Imagine a stunning island in the turquoise Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa. One that has a rich and diverse culture, influenced by its Dutch, French, and British history. Famous for its pristine sandy beaches, colourful coral reefs and unique wildlife add beautiful golf courses into the mix and you have nothing short of paradise. Welcome to Mauritius!
The most exotic and luxurious trip I took in 2023 was undoubtedly to Mauritius. It was for just five nights and I changed hotel every night as well as inspecting several more each day and “speed-golfing” several golf courses. Add in two overnight flights in Economy and that makes for a non- stop week that took a few days to fully recover from. But I’d do it all over again tomorrow.
I was a little apprehensive about how the island, the people and the hotels would be. Would the island be as beautiful as I remembered it, the people as friendly and the hotels among the very best I’ve visited? I needn’t have worried…The scenery and nature of Mauritius were as gorgeous as you could wish for, the welcome as legendary as ever and the older hotels were fresh and the new ones exciting and very well designed.
Travelling to Mauritius
I travelled in late November from Gatwick and arrived 11 1s hours later in 27C sunshine with a light and healthy dose of humidity. The flight is obviously long and the Economy Cabin in Air Mauritius is not generous — their Business Class is adequate. I flew home on a newer plane which was an improvement but not outstanding. Expect to pay between £700 – £1200 for Economy and between £2500 – £4500 for Business if flying with Air Mauritius or British Airways. Air Mauritius takes your golf clubs for free although BA accepts your clubs as your 23kg hold allowance and allows a cabin bag of up to 23kg. You’ll pay between £1200 -£2000 for Premium Economy with BA. know Air Mauritius is upgrading its food but I would suggest flying at least Premium Economy with BA.
Out of the trip, we have decided to include Fast Track and Lounge Access for all of our holidays involving flights of six hours or more, for all bookings from January 1, 2024. When the flight becomes such an important element (and cost) of the holiday, it’s sensible to make sure your airport experience is as enjoyable as possible.
Combining Destinations
An increasing number of British travellers are flying Emirates from various UK airports to Dubai and having a couple of hours in the smart lounges or even a few days’ stop-off with a round or two of golf. Not only does flying via Dubai break up the journey into two 6 12 hours segments but Emirates Premium Economy is good and the costs are often more attractive than flying direct.
Some clients have an extended holiday and combine Mauritius with either South Africa (four-hour flight from Johannesburg) or Seychelles (two-hour flight from Mauritius). South Africa is famous for golf and there some terrific safaris not too far from Jo ’burg. The beaches of Seychelles are the envy of the world and it’s also renowned for its marine life. With one lovely golf course, Seychelles is ideal to combine with a more active holiday in South Africa.
Constance Belle Mare Plage
I’ve worked with Belle Mare Plage Hotel for many years and don’t think I’ve seen it looking lovelier. As it’s one of the older hotels on the island, its location is very beach-centric and it’s all the better for it. It’s quite a long and narrow resort and that relative compactness gives it a lovely feel. But it’s by no means cramped — it’s just less super-spacious than some other resorts. The bedrooms are elegant and I recommend upgrading to the Beachfront bedrooms which are literally just two yards from the beach.
There are three types of volcanic rock used for construction in Mauritius and it’s the darkest rock at Belle Mare Plage. Maybe it’s the rock or that the hotel is now in its third decade which gives the resort a very Zen feel —and that’s saying something given that Mauritius is the land of Zen!
The Legends Golf Course
Of the two golf courses at Belle Mare Plage, the Director of Golf told me that The Legends was now the better of the two. He was right. Not only is The Legends literally a sand wedge from Belle Mare Plage hotel, but it’s also undergone a major renovation and I would now class it as the ‘Grand Old Dame’ of golf in Mauritius. It’s a varied layout requiring a proper strategy and the greens are subtle. It was being prepared for the Seniors Tour so was tough but fair and allows you to score well.
