‘I went to Mauritius assuming it would just be a relaxing ‘fly-and-flop’ holiday but I was wrong’
The small tropical island nation of Mauritius isn't all about beautiful beaches and blue seas – you can do as much or as little as you like, as our writer discovered
The tiny tropical paradise of Mauritius offers a blend of the familiar and the exotic, with left-hand driving and English widely spoken, yet surrounded by swaying palms and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
Located 500 miles east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, and roughly the size of Buckinghamshire, Mauritius was christened by the Dutch in 1598 after their governor, Maurice of Orange. It has since been colonised by both the French and English before gaining independence in 1968, and its rich history is still evident today.
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Constance Belle Mare Plage hotel
We checked in to the Constance Belle Mare Plage on the east coast, an ideal spot for family and multi-generational holidays. With 277 rooms and suites, it can accommodate up to 550 adults and 200 children when full, but with eight eateries and bars, four pools and 2km of sandy beach, you'd never guess.
Most buildings feature thatched roofs made from sugar cane fronds, adding a laid-back, rustic feel, but this resort boasts all the modern amenities you could desire. Our stay was in a roomy Junior Suite Beach Front, complete with a walk-in wardrobe and a massive balcony overlooking the bay – perfect for enjoying a sundowner.
What to do at Constance Belle Mare Plage
If you're a fan of lounging under palm trees, sipping cocktails on soft, white sand, then Mauritius is the place to be. But it's not just a fly-and-flop destination – there's plenty for all ages to enjoy, reports OK!. Many flock to Constance Belle Mare for its golf offerings, boasting two 18-hole championship courses – Legend and Links. But that's not all, with tennis, cycling and watersports also on offer, as well as a spa and gym equipped with a variety of machines and classes.
We found ourselves up at the crack of dawn for circuit training, followed by aqua aerobics – which we mistakenly thought would be a breeze. If that sounds like too much effort, you could easily while away your days at the spa. We were pampered with a one-hour full-body massage using essential oils, striking the perfect balance between relaxation and invigoration to stop us from dozing off.
The food at Constance Belle Mare Plage
Fresh fish is a must-try, served in a variety of ways. At the beachside Mediterranean restaurant, La Spiaggia, we indulged in crab remoulade, followed by rosemary salt-crusted sea bass – our top pick of the week. Over at Blu Sushi Lounge, we sampled a delicious array of maki rolls, sashimi, tuna and salmon tartare, all washed down with a surprisingly refreshing pina colada white beer, exclusive to the resort, brewed at the local Thirsty Fox brewery.
The Blue Penny Cellar offers a unique experience of wine tasting and a tour of the cellar, which is home to an impressive 30,000 bottles – including one with a staggering price tag of €25,000. In the restaurant, carnivores can select their preferred cut of steak from the in-house butcher, but we opted for the grilled turbot with red wine jus. You might not expect fish to pair well with red wine, but it absolutely does. The vanilla caviar – served in authentic caviar pots – was a brilliant and tasty dessert.
Constance Prince Maurice hotel
The second half of our journey was spent at the sister hotel Constance Prince Maurice, which is more tailored towards couples. It's a tranquil retreat just a 10-minute drive north, boasting the same thatched roofs and five-star service, along with three restaurants and four bars.
We lodged in a Junior Suite, featuring wooden blinds and a spacious dressing room-cum-bathroom. A short walk from our garden terrace, across well-kept lawns, led us to a pool, beyond which lay the ocean, safeguarded by a coral reef.
Sunbeds adorned with bright orange towels (a tribute to the Dutch Prince Maurice), are spaced out rather than packed side by side, giving you the feeling of being in your own private paradise. If you're feeling parched, simply press a button for waiter service.
What to do at Constance Prince Maurice
Prince Maurice, partly located on a natural fish reserve, is an angler's paradise. It boasts two pools (one specifically for laps) and offers the same range of activities as Belle Mare Plage. Both resorts feature kids' clubs and offer catamaran cruises, parasailing, kite surfing, diving, kayaking, sailing, water skiing and windsurfing. A complimentary shuttle bus is available to transport guests to the sister resort's golf courses.
During our visit, we tried paddle boarding. Despite the calm lagoon waters, the breeze can send you into the mangroves if you're not careful.
The food at Constance Prince Maurice
The floating seafood restaurant Le Barachois is just a short walk through the mangrove trees over a lantern-lit pontoon. We savoured a pre-dinner cocktail at the floating bar before indulging in authentic Indian Ocean dishes on one of the five decks on the water.
The breathtaking scenery was perfectly complemented by the food – we particularly enjoyed the crabmeat dome and the catch of the day, managing to save just enough room for the melt-in-the-mouth baked Alaska and the coconut milk rice pudding. Leaving such enchanting surroundings was certainly a challenge.
How much does it cost?
Stay at Constance Belle Mare Plage for three nights in a Prestige Room, half board, followed by three nights at Constance Prince Maurice in a Garden Junior Suite, half board, from £1,999 per person through Turquoise Holidays. This is based on travel in May 2025 and includes return flights, private transfers and a booking discount, saving £950.
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