full meals can be brought to you to avoid your sunbathing being interrupted by walks to the resort’s bars and restaurants.
But that’s not to say those places are not worth visiting, of course.
The JW has various specialist chefs masterminding its six on-site restaurants, meaning there are delicious, elegantly prepared meals to suit all tastes.
The pan-Asian menu at Floating Market was my personal favourite, with the intimate atmosphere inside its faux-Chinese pavilion just magical.
But the heartier fare served up at the Boathouse bar-and-grill was equally delightful, as was the view out to sea.
Nature’s greatest hits
The ocean here is not only to look at, though — there is plenty of fun to be had in it and on it with snorkelling, kayaking and kite-surfing among the treats on offer.
The landscapes of Le Morne are the best places to enjoy the nature of Mauritius — where the stunning yet endangered, bright-orange Mauritian fody is one of several gloriously colourful native birds nesting in the palms.
Away from the resort, a road up to the Black River Gorges national park winds past the impressive Chamarel waterfall, along narrow country lanes where long-tailed macaques hide beneath the shade of roadside shrubs.
A viewpoint overlooking the gorges showcases just perfectly how incredibly beautiful Mauritius is.
The verdant mountain vista stretches out endlessly.
White-tailed tropicbirds glide above the trees in front of the Alexandra Waterfall, which tumbles down a 2,300ft cliff.
It was a staggering eyeful of nature’s greatest hits, with more to admire the longer I stared.
I felt honoured to be a guest at the show, if only for my brief visit.
But there were also other aspects of Mauritius that I was keen to sample — including the local tipple.
Rum is one of the country’s key exports and the folks at Rhumiere de Chamarel are among the best producers on the island.
A friendly guide poured out drop after drop of different rums for me, ranging in colour from clear to dark-brown, via shades of yellow and gold.
The sweeter, vanilla-infused samples are the crowd-pleasers, but it was bottles featuring the spiced blends that were clinking in my suitcase on my way home.
If you’re travelling with kids then Le Marriott’s Le Meridien — which has one of the most opulent lobbies I’ve ever seen — might be better suited than the JW.
Magnificently modern
That grandeur is carried throughout the resort, despite its family-oriented focus and it was slightly more contemporary than the JW — the rooms magnificently modern.
Le Meridien’s dining options were less diverse than at the JW, although curry and cocktail classes allow guests to take a more hands-on approach with their meals — all from a marvellous beachside location on the north-west coast.
Or there is Marriott’s The Westin Turtle Bay, seriously focused on the art of relaxation.
A number of unique spa treatments and classes are available daily, including yoga, music therapy and mandala drawing.
As with all of Marriott’s Westin hotels, my room came with their trademark Heavenly bed, which has the perfect mattress for a restorative night’s sleep.
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Not that this was needed at Turtle Bay, with hotel’s adult-only pool, and yet another immaculate beach, perfectly accommodating for those looking to unwind.
I returned to the UK after my stay feeling rejuvenated and revitalised but also heartbroken — because the only downside to Mauritius is having to leave.
GO: Mauritius
GETTING THERE: Air Mauritius flies direct from Heathrow to Mauritius from £329.74 each way.
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STAYING THERE: Rooms at the JW Marriott cost from £420 per night, at The Westin from £423 per night, and at Le Meridien from £500 per night.
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