The Links Golf Course
The Links has more water but wider fairways —and it’s just a five-minute resort shuttle drive from both Belle Mare Plage and Le Prince Maurice. The clubhouse sets the tone…generous and impressive. There are quite of lot of hazards on The Links and it doesn’t look or play like its name suggests but it’s hugely enjoyable. Both courses are flat and The Legends is very walkable but there are a few long walks between green and next tee at The Links. The Director also told me that The Deer Hunter restaurant in the clubhouse is the second most popular restaurant of the five at Belle Mare Plage; overlooking the 1st tee and 18th green, the setting is ideal for the beautifully-prepared food.
Long Beach Resort
Adjacent to Belle Mare Plage, Long Beach Resort is set out over 43 hectares but has only 265 bedrooms. It’s a sporty five-star with a great “village square” where most of the five restaurants are located and there’s good evening entertainment. Away from the number of activities and buzzing bar areas, the gardens and quiet zone are huge and provide a quite idyllic excuse for an afternoon snooze. I stayed in a good quality Junior Suite on the beachfront which was a leisurely five-minute walk from Reception but close to the main pool and the fish restaurant and bar. It’s the largest resort by area in Mauritius and I suggest it would be the most suitable for a youngish clientele. It’s a five-star resort but I rate the feel and bedrooms as strong four-star and ideal for groups wanting a fun resort central to several super golf courses.
The Residence
A couple of miles down the beach is The Residence, a very slick 172-bedroom luxury hotel where my One Bedroom Ocean View Suite was my favourite bedroom of the trip.
White marble floors, lacquered hard woods, an overdose of space and superb food all put a big smile on my face. It‘s a hotel for couples though, as all that space means it’s quiet and it’s difficult to appreciate a romantic hotel when you’re on your own! I’d very happily return to The Residence as a two-ball or with a group of couples so you can enjoy the company during the day and retire to your own spot after supper. My Suite had a beautiful four- poster bed, a splendid bathroom which was as big at most bedrooms, a large lounge area, second bathroom and terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean…It’s good to be spoilt from time to time!
Anahita Golf & Spa Resort
Golf Course
15 minutes further down this avenue of luxury are two more fabulous resorts and one of the most appreciated golf courses…Most of our clients say that Anahita is their favourite course in Mauritius and it’s easy to see why: the maintenance is outstanding, the Ernie Els-design is gorgeous and the fairways are huge.
Villas & Suites
The on-site villas and Suites at Anahita are huge and dotted along the fairways of the golf course. They don’t come cheap (from about £200 per person per night for three- and four- bedroom villas) with breakfast delivered. The villas are first- class all the way and come with private pool, perfect kitchen and unlimited golf on the on-site course and nearby lies aux Cerfs. If you don’t fancy eating in (either DIY or a Chef will come and cook for you), there’s a resort village with a few shops, two restaurants, beach and huge communal pool.
Four Seasons Resort
Next door to Anahita is the Four Seasons Resort, which has all the qualities you’d expect from the world’s leading hotel brand but with the added benefit of beautiful location and Mauritian magic. Expect expensive but you’II get the finest in return.
IIes aux Cerfs Golf Course
Following lunch at Four Seasons — which was the best of the trip – I took the 10-minute boat trip to the stunning lies aux Cerfs golf course which is, thankfully, less difficult than when I last played, having had the greens re-laid to be more receptive. Again, free to play (along with Anahita) when staying at Four Seasons, I Yes aux Cerfs should be played at least once during your stay if you’re a keen golfer, so ask us to book transfers and tee-times to play there wherever you’re staying.
Travelling South-West
Moving round (a drive of about 90 minutes) from the east to south-west are three of my recommended golf courses and four hotels. This coast boasts the huge Black River National Park and perhaps better beaches that the east. It’s also a hot spot for surfers.
