ISLAND ESCAPES Jolene Marriah-Maharaj
ENJOY a sunset at the rooftop bar and restaurant Bisou, at the LUX Grand Baie.
1 MAURITIUS
I HAD seen pictures of idyllic Mauritius in magazines, on Instagram, and hell, even pictures of my parents back in 1995 standing alongside a palm tree. The island had always been on my bucket list. But nothing would have prepared me for the beauty that awaited me when I set foot on the island in March, courtesy of Mauritius Tourism. A whole five days of the beach, cuisine, sight-seeing and well, sleep (I’m a mom to two toddlers). It was truly a dream come true. A media team were invited to stay at the recently opened LUX Grand Baie on the northern coast of the island, an hour's drive from the airport. The five-star resort will capture
you the moment you enter. It’s a combination of chic, ultra-modern design while still encompassing the beauty of the Indian ocean. The hotel, which caters for families, has a combination of rooms and suite. I stayed in junior suite and let’s just say I began living like a Kardashian. A welcome cake, not a slice, a cake, awaited me on arrival. Everything was at a touch of a button. The decor is clean with minimal colour adding to the sophistication. The hotel offers four swimming pools, four bars and three restaurants. The Beach Rouge is a culinary delight, offering a traditional à la
carte breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can hear a pin drop on the beach while soaking up the sun or enjoying cocktails on the beach. For the fitness fanatics, there are yoga classes, spinning classes, a gym and other activities on hand. A state-of-the-art spa, with various offerings from a Turkish hammam to your traditional full body massage, is also on offer. For me, my ultimate favourite was the rooftop terrace with its infinity pool and swing as you watch the sunset on the ocean. Not surprising, the hotel won Best Luxury Hotel & Resort by Mauritius Business Awards four months after opening its doors. While remaining at the Lux Grand Baie for the rest of the
