The Residence Mauritius 

Normally a holiday for me must include culture, food, wine and the sea. However, having just got married and being 3 months pregnant I found myself booking a holiday to beautiful Mauritius for some well-deserved R&R. A truly relaxing holiday on this multicultural island with influences of India, Africa, Asia and Europe. Spend lazy days heading to the beach for a day of sunbathing, reading a novel and winding down with a cocktail or two. The Island of Mauritius is blessed with dreamy white- sand beaches, iridescent waters and lush protected forests and mountains.

The Residence Mauritius set in the centre of Belle Mare is a luxurious 5-star hotel. The resort sits amidst 25 acres of tropical gardens right on the sea front, offering breath-taking views of the azure Indian ocean. Its design is inspired by turn of the century plantation houses. The main lobby is amazingly impressive, my eyes lit up upon us arriving and I knew we were in for a treat.

Colonial is the theme of the interior design, with mahogany furnishings and slow revolving ceiling fans. The hotel offers 135 rooms and 28 suites which are generous in size. The garden and sea-facing rooms are elegant and understated, honey coloured wood and wrought iron detailing take you back in time to the elegance of the plantation era. To complete the picture, a butler is assigned to each room and will unpack the luggage, provide an ironing service and run a bath. I must be in heaven

Influenced by Creole cuisine and lots of fresh seafood there is a choice of three restaurants at the Residence; The Dining Room restaurant overlooks the pool and is open for breakfast and dinner, serving set menus and buffet meals. After a delicious beer, local rum or cocktail, you can enjoy local dishes with Mauritian spices in a romantic atmosphere. Food at the Residence is excellent, versatile and amongst the best on the island.

The Plantation Restaurant, a charming planter’s house beside the water has an a la carte menu offering a wide range of seafood. This was a favourite of ours and although we booked half board, we received a credit towards the cost of our meal.

The Verandah serves light lunches around the pool and is the perfect place for a refreshment and light bite. The chicken Caesar salad is delicious. Please ensure you pack a smart pair of shoes for your husband.

On our second day we ended up venturing out to the shopping mall to purchase a pair of shoes for my husband who only brought his trainers and flip flops. This proved to be very challenging as nowhere stocked a size 12. There is a dress code for dinner; T-shirts, sleeveless shirts, sandals, and flip flops are not permitted. There is also room service available.

The pool is very attractive, it sits directly behind the expansive lobby and beyond that is the pristine white sandy beach. Off to the side there is a shallower pool, perfect for toddlers to safely splash around in. Guests can also enjoy the following spa/wellness facilities: sauna, steam room, on site spa services. Body and facial treatments are offered on request. The signature massage was extremely relaxing.

Activities include complimentary watersports including hobie-cats, water skiing, glass-bottomed boat trips and a PADI dive centre. If you are anything like my husband and prefer to be more active, there are three tennis courts and a fitness centre.

As part of our honeymoon package we were offered the Catamaran day trip. After a cruise to a waterfall , snorkelling on the reef and fresh fish cooked on board we arrived on the beautiful Ile aux Cerfs island where we relaxed and enjoyed some refreshments.

Would I book the Residence again? Even though I prefer a holiday with some culture attached to it if I were looking to book another relaxing holiday to Mauritius, the Residence would most definitely be top of the list. The accommodation, food and service were out of this world.

Normally I would associate ‘All inclusive’ to mean a buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner with the cheapest alcohol available, however the meals here really did exceed our expectations. The beach is breath-taking, and the Residence offers a superb experience in a colonial style that is different to anywhere else on the island.

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