The Heritage Awali Hotel and Telfair Hotel
These two hotels sit side by side but I preferred the African- style bedrooms in the Heritage Awa!i as the Telfair reminded me a little too much of the faux-colonial resorts in the USA. Facilities at both hotels are outstanding and there was a great vibe throughout the massive beachside estate. I would suggest the Premium Beachfront bedrooms as being well worth the supplement. All told, the two 160 -bedroom hotels and two golf courses (Heritage La Réserve & Le Château plus a nine-holer) make for a very attractive proposition. The Heritage Awali All-inclusive claims to be the most generous on the island and that’s hard to dispute with a total of 13 restaurants across the estate and all-day-dining and drinks. Both hotels can now boast at being a serious destination especially with the much-improved Le Chateau course and the newly-opened La Reserve.
La Réserve Golf Links
La Réserve was designed by Louis Oosthuizen and Peter Matkovich and is set amid a huge nature reserve. It’s one of the most spacious courses I’ve ever seen — it’s not that the fairways are huge, it’s that the holes are so far apart. I was lucky enough to have a sneak peek and played a few holes before it opened for play with the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in conjunction with The European Tour on December 4, 2023. The course will soon rate in the World Top 100 if the maintenance is as good as promised…and with 30 greenkeepers, it should be! The views are mesmerising and there’s a brilliant mix of links-like and target golf. It’s a tough course, so play Matchplay but aim to be here at least once during your holiday. Tee-times are limited to about 60 players a day so don’t leave it to chance.
Chateau de Bel Ombre
Located next to the Chateau is the Chateau de Bel Ombre, which has a few bedrooms on the first floor and an exceptional restaurant (with wine cellar to match) on the first floor.
The former residence of the French Governor of Mauritius, it’s a sumptuous and colonial affair with gardens to match. Guests of either the Heritage or Telfair have a dinner at the chateau as part of the All-Inclusive package.
Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa
The Paradis and Dinarobin Beachcomber Resorts pretty much pioneered luxury holidays in Mauritius with their first hotel opening in 1960, with the iconic Paradis opening in 1976. This is an extremely sleek and elegant affair with 352 bedrooms spread over two hotels (the Paradis and Dinarobin) and sharing a 6km stretch of beach — one of the most beautiful on the island – quality leisure facilities and eight restaurants. The bedrooms are spacious with lots of light and wood. The Paradis is the larger of the two hotels and features a Zen Club which has blocks of six bedrooms sharing a pool. The resort is beautifully presented and the UNESCO-registered Borne mountain provides a magnificent backdrop.
Paradis Golf Course
The weakness is the golf course itself — it’s 6500 yards off the back which is fine but the layout and maintenance is not of 21st-century standard. I’d certainly recommend either of the hotels so play here for fun, holiday golf and perhaps play at Le Chateau and La Reserve courses (25 minutes away) for more serious challenges.
La Piroque Resort
Just one mile up the road, La Pirogue immediately reminded me in look and style of the more enjoyable Caribbean resorts, so it didn’t surprise me to hear that it’s owned by Sunlife Hotels which also operates in South Africa, Dubai and the Caribbean. La Piroque is fun, lively and relatively noisy compared to the ambience of the better hotels and the 248 bedrooms are only 25m2.
Sugar Beach Hotel
Immediately adjacent to the Piroque is the similarly sized five-star Sugar Beach with Buddha Bar and 36m2 bedrooms. These two hotels are not convenient for the best golf courses and, although the Sugar Beach is a five- star, there are “five-stars and then there are five- stars”…This is where the French were clever when allowing the very best hotels to be officially rated as a “Palace” so we could all understand the difference between being a good hotel and a special one. La Piroque and Sugar Beach are great hotels to send the youngsters in your clan on their first long-haul holiday — they will have all the fun of a busy resort, enjoy good comfort but also avoid the excesses and temptations of similar resorts in other destinations.
Places of lnterest
Port Louis: 45 minutes north of Sugar Beach is the capital city which was of huge importance during the days of the European empires — the Dutch, French and the British have all been part of
the history of Mauritius. Port Louis has an eclectic blend of bustling markets filled with stunning foods, grand buildings and smart shopping malls around the marina. It also boasts the oldest racecourse and golf course (1814) in the Southern Hemisphere — both built by the French and British governors to encourage bonhomie among their rival officers and troops.
