Nostalgic!

Nostalgically back to my favourite spot…enjoying lunch at Blue Marlin on my recent trip to Mauritius.

This restaurant is at the lovable family hotel Paradis on Le Morne peninsula. Next door is sister hotel Dinarobin, another favourite that has pleased our elite clients for over 20 years. Between them they share eight restaurants and great facilities..

Watching the boats and waterskiing at Paradis:

Paradis is such an active hotel and has such stunning sunsets. Will always love it! 

Now for some news…

The newly renovated rooms at Paradis are very spacious with big terraces

At  Dinarobin lunch on the beach is a must...

So is a visit to the spa – a must!

 Later we dined divinely at Umami. Great food. Japanese/Asian crossover.

Finally, there is always time for tennis...

Deepak is the best trainer - he has been at Paradis for more than 15 years

Indian Ocean charm

Continuing my catch-up visit to subtropical Mauritius. As warm and hospitable as ever…

Shanti Maurice lies on the south east coast of the island, an unspoilt area within reach of hills and rainforests. The resort has a curve of golden beach and a calm pastel lagoon, but there is also a stretch where the Indian Ocean thunders on the reef.

Shanti's golden beach

At the Presidential Villa you get the best of both worlds – the sound of the waves and total pampering at home in the villa.

View from the Presidential Villa

Lunch with a view in your own gazebo

Table all set

At the Fish Shack, there is a rustic, barefoot ambience, the sound of waves, and the aroma of barbecue. At the Rum Shed taste the Creole flavours of Mauritius...

Rum shed for authentic local flavours

 The organic garden is part of the secret of the cuisine…

Shanti organic garden

And the people are the secret of the hospitality...

The happy management

Our favourite waitress

In paradise with St Geran

Mauritius is my second tropical home. We at Select Collection were the first in Sweden to invest in sending elite clients to that beautiful Indian Ocean island. Ever since then I have kept up to date with the charms of  our Mauritian hotels and am in Mauritius now to catch up.

One&Only Le St Géran is just what you expect in a tropical paradise. Thousands of palm trees, and a sandy beach washed by crystal sea. On top of that it is imbued with class, fun and great food & beverage.

Now it will take a new forward leap with refurbishments of all rooms, to be reduced in number from 163 to 143. The ocean suites are real havens in the flawless style of sister hotel One&Only The Palm with the tropical mood of muted white.  There will be 35 of these each with living room and beautiful wooden terrace. 

On my short stay at beloved Le St Geran I saw a new sample room and all the impressive plans.

New room look - with a huge walk in closet between elegant bedroom and gorgeous bathroom

Ocean suite. Lovely wooden terraces furnished for outdoor living

All the restaurants will have major renovations,  Our clients who love pool villa living will be delighted with another new opportunity – 48 villas to be ready 2019 on the old 9 hole golf course. At present they have one gorgeous 2 bedroom pool villa.

The hotel will close from February for almost the whole of next year to launch the totally made-over Le Saint Géran in time for Christmas.

Here are some more of my snaps. The tropical ambience....

Palms and calm lagoon

New grass is being put in

The  delicious cuisine...

The fine dining restaurant is Prime - what a welcome

The Chef of Prime

Fresh foie gras

Tuna & apple tartar

Vahlrona chocolate surprise

One&Onlydelights

A perfect lunch of delicatessen delights was spread out on our long kitchen table at Select Collection for a mingle and meeting with our cherished partners One&Only.

Visiting us on Tuesday were Lore Koenig Executive Director Sales at One&Only, and Pauline Massena, Head of Sales at One&Only Le Saint Geran, one of our Mauritius gems.

Here are a few snapshots of this occasion....

Pauline, Lore and Neil our product director outside Select Collection at Grev Turegatan 8

The One&Only visitors in our cosy, arty and elegant reception area

And our delicious spread generously provided by One&Only...

Lore and I are old friends. We always have a lot to talk about - apart from our thriving business relationship.

Select customers love One&Only, which is one of the world's most elite and luxurious hotel chains. For the existing One&Only resorts in our current Select Collection, click HERE.

Beach - city - haven

One of our most popular hotels for a family beach holiday, One&Only Royal Mirage has a backdrop of skyscrapers, but is a lovely low rise sanctuary with Arabian design, among green lawns and flowers. The beachfront is a whole kilometre long, and there are sparkling swimming pools along with tennis, watersports and more…

There is so much to do at Royal Mirage, so many shops and so many restaurants (nine),  that you don’t need to leave…unless for some adrenalin fun at Aquaventure or to experience the highest building in the world.

One&Only Royal Mirage has three hotels – The Palace (231 rooms), The Arabian Court (172) and The Residence (48) – all with seaviews.

On my recent Dubai visit we called for lunch and hotel inspection. Here are a few of my snapshots…

Delicacies

One&Only Royal Mirage - relaxed lunch

Beachside and healthy

Nice company - Nicolas Messian, Hotel Manager Royal Mirage 

Arabian style amidst palms, lawns, pools and flowers - with a backdrop of glittering Dubai city

Beautiful white sandy beach with view over to The Palm island

White Horse beauty

We spent a day at Cheval Blanc Randheli. Amazing. Feels like you are walking through a fashion shoot. The dazzling white sands and turquoise water you expect in the Maldives, plus the interiors you don’t expect - stylishly modern and adorned with artworks. Cheval Blanc is not new to the hotel fashion game – they already have two stylish resorts in the Alps and on St Barth.

Designed to soothe and delight the crème de la crème, the resort not suprisingly attracts celebrities and royalty.  

Its 45 villas are all vast, fresh  and cosmopolitan, each served by not one but two dedicated butlers/concierge.

The Maldives beauty you expect with a modern stylish touch

The white horse in another version

             Style and fresh clean sparkle...

The Spa

Entrance to the Spa

Eva Sitarz Director of Sales  and Åke in front of the spa

Main pool area

Fantastic pool and 4 bedroom villa on its own private island 

Everything that opens and shuts - the four bedroom villa

  

All villas have a great design...

Water villa

Sophisticated yet great for the kids...

Kid size

Kids Club - large pool and beach access

In line with the resort’s aspirations, you can order a bottle of Chateau Cheval Blanc.

The best year for Cheval Blanc wine was 1947.  A few bottles are still on sale at USD 35000

 “Never say never again” ...

(As Sean Connery said while drinking Château Cheval Blanc in the 1983 James Bond movie.)