Issue 2

The flight on Air Mauritius only lasted about four hours, but Mauritius is two hours ahead of South Africa, so it feels longer. Luckily the Air Mauritius staff was very attentive and friendly so the flight itself was very pleasant. (Air Mauritius also offers direct flights to and from Shanghai and Beijing, see below).

The air is pungent with that typically tropical bougainvillea aroma and before we know it, Jimmy from Summertime Transfers, organized by World Leisure Holidays, has us seated in his comfortable, air-conditioned van and we make our way through the dark night. The streets are narrow and deserted as we catch a glimpse of a beautiful temple every once in a while. Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometers off the southeast coast of the African continent. The area of the country is 2,040 square km and the capital is Port Louis. The country is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural; most Mauritians are multilingual, and English, French, Creole and Asian languages are spoken, which makes it popular with European and Asian tourists.

Endless beach

We finally arrive at our home for the next few days–Long Beach Hotel. The hotel takes my breath away. The design is like nothing I have ever seen. My brother–an architect –would call it "brutalism".

It is situated on the edge of one of the Island's longest, widest and most beautiful natural beaches. The design and architecture are contemporary and chic, built around the concept of "Italian life." The lively central Square has an air of the Dolce Vita, the real heart of the hotel, surrounded by restaurants, bars and boutiques. We have a late dinner from the Italian buffet and are shown to our room, an ultra-modern luxury suite. The hotel has 255 rooms, stylishly arranged in three semi-circles. Each room has a view of the Indian Ocean and each has the advantage an average 109 square meters of beach space. Their contemporary design and refined furnishings are in perfect harmony with the apple green, coral red, white and ash grey hues of the décor.

Each room in this new five star hotel in Mauritius is equipped with a mini-bar and tea and coffee making facilities. Each bathroom has a shower, a bath as well as a separate WC.

We are lulled to sleep to the softly breaking waves, meters from us. The next day reveals the hotel in all its glory. After a scrumptious breakfast, including delicacies like Marlin Carpaccio and Chinese dish stew, our charming host Poojah shows me around the grounds. We visit the spa, the kids club as well as the very modern and well-equipped gym. I then explore the extensive, majestic pool area on my own and marvel at the "day beds" built into the pools.

After a wonderful dip in the calm, warm seas I have an afternoon snooze and then it's off to a back and neck massage at Sea Spa. A haven with lava rock walls, surrounded by serene waters, Sea Spa is situated away from the more lively parts of the hotel so as to preserve the tranquillity of the place. I almost fall asleep but its time for a shower and then we are off to dinner.

Long Beach prides itself on its fresh produce and exquisite flavours: Italian, French and Mauritian cuisine combine with the perfumes of Asia and flavours are fused with the lively rhythms of show kitchens. We meet assistant manager Daren at the Shores Bar for pre-dinner cocktails and then decide on the Chinese restaurant, quaintly named Chopsticks, for dinner. Our starter of marinated jellyfish is delectable and the sweet and sour main of pork and fried rice is some of the best I've ever had. The desert is the pièce de résistance – homemade rice pudding ice cream accompanies an egg tartlet with a shot glass of mixed fruit – truly stunning! Half-board here includes breakfast and dinner but excludes lunch and all beverages. But beware! The drinks are unbelievably – and in my view, unnecessarily - expensive.

Relaxing on Amber Beach – where the turquoise sea meets azure

Multi activities

A dance show commences after dinner in the Square with wonderful lighting and ambience. Long Beach offers an array of entertainment options at night including bands, dancers and a nightclub.

The next morning after breakfast, we go for a quick ride in the glass-bottomed boat and marvel at the different species of fish–the afternoon snorkeling in the reef is excellent and gives us an even closer view of the beautiful coral and the schools of fish and sea life.

During the day the activity options are legion - a white, soft sand beach for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, paragliding, windsurfing or beach volley ball, three large pools, a water sports center, floodlit tennis courts, yoga and aqua-gym classes, golf, guided mountain bike excursions, an air-conditioned fitness center and even a climbing wall.

For dinner we are whisked away to Le Touessrok Hotel, a sister hotel to Long Beach and about a 15-minute drive away. Tonight is seafood buffet night. Never has there been a more demure phrase for what we are about to experience. Firstly, the hotel itself transports you to a place of soft, pastel colors in terms of lightning, tropical forest gardens around the swimming pool, soothing steal drum rhythms and deep, mahogany furnishings and decor, reminiscent of a five-star island resorts of yore.

