This holiday came at a time when we needed it most. Our eldest child had just turned 2 years old and our twins were one. We had just hosted our first ever event for our charity The ZB Foundation (www.thezbfoundation.com) it was the first time we had openly spoken to a room full of people about our NGO based in Pakistan. The stress of it all was tempered when the St Regis in Mauritius gifted us a free stay at the property.
It took us a few months to get around to it as we sorted out who would stay with the twins while we took our eldest with us. It was going to be our first time to Mauritius and our first real break in a while, so the excitement was on another level, yet slightly squashed with the fact we were leaving our other two babies at home.
On Mauritius' southwest tip and on one of the island's most stunning and sheltered stretches of gleaming beaches, with the giant monolith, Le Morne Brabant, providing a dramatic backdrop, sits the stunning St Regis Mauritius Resort.
On arriving at the hotel, you encounter the welcome check-in area which is all open seeing right through to the turquoise blue sea of the Indian ocean along with the resort’s massive swimming pool, all decorated with palm trees and cabanas.
We had booked a ground floor deluxe room, beach facing as it was safest for children. The room was perfect as it opened up onto a grassed area which then led directly onto the beach. The rooms were a great size, lovely and bright. From the rooms you could walk along the beach to the main pool and restaurants or from the front door take a golf cart.
There was a fantastically cute kids club which had recently been renovated and installed with all new equipment, along with a small, kiddie swimming pool. If the kids wanted to eat at the club, there was a child’s menu and food was served with kids crockery and cutlery. Even though the kids club was great, as our daughter was only 2, she preferred staying with us and playing in the big pool.
The restaurants were situated around the pool area and offered a wide, sumptuous selection of cuisine. Of an evening there were a choice of three main restaurants, the Floating Market which was designed as a pagoda serving Asian, a more tranquil Japanese restaurant and then main colonial style dining room which served French Mediterranean (this was also were breakfast was served) and was right next to the pool.
The resort had a great spa so it’s ideal for couples looking to strip away the stress. We really enjoyed walking along the long beach and when you walk right till the end of the resort you come to a small secluded swimming pool that offers a more relaxed and much more private sun downer atmosphere.
We didn’t do any watersports except for a speed boat ride, but the resort offers kayaking, diving and snorkeling. Tennis courts are also available and in the main hotel there is a small cinema which shows movies a couple of times a week.
This was the perfect destination to switch off and do nothing except relax and catch up on some much-needed sleep. After all I did have three children under the age of 2, so the peaceful, and laid-back lifestyle with the most stunning surroundings was just what the doctor ordered.
Due to the emphasis on rest and relaxation, we didn’t experience anything outside of the hotel, however I do have a to-do list for the next time we visit Mauritius!
Dani
