The Residence: Belle Mare, Mauritius

Belle Mare Mauritius January 2017 116

The Residence in Belle Mare, Mauritius is a spectacular resort. I stayed there for a week with my family last year and would go back in a heartbeat. The hotel is situated on a beachfront paradise with stunning white-sand beaches along the azure waters of the Indian Ocean. In my opinion, the main highlight of the property is its 1-mile-long stretch of beach which, after touring the whole island of Mauritius, is by far one of the most stunning picturesque beaches around. The hotel is situated in Belle Mare on the east side of the island and its architecture is inspired by the island’s late 19th century plantation houses. The resort blends modern luxuries with a classic colonial style which represents the best of what Mauritian culture has to offer.

I stayed at the property during the island’s high season, the hotel was very busy but that never took away from the hospitality of the staff and consistently impeccable service. I stayed in a Colonial Garden View One Bedroom which was spacious and very comfortable for 3 people boasting a total floorplan of 54 m2 (581 sq. ft). The room featured a balcony overlooking the property’s gardens, a living area and a large marble bathroom with a separate bathtub and shower. I would highly recommend getting an ocean view room (or suite even better!) to get unobstructed views of the Indian Ocean every morning.

 

The resort is extremely relaxing and has a myriad of places to hang out and spend time with loved ones. While my favorite area is by far the beach, the large, lagoon-like pool is a central feature of the resort. I would spend afternoons there after spending most of the day lazing by the beach. The pool area is also a great spot to have a light lunch at the Verandah restaurant which has a wide menu items ranging from sandwiches, pizzas and salads.

If you decide to stay by the beach throughout the whole day, great choice! Have lunch at the Plantation restaurant which boasts an eclectic Creole and seafood menu. The menu has also choices from a variety of different cuisines (Italian and Indian among others) and is also a great place to check out authentic local island flavors.  On the beach front, there are a ton of water sports and activities to indulge in, I went scuba diving with Dive Passion Mauritius which is located on the property. The center is PADI certified and the staff is friendly and professional, the dives were phenomenal as one would expect from Indian Ocean diving. I also went Parasailing which is a ton of fun and gives you the opportunity to take cool videos and photos of the resort and soak in the incredible views of the island and the turquoise waters of the ocean.

 

My favorite facility was hands down the Sanctuary Spa which offers therapeutic spa rituals and treatments by French luxury brand CARITA. I booked a 90-minute spa treatment and it was one of the best massage treatments I had had anywhere around the world. I make it a case to get a massage treatment or at least visit the in-house spa of most luxury hotels and resorts I stay at/visit around the world and the therapists at the hotel really stood out. Pick a deep tissue massage and make sure to use the sauna and steam room facilities afterwards.

I had both breakfast and dinner at the Dining Room which is located by the pool. Breakfast was exquisite! The buffet offers Western specialties and a delicious omelet station. Fruits and vegetables in Mauritius are extremely fresh and the cheese and charcuterie station was my favorite. Make sure to save some space for the crepes and pancakes. For dinner, the Dining Room would have a different international cuisine theme every night; from seafood to sushi to Indian to creole to Italian, you will continue to be impressed night after night.

Mauritius is a phenomenal island with incredibly hospitable people, delicious food and awe-inspiring beaches. The Residence does an incredible job encapsulating everything that is quintessentially Mauritian. While there are so many hotel and resorts to choose from, I’m confident that the Residence will not disappoint!

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