I love the colour blue. My blog and my Instagram feed are my window to the world and so, when I am presented with a canvas of a bright blue ocean, I can be a little trigger happy on the camera. Luckily, the small island of Mauritius was surrounded by swathes of an almost-crystalline blue water. It was a stark contrast to the vastness of the main African continent and our first stay at the St. Regis Mauritius Resort promised to be special. We even timed our arrival to catch the sunset.
The St. Regis Resort itself is perched between the sweeping white beaches of Le Morne and the 500 metre-high peak of Le Morne Brabant. Almost colonial in style, it consists of a main building along with a few restaurants and villas that stretch down the beach. Rather than walk, the preferred mode of transport for many were the on-site golf buggies that could whisk you between the main reception and your suite. However, having come from a four-hour flight and a decent taxi drive, we decided to use our feet instead.
Our Deluxe Room was nestled amongst a secluded palm grove just a stone’s throw from the ocean. Opening the door, we were greeted by a very big space; more like a suite than a room. We immediately noticed the huge king-size bed topped with a crisp, white linen duvet and bookended by a mirrored headboard and antique-style wooden trunk. The glass doors at the end of the bed opened up onto a private balcony which gave a glimpse through the palms of the sun setting over the Indian Ocean in the distance. The bathroom was more than spacious; a standalone oval bathtub and a walk-in rain shower prevented any fights for use of the bathroom, as did the his-and-hers marble sinks.
The rest of the facilities at the St. Regis Resort Mauritius were largely excellent. Each restaurant had it’s own themed food and, while the Le Manoir restaurant was a good choice, I would highly recommend checking out the beachfront Boathouse Grill & Bar for the best food on the resort. The meat dishes were cooked superbly and the fried plantain dessert, theatrically flambeed before our eyers, was just incredible. On our second night the Food and Beverage Manager, Naheed, was more than helpful and even offered us a complimentary bottle of Rose to celebrate our honeymoon. Of course, we obliged.
In the mornings, breakfast offered us almost every variety of food we could have wanted. The eggs were all cooked from scratch and to any specification too, which is always a plus point in my opinion (I eat eggs every single morning and like them soft and scrambled, not like rubbery mince). The local birds also provided a constant source of awe and amusement; brightly flitting colours fighting for every crumb on the floor and, to our amazement, from our plates. Plenty of opportunity to practise my photography skills and capture some great in-flight shots.
During the day, we found ourselves relaxing by the pool and beach, only heading inside to dodge the showers or grab some lunch. One thing I would note about Mauritius is that is certainly is tropical; the weather in September is more changeable than in the UK, and a thirty-degree day can quickly turn into a thunderstorm with torrential rain. Being British, this didn’t faze us too much, although we would have hoped for a more prolonged exposure to some vitamin D. One other notable issue was also the affordability of the resort, and indeed the island as a whole. Comparing it to our trip to The Philippines was perhaps be unfair, but prices across the whole island exceeded anything found in London so I would advise budgeting accordingly. Even though it could be classed as a developing nation, the European-style resorts come with European-style pricing. Also, bottled water wasn’t free of charge which we found to be a little odd. Small issues, I know, but worth knowing before you visit.
That being said, if budget allows, the St. Regis Resort Mauritius is definitely a slice of paradise. If you enjoy lounging in the sunshine then I would advise heading there in peak season, but there are plenty of opportunities to go diving in the reefs or visit the local Black Gorges National Park if you have enough time. A two-night trip perhaps wasn’t long enough to truly explore what the resort had to offer, but we left feeling very full, relaxed and with a decent tan. Plus, my Instagram feed was injected with some much needed blue. What else could you need?
