My husband Allan and I were eager for a week of tropical warmth to break up the English winter and explore somewhere new.
After Jenny did a fantastic job organising our three-week bucket list trip to Ecuador and the Galapagos last year, we knew we were in good hands.
Once again, Jenny came through brilliantly - securing the best price for our preferred room type at a splendid hotel and even arranging a special request for Allan's birthday.
We flew directly with Air Mauritius, and everything went smoothly - punctual flights, decent meals, and inflight entertainment that, while more geared towards an international audience, was just about adequate.
As first-time visitors to Mauritius, we had pre-booked an automatic car for the week, which we collected at the airport. The rental agent proudly informed us it was new, though its unpredictable gear changes made us hesitant to overtake. Fortunately, it got us where we needed to go!
Driving up the coast from the airport, we saw a more rustic side of Mauritius beyond the tourist resorts. Every village boasted a colourful, ornate temple, and the lush, green countryside was stunning, if a bit prone to the occasional downpour - but the hot sun always made a quick return.
The Seasense Boutique Hotel & Spa is a serene beachfront escape on the island’s east coast, nestled on the stunning Palmar beach. With 59 rooms spread across two levels, the property features three restaurants, two bars, a lounge, a boathouse and a spa.
Our room, just steps from the sand, offered a heavenly view over the bay. It had everything we needed, including a great hot shower and a kettle!
The gardens were alive with colourful native birds, like the red fody and red-whiskered bulbul, which added a charming touch to our stay.
A lovely infinity pool sat just behind the beach, offering the perfect spot for a refreshing swim at the end of the day.
The barman quickly took a shine to us, delighting in crafting cocktails with local rums for our pre or post-dinner drinks (often more than one!). The complimentary afternoon tea and cake were a nice touch as well.
The staff were warm and friendly, delivering excellent service throughout our stay. Allan’s birthday was especially memorable - after a day out, we returned to find our bed beautifully decorated, and during dinner, the wait staff surprised him with a stunning whole chocolate birthday cake. It was too much to eat, so we had to sneak it back to our room fridge!
The food at Seasense Boutique Hotel & Spa was truly exceptional. I’ve never encountered such variety, quality and presentation in dinner dishes included on a half-board rate. Beyond the extensive main menu, each day featured a new Chef's Special, with choices for starters, mains and desserts.
It was a treat to enjoy efficient table service rather than the usual buffet rush. The hotel also offered themed nights in a separate section of the restaurant at an extra cost. We tried the lobster night, and while the meal was excellent, it was pricey, and the low attendance made for a less lively atmosphere. It seemed most guests preferred the variety and quality of the main restaurant, which was always bustling.
The hotel also offered complimentary kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, which we thoroughly enjoyed using. When we ventured out to explore the island, the staff recommended a handy app called MAPS.ME, providing offline GPS navigation. It worked well, although the predicted journey times were a bit optimistic, and best of all, it didn’t eat into our mobile data.
One top tip for driving: make sure to allow plenty of time for your journeys. The roads aren’t direct, and local roads are often too narrow for overtaking - even if your car manages it! Plus, you’ll frequently find yourself stuck behind local buses that stop every few minutes.
Driving up into Black River Gorges National Park was a trip highlight. On the way, we stopped at Grand Bassin, a sacred crater lake teeming with more fish than we’d ever seen!
It's surrounded by numerous Hindu temples and shrines of all sizes, plus the enormous 35-metre tall Shiva and Durga statues, which stand at the end of a rather incongruous short section of mega-wide empty triple carriageway! We presume this is needed for the volume of worshippers on religious festival dates, but it was very peaceful when we were there.
We continued our drive, stopping at various viewpoints to take in the stunning vistas of gorges, waterfalls, and the distant coastline. At Chamarel, we were particularly captivated by its waterfall - the most impressive of them all, in our opinion. We would have lingered longer, watching the huge fruit bats swooping around, if the local mosquitoes hadn’t decided to snack on us!
Our final stop was the 7-Coloured Earth, a surreal, multi-coloured lunar landscape about the size of a football pitch. The colours shifted as sunlight danced across the terrain, creating a mesmerising effect. Unfortunately, we missed the café by minutes - it would have been perfect to enjoy a drink or ice cream while soaking in the views. On our way back to the car, we were treated to a sighting of the beautiful Mauritian green echo parakeet, which gave me my much-needed wildlife fix.
Another highlight was a boat trip we booked through the hotel. The speedboat took us down the east coast, with our first stop at a waterfall in a river estuary. It was like a micro-sized Niagara Falls, and the boat even went right up under it! We spotted a troop of monkeys in the nearby trees, adding to the thrill.
Next, we sped out to some islands, stopping for snorkelling before exploring a stunning island with a ruined lighthouse. We enjoyed a BBQ lunch on a remote beach on the quieter side of the famous Ile Aux Cerfs, followed by a final beach stop on the busy lagoon side of the island. We even encountered a pod of dolphins along the way - a perfect day out on the water.
Allan would add one more highlight: discovering a couple of Mr Whippy ice cream vans during our island travels. He’s a bit addicted!
Initially, we saw Mauritius as the lesser-known sibling to destinations like the Maldives and Seychelles, both of which we've visited. However, it pleasantly surprised us with its abundant offerings at a more reasonable price as a package holiday.
We definitely underestimated it and now highly recommend both Mauritius and the Seasense.
The stunning landscapes - from expansive golden beaches to majestic mountain peaks and cascading waterfalls, captivated us.
Jenny did an excellent job planning our trip. She's always one step ahead, quick to respond to any queries, and her personal touch made the whole experience worry-free. It’s reassuring to have that continuity of one point of contact, and Jenny’s personable approach made all the difference. Thank you, Jenny, for an unforgettable holiday.
Maria
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