MAURITIUS


forms a privileged wing of Le Méridien Ile Maurice resort in Pointe aux Piments. Here guests are ferried around in fancy white golf carts and plenty of perks are included in the rate.


“This is a space for sophisticated indulgence,” says general manager Rudy Periatamby, “aimed at guests who like to be taken care of.” Check in here and you can look forward to a dedicated reception, butler service, an exclusive breakfast venue, poolside snacks and free sundowners. Sixteen of the 51 suites come with a heated private pool, with ÃÌ>ÞÃ ov wÛi ni}hÌÃ >ÌÌÀ>VÌin} vÕÀÌhiÀ ÌÀi>ÌÃ ÃÕVh >Ã excursions and a couples spa treatment.


Out and about


Le Méridien Ile Maurice is a smart pick for guests who like to explore, as every room receives an Unlock Art pass that grants free admission to L’Aventure du Sucre. Only a 15-minute drive inland, this acclaimed museum in Pamplemousses reveals the importance of sugar to the island’s story and is usually combined with a visit to the nearby 18th-century Botanical Gardens. A trip to the capital, Port Louis, a 30-minute drive south, is the best way to appreciate the vibrant mix of cultures that is Mauritius. On a short Ü>lk ÌhÀoÕ}h iÌà LÕÃÞ ÃÌÀiiÌà wn` mÞÃilv >`miÀin} the Jardins de la Compagnie, gardens established by the French in the early 18th century; the wedding cake-like Jummah Masjid mosque, built in the 1850s and covering an entire block; and the hectic streets of Chinatown lined with snack bars selling steaming boulettes (dumplings) and sesame-seed-coated cakes. Find time, too, for the historic Central Market with its fresh tropical fruit juices and stalls piled high with fragrant spices. Another good base for engaging with the local scene is Flic-en-Flac, also on the west coast, which h>à > Üill-ki«Ì «ÕLliV Li>Vh Ìh>Ì >ÕÀiÌi>nà yoVk to at weekends. Here the stand-out resort is Sugar Beach Mauritius thanks to its serene rooms and spacious beachfront grounds. New this winter is an enlarged Buddah-Bar Beach restaurant and a kids’


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DRINKS FOR ALL


“Si c’est beau, c’est bon,” says mixologist David Boodhoo as I sample an elaborate purple cocktail that looks like some magic potion, which is thankfully both handsome and good, as described. Although described as a G&T Violet Noble it is part of a range of 10 non-alcoholic Easy Sips recently created for Sugar Beach’s upscale Buddah-Bar Beach restaurant. “Many of our guests are into healthier holidays,” he explains, UQ YKNN JCRRKN[ MPQEM DCEM CP CICXG ƃCXQWTGF Zen Margarita or ginger-infused Tropical Garden knowing there’s no prospect of a hangover. Freshly made fruit juices and coconut water


are also readily available across the island, while clients who prefer something stronger should try the tasty local beer, Phoenix. Fine wines, generally imported from South Africa, are available in luxury resorts and are clearly popular – Le Méridien Ile Maurice employs eight sommeliers. A bottle can be pricey so do as the locals and get into Mauritian rum. Despite a long history of growing sugar cane, creating high-quality tipples to sip rather than mix is a relatively new development. Two labels to look out for are Bougainville XO and Labourdonnais XO. Meanwhile, for those into kitsch, the airport duty-free sells a litre of Mauritius Dodo rum in a gaudy glass bottle resembling the ƃKIJVNGUU DKTF s [QWTU HQT C OGTG 


Cocktails at Buddah-Bar Beach


JANUARY 2024 ASPIRE


49


CREDIT: Pravi Leung Media


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