Club Med Mauritius: Pure indulgence in the tropics

With 330km of Indian Ocean coastline wrapped around an island smaller than Ekurhuleni, it’s not hard to find a panoramic sea view in Mauritius.

But the outlook from Villa 3 at Club Med’s La Plantation d'Albion on the country’s west coast is something arrestingly different — an anomalous mix of country-garden splendour juxtaposed against a coastal vista.

Just beyond the luxury villa’s private pool lies a field of tropical flowers — bougainvillea, frangipani, hibiscus, periwinkle, lantana. The kaleidoscope of flora introduces guests to the main attraction, the cobalt-blue ocean behind it. Dividing the two is a dramatic outcrop of black lava rocks.

It’s a classic case of the opening act stealing the main performer’s thunder, but together they provide a mesmerising spectacle that calms the mind and invigorates the senses.

To bob quietly in a rim-flow pool, surrounded by red-whiskered bulbuls, village weavers and waxbills, and absorb the beauty around you, is the ultimate mind detox.

That pool was my favourite spot during a recent stay at the five-star resort. There are 20-odd other villas on the 22ha estate, all set slightly away from the resort’s central village of restaurants, apartments and entertainment, giving them a more private, homely feel.

They are luxury personified. The smallest — a two-bedroom home — is a generous 340m², while the four-bed villas are a whopping 500m². Each en-suite bedroom, which feels like a spacious hotel room, leads onto a central, voluminous living and dining area, with a fully kitted kitchen tucked away and a guest loo for visitors.

Despite all this real estate, outside is where you really want to be, and a roomy veranda overlooking the pool, complete with a large day bed that hangs from the ceiling, is where you’ll do it.

Cranking up the indulgence level even further, each villa comes with its own butler, whose job it is to cater to your every whim, from unpacking your luggage to bringing you your morning coffee, serving breakfast on the veranda, treats for afternoon tea, private barbecues, candlelit diners and organising your activities and excursions. It’s the best kind of homestyle luxury.

The allure of these spectacular villas is that you can choose how plugged in to the resort you want to be. A chauffeured golf buggy is at all times available to whisk you off to a gazillion activities, bars, restaurants and entertainment in the village. Or you can just veg in that pool or read a book while rocking on that day bed overlooking the tropical gardens and ocean.

It can be a tough decision. As is the Club Med way, food, drinks and activities are included in the price. So there is a constant tug-of-war going on in your head: get as many activities in to get your money’s worth or give in to the guilty pleasure of lazing around all day? And there is lots to choose from. For the more energetic, there is paddle boarding, sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, tennis, archery, water aerobics, volleyball, fitness classes such as yoga and even, for the adventurous, a flying trapeze academy. There is also a cardio and weights room, a soccer pitch and a putting green, plus a sauna and hammam to end off with.

At an additional cost there is golf, a spa and a host of external excursions, such as various land tours of the island, big-game fishing and catamaran trips.

So your day can be as busy or as quiet as you want it to be.

The all-inclusive package appeals to a certain type of traveller — one who is willing to part with a sizeable payment upfront knowing there won’t be much need to reach for your purse or wallet once you’re there.

It’s great to know from the start what your holiday will cost you. You can, if you choose, spend not one cent more than what you pay upfront. The resort has two restaurants to choose from — an extravagant buffet at The Distillerie, with a wide range of cuisine to appeal to every tummy, or a pared-down à la carte menu at The Phare for a more formal or intimate experience. Both are included in the rate, as is the very casual Mangrove bar on the beautiful beach, which serves up drinks and snacks during the day.

And with theatre productions and an outdoor disco each night (tellingly, Master KG’s Jerusalema is a firm favourite), as well as quality childcare available, you can cram your days and nights with activities.

So I felt more than a bit guilty about whiling my days away reading a trashy novel and floating in the pool, but not guilty enough to strap on a life jacket and go sailing.  

One of the few things that could tempt me away from my villa was the small beach at the resort, which was bursting with boho character. Rattan lanterns hanging from a canopy of mangrove trees give it a casual but stylish feel, and to sit at one of the colourful rustic tables under a beachy parasol and take in the turquoise waves lapping the shore is a truly magical way to spend the day. And there are few spots that can beat it for a beach party at night!

Peppered throughout the resort are vignettes that capture the essence of tropical luxury: four-poster day beds on the beach, hidden picturesque beach coves, stylish balcony alcoves and quiet reading nooks. There is always something that is beckoning you to come on over and try it out.

