The most Royal of Palms

Royal Palm, Mauritius. The name evokes  the utmost in exclusivity and charm. Add to that arrival by helicopter and you fall deeply in love with this pride of the Beachcomber chain…

Our visit was a daytrip to have lunch with our cherished partners at Royal Palm.

Helitours are always exciting...
Jonatan & Louise ready to go

 

Leaving Dinarobin … fabulous sight!

Dinarobin and its famous beach
seen from the air

 

View from the helicopter as we head north

 

We passed over one of our new Beachcomber resorts Trou aux Biches – a totally recreated five star resort on the site of the original popular four star one. Trou aux Biches commands an attractive beach washed by sheltered waters – a lovely resort of luxury villas and suites.

 

Trou aux Biches and its palm lined beach
seen from our helicopter

 

 

And now we land, for lunch at Royal Palm.

Our excellent company over lunch GM Jacques Silvant and Deputy GM Stephane Sogliuzzo.

Lunch under the palms

 

Lovely Gazpacho

Main course - Sword fish

 

Time to get updated.

 

Kids Club - right size!

 

 

The Clarins spa at Royal Palm is a lavish facility, with sparkling, gushing water features and freeform pool with sundeck – along with sophisticated amenities for health and beauty.

 

A froth of water and palms -
Royal Palm's luxurious spa

 

And now for our return to Dinarobin - more water....

Good bye Royal Palm. Going back
in a speed boat …

 

Returning to Dinarobin - A lovely journey,
an exquisite hotel.

 

Many thanks Jacques and Stephane at Royal Palm – and Micheline, wish you could have been here too…

This wonderful Mauritius...

Inspired cuisine, sandy beaches, watersports, golf and tennis – and lovely friendly people. For Select Collection customers Mauritius also means luxurious accommodation and VIP treatment.

I have enjoyed all this and more at Dinarobin and Le Paradis the last few days. Here are a few glimpses of this wonderful life…

Great watersports!

 

Waterskiing at Le Paradis went very well for
me on Friday, although I haven't done it for
years... I will practice a bit more before
publishing any more pix :)

 

Great tennis...

 

...great tennis every day for me
in spectacular surroundings

 

 

Great accommodation! Lots of news in this area as Mauritius is investing more in top luxury accommodation…

 

New 4 bedroom villas at Dinarobin -
on a beautiful beach

 

Great seafood...

 

 

And great people...

 

One of the reasons we confidently recommend Mauritius for holidays is that we also have such special people looking after you at our hotels. And not only that –  we have Mautourco…

Mautourco are our people on the ground in Mauritius, who arrange all the transfers, VIP welcomes, and extra tours if you wish. They also help you if you have any problems. I always meet  with our vital contacts when I travel…with these wonderful people on Mauritius it is only a pleasure...

 

Special lunch with Mautourco on the beach
at Dinarobin

 

Jean Paul Poussin, the commercial manager
with Shalina Ruhee and Sonia Parmessur,
Commercial Executives at Mautourco

 

More about wonderful Mauritius - next blog...

 

 

 

 

Coming home to Dinarobin...

I feel like I have come home. Wonderful to be back at Dinarobin and Paradis, these warm and friendly resorts on this endless beach, with gorgeous mountain backdrop and shimmering sea. Especially nice to be met by dear friends including Jean Marc Lagesse...

 

Waking up at Dinarobin...palmy paradise.

 

Our first dinner was at Il Gusto. Il Gusto is an Italian restaurant with Tuscan influence, pool terrace and  views of the beach and sea. Lovely companions:

Jean Marc Lagesse MD of Paradis and Dinarobin and
Bruno Tula GM Paradis

 

 

 

Tempting dessert...

 

Dinarobin has four restaurants and nearby Paradis a whole lot more. You can choose to eat by the beach with your toes in the sand, or in more sophisticated atmosphere.  Freedom of choice!

And freedom to enjoy tennis, golf and watersports or just lie under a palm...

What more could you want?

Mauritian moments at Four Seasons...

Sailing in the afternoon

Over the turquoise lagoon, a light wind in our sails. And then back to the green resort - Four Seasons Mauritius. Later a new restaurant to discover...