The hotel is rightfully recognized as one of the handful "Leading Hotels of the World" in terms of service, design and the food –oh, the food! The restaurant is called Three-Nine-Eight and the restaurant manager Vick welcomes us with a flourish. It seems to me almost every nation's food is represented here. For instance the Chinese section ONLY offers the following: a selection of dim sums with a variety of dips and sauces, roasted whole fish with ginger, seafood with green curry sauce, sweet and sour crab soup, shrimps saw mai, vegetable chop suey, fried rice and fried noodles. Among the other divine dishes you will find roasted duck, grilled prawns with peri-peri sauce, octopus stew with Creole sauce Bouillabaisse soup with seafood and wood-fired oven baked pizzas. The desert "pastry shop" is a pure aphrodisiac on its own and offers things like mango soufflé, white chocolate mousse and coffee panna cotta.

Our last day finds us en route to Amber Hotel, another hotel in the famous Sun Resorts Group. This charming four-star is a world away from the chick sophistication of Long Beach and steals my heart in an instant. Amber is all-inclusive and is located in Palmar, on the east coast. Its magnificent white sand beach, almost 700 meters long, faces the turquoise waters of a lagoon and the Indian Ocean beyond.

No children under 16 are allowed but we while away the day – like all the other guests – just like adult children, frolicking in the sea, sipping cocktails by the pool and just generally behaving like languid holiday-makers. After a wonderful barbeque dinner on the beach with the best beef and fish dishes, we have to say a sad goodbye to our short-lived hedonism.

Mauritius is not called an island paradise for nothing - go and experience it for yourself.

Jo and Izak were kindly hosted by World Leisure Holidays at their Long Beach Hotel property, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) and flown to Mauritius return by Air Mauritius.

More information and contact details

World Leisure Holidays

World Leisure Holidays is wholly owned by Sun Resorts in Mauritius and as such owns two "Leading Hotels of the World," Le Touessrok in Mauritius and Kanuhura in the Maldives.

They also own two five-star properties, Sugar Beach and Long Beach, as well as two four-star properties, Ambre and La Pirogue all located in Mauritius.

Ambre Hotel is a contemporary, all-inclusive adults retreat for guests 16 years and older.

World Leisure Holidays' value proposition is that of a concierge. They package the best value vacations and journey with the client from the booking process, the stay and aftercare.

For reservations or further information please call 0860 954 954 or visit their website www.wlh.co.za

www.facebook.com/WorldLeisureHolidays

@WorldLeisureH – Twitter

About the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA)

The MTPA is a parastatal organization established in 1996 to promote Mauritius as a tourist destination. It provides tourists with information on the facilities, infrastructures, and services available to them when they visit the island. The MTPA also works closely with tourism agencies and conducts research into market trends and opportunities for the country. Additionally, it serves as an advisor to the Minister on all matters relating to the promotion of tourism. South Africa forms an important market for tourism to Mauritius. To this end, the MTPA office in South Africa strives to promote tourism to the island.

The website is www.tourism-mauritius.mu and E-mail: Mauritius@bairds.co.za

AIR MAURITIUS:

CHINA FROM/TO MAURITIUS SCHEDULES

Air Mauritius operates a once weekly direct service to Beijing. The flight is operated by an Airbus A340 aircraft. Departure from Mauritius on MK686 on Saturdays and departure from Beijing (MK687) on Sundays.
With this service, Air Mauritius offers nine weekly flights to destinations in China (including Hong Kong) as follows:
One direct flight to Beijing on Saturday
Two direct flights to Shanghai on Thursday and Sunday
Three direct flights to Hong Kong on Tuesday (flight starting July 2, 2013), Thursday and Sunday
Three weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday via our hub in Kuala Lumpur from where passengers may connect directly to Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing on code share flights (with partner Malaysia Airlines).

South Africa to/from Mauritius Air Mauritius operates 7 X weekly day flights out of Johannesburg. In 2012, Cape Town flights' capacity was boosted with three flights direct to Mauritius, return, per week.

Also since 2012, Air Mauritius offers network connectivity within six hours to all destinations, beyond Mauritius. These include highly competitive rates offered via international routes inclusive of Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, London, Paris, India, China, Reunion, Kenya, Madagascar and more.

Re-Introduction of Durban Route:

Effective July 5, 2013: Two weekly flights to Mauritius, return, were re-introduced, due to customer and key industry stakeholder demand.

Inauguration of SSR International Airport, Plaisance:

The new passenger terminal at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport was inaugurated in an official ceremony on 30 August, 2013.

This new facility, with a total area of 57,000 square meters, will cater for up to 4.5 million passengers a year, thus doubling the capacity of the country's international airport.

The new terminal will support the country more effectively in being the only tourist gateway, connecting Mauritius with the rest of the world.

Inspired by the Ravenala Madagascariensis, commonly known as the traveller's tree, this industrial facility was developed to meet stringent environmental standards.

The project has taken three years to complete with investment amounting to $305 million by the Government of Mauritius, together with the backing of the China EXIM Bank.

Current route map