Situated 14km from Port Louis, Albion is a quiet village popular for fishing. Its name derives from the oldest known name for Great Britain due to its cliffs that are reminiscent of the cliffs of Dover in England.

La Plantation d'Albion is one of two Club Med resorts in Mauritius. The other, La Pointe aux Canonniers, in the tourist hub of Grand Baie in the north, has more expansive beaches, but is not as luxurious or secluded as La Plantation d'Albion.

While English is the official language in the country, most locals speak Creole, which is close enough to French to attract large numbers of francophones to the island. La Plantation d'Albion hosts more than its fair share of those and while French seems to be the predominant language at the resort, all staff also speak English.

The resort prides itself on its warm, friendly staff, many of whom come from across the globe. Social, caring, outgoing personalities and a passion for hospitality take preference over experience when hiring and it’s a strategy that seems to work well. Friendships are forged between guests and GOs (gentle organisers), as they are called, adding to the “family feel” of the resort.

Once a week the staff put on a show for the guests, with everyone from the general manager to the barman transformed into community-theatre stars. Good ol’ family fun for all ages.

Our final evening was a spectacular, all-white, open-air dinner complete with an acrobatic performance that fabulously showcased the resort and its staff.

Recently upgraded, the venue is part of Club Med’s Exclusive Collection, which offers various add-ons to the all-inclusive package.

These include private and exclusive areas, a concierge service, room service, prestige food and beverages, champagne served by the glass from 6pm, exclusive in-room attention, private transfers and premium Wi-Fi.

This is a holiday for those looking to unwind, destress and escape the chaos of everyday life, a chance for a bit of pampering and luxury R&R, and where the hardest decision you’ll have to make is which restaurant to eat at or which activity to book for the day.

SIGHTS TO SEE

The Chamarel 7 Coloured Earth Geopark

Mauritius isn’t only sandy beaches. It’s also home to an amazing geological formation — an inland area of sand dunes in seven distinct colours, which layer together to create  beautiful patterns. The different colours are believed to be caused by molten volcanic rock cooling down at different external temperatures. The park is in the Rivière Noire District in the southwest, and also has a waterfall, tortoise park and coffee shop.

THE CHAMAREL RUM DISTILLERY

Set in a valley among the island’s hilltops, the distillery is a popular attraction where visitors can take a guided tour and learn about the rum-making process, followed by some rum tasting to end it all off.

EUREKA MUSEUM, MOKA

Take in some colonial history with a tour of this museum mansion with a beautiful garden and waterfall. It’s full of antiques and gives an intriguing glimpse into colonial life on the island. The mostly wooden house was restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1986. The grounds are a mix of natural Mauritian plant life, including mango trees and palms, and an English-style garden.

FLIC EN FLAC

The village of Flic en Flac is in the Black River district on the west coast, about 9km from Albion. It boasts one of the longest white-sand beaches on the island and is a vibrant tourist destination. Nearby is the Casela Bird Park, where you can admire orchids and more than 140 species of birds, including the endangered pink pigeon.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

GETTING THERE: 

Air Mauritius operates return flights from Johannesburg (one flight daily, seven flights a week) from R9,894.45 per person. It has also resumed direct flights to/from Cape Town, with two flights a week priced from R12,834.45 per person. A direct flight from OR Tambo is just less than four hours.  See airmauritius.com.

RATES:

Club Med La Plantation d’Albion resort: From R18,534 per person sharing (five nights). Includes accommodation, food, drinks, activities and entertainment. Excludes flights and transfers. Children under 12 stay free.

Club Med La Plantation d’Albion villa: From R32,620 per person sharing (five nights). Includes all of the above, as well as specialised villa services (including private butler, private pool and garden). Excludes flights and transfers. Children under 12 stay free.

BEST TIME TO GO:

The average temperature in Mauritius is 25°C, with water suitable for swimming in winter and summer. The official Mauritius Tourism website says the best time to visit is between April and June or September and December. The heat — and humidity — peak from December to February. The heavy-rain season is February and March, which is also cyclone season.

GOOD TO KNOW:

South African passport holders do not need a visa, any Covid-19 tests or proof of vaccination to enter Mauritius. No masks are required.

• Samantha Smith was a guest of Club Med and Air Mauritius​