It isn’t quite Saint Tropez but I enjoyed the historical and bustling nature of the place. It’s worth a half-day visit en- route to your hotel or your day’s golf.
En-route to Lux Grande Baie and on the west coast is the Casela Nature Park where you can quad bike through the reserve with zebras and giraffes, play with smaller furrier animals, raise your heart-beat by zip-wiring down the mountain and raise your spirits like yours truly by walking with lions
The Oberoi Beach Resort
If only the Oberoi was on the east coast of the island! It’s an outstanding hotel and would probably be my favourite if it was closer to the better courses. Opened in 2001, the Oberoi has the feel and presence of having been there much longer. Great hotels have a certain magic in the air and design, the 71 tucked-away bedrooms and level of service add to the superb ambience. The Balinese and African style — complete with many antiques — ooze class. The bedrooms all have a private terrace leading out to the gardens and there’s always a pool nearby. The beach is quite small but stunning and the restaurants and bar are worthy of the high- end Oberoi name. It’s a classic, discreet and peaceful hotel. It’s close to Mont Choisy golf course, so consider spending at least three nights here in addition to a week or so at a more golf-intensive location.
The Lux Grande Baie
This lovely hotel lies at pretty much the northern tip of the island and was probably my greatest surprise of the trip as I didn’t know the ethos and concept behind the Lux group. The Lux Grande Baie has 165 bedrooms and is a relatively compact hotel about 20 minutes from Port Louis. The beach was narrow but gorgeous and I very much enjoyed the feel of the hotel, the quality and innovation of the design and the attention to detail. Despite being a new hotel, the staff are very knowledgeable and experienced as many of them worked at the original hotel before it was completely rebuilt. It’s an Adults-Only destination and there are five restaurants, a super rooftop pool and bar and everything is within walking distance. The bedrooms are not the biggest on the island but are big enough and a very good five- star standard. I would heartily recommend this hotel if you fancied a luxury beach holiday with just a bit of golf— the Mont Choisy course is just two minutes down the road and the two courses at Belle Mare are 45 minutes away.
Overview
Mauritius can be so many different things: a winter sunshine escape, a romantic treat, a special family holiday and a fabulous golf holiday destination. Or, of course, a combination of all four.
Some hotels rise above the others — for example, Claridges and the Hilton Park Lane are both five-star in great London locations but I would only class Claridges as a “palace hotel”. The same goes for many destinations around the world and, for me, Le Prince Maurice and the Oberoi are the hotels in Mauritius which would satisfy even the most discerning client. But I would also jump at the chance of going back to half-a-dozen of the others for a week or four! Of course, a few of the hotels I visited were not suitable for our clients and didn’t make the cut.
For golfing aficionados, I would rate Belle Mare Legends, Anahita, lies aux Cerfs and La Reserve as the four courses that would be amongst the best wherever they were located. The next rung in quality would have Belle Mare Links and Le Chateau, and then Paradis and Mont Choisy would come in as pleasant holiday courses.
Our partners in Mauritius have looked after our clients for over 20 years. They “meet & greet” you at the airport & the transfer service is reliable & comfortable. I recommend paying the small price (about £150 per day so less than £20 per person in a party of eight) to have a Concierge with you on your golfing and exploring away-days. They are knowledgeable and further ensure everything is seamles.
We provide near-instant information on availability and prices and, of course, detailed advice about which destination is best for you and how best to get there. It’s a long journey but as we landed in Gatwick, a woman seated behind me sighed “Oh, that was a long flight”, and her friend replied “Yes, but it’s a small price to pay for Paradise”.
Click here for prices and Example Itineraries
All of our holidays are tailor-made to meet our clients’ ideal requirements so give us a call to chat through the when, where, why and who of your perfect holiday and we’ll build a completely bespoke itinerary just for you. To get the ball rolling, here are some example itineraries for some wonderful Mauritian golf holidays, complete with prices. We can also advise and book flights for you, complete with our ATOL Protection.
For this guide in brochure format including maps and example prices, please see below