Aquapazza is a very good Italian restaurant, picturesquely placed on a private island, facing the hotel over the water.

Aquapazza is dangerously good...

 

A Mauritian fish cake - special
in every way

 

The desserts are most dangerous. I usually don't
take dessert but here I could not resist

We are happy diners, and well fed - no doubt.

With my son & colleague Jonatan & Select Board Member
Lena Lones

 



With Louise Lundius, who manages the Select spa, and Lena



The golf course at Four Seasons is also something special - a championship course designed by Ernie Else, it has lovely views of the sea.

That could be what you call a beautiful water hazard

 



 

...a tropical feel

 

...and the best in golf carts

Sand and sea.  Mauritius....what an island!

A Place for all Seasons

Four Seasons Resort Mauritius - a place for all seasons. It's warm all year round on Mauritius, and perfect for outdoor activities. Here at Four Seasons we have it all - golf, tennis, watersports and perfect al fresco dining with freshest delights.



Lunch in the sun at Bambou pool restaurant,
Pan-Asian fare, beachside


 

Healthy lunch - catch of the day

Strawberries by the beach



Plenty of tropical fare too...

 

 

For your lunch - one coconut a day...

In a perfect setting:

 

Relaxing after lunch on the white beach

The view from Bambou

Here there is something for everyone:

 

Kids' buffet

And for an adrenaline kick - fun amidst sparkling nature...

 

Jonatan heads out

 

 

Meanwhile you have your own villa with private pool, another perfect place to hang:

This villa is right on the beach -
sparkling pool, double sunbed and lovely view

 

 

Come evening, time to socialize:

 

At the Manager's cocktail party Chelan
Goonetilleke, Director of Marketing

 

And all day long, the serene and silken service of  Four Seasons...with warm Mauritian smiles.

 

VIP arrivals in Mauritius

This is Rock Star, this is Celebrity, this is 007…

Arriving on this warm and lovely island we were met some 10 metres from the plane by a sexy silver limo – a Porsche Cayenne – and whizzed off to the YU Lounge away from the masses.

 

No queues for us. Just gourmet eats, warm VIP attention and someone else taking care of our passports and immigration control…

 

Mauritius hassle free!

Elegant quietness and VIP attention
far from the masses

The best thing is that Mautourco, our agents in Mauritius, arranged it for me with one of my staff as a surprise. You could do that too for a loved one when planning their birthday or honeymoon visit to Mauritius.

From the YU lounge you can head onward to your hotel in one of the sleek silver limos, or by helicopter. Likewise on departure, you can save yourself lots of the usual airport hassles and arrive at the lounge in style.

This fabulous facility lies at the GAM airstrip, where private business jets come and go. But of course it is open to commercial airline passengers too (as we were).

View out at the private jets

 

Duty free shopping can be arranged for you in the lounge and much else. Perhaps take a shower after a night on the plane…

 

Definitely worth it for those who budget for silken convenience away from the madding crowds.

Comeback for Mauritius

On my way to Mauritius, and thinking about tennis among other things. Yesterday we were at the Stockholm Open at Kungliga tennishallen, and saw Czech Tomas Berdych beat top-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in an exciting match.

I look forward to playing tennis in Mauritius with my son, especially at the beautiful courts of Paradis and Dinarobin.

But there will be a lot more things to experience for me and my travel companions. The fabulous thing is that Mauritius is making a comeback.

 

Among paradise islands, Mauritius has seen fierce competition in recent years. But now our beloved Mauritius is fighting back. Five star properties are being built or upgraded, and popular properties that were looking a little sunbleached are being smartly renovated to lure back top luxury customers. There will also be a lot of new flights to the island next year.

Select has been selling trips to Mauritius ever since we opened 20 years ago. It is a very loved island among my customers, and many have been waiting for this...

My mission on this trip is to find out more about the comeback of Mauritius… Watch my blog for news on the exciting developments on that warm and hospitable island. Some of the places I will visit:

 

Paradis & Dinarobin, Le Morne Peninsula

 

 

Constance Le Prince Maurice

 

Four Seasons Anahita

 

One&Only Le St Geran