MAURITIUS – IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR!
Mauritius has all the facilities that families need on a tropical island holiday and Mauritians’ adoration of children is a delightful bonus:
In a society that dotes on children, it will come as no surprise to learn that the resorts of Mauritius have a branch of in-house hospitality which is dedicated solely to the happiness and well-being of their many younger guests.
Kids Club
Resorts generally have their own kids’ clubhouses with trained staff on hand throughout the day to lead activities indoors and out. For the most part, resorts’ kids’ clubs are for children aged between three and eleven years, although some, including Sugar Beach and La Pirogue, are geared up for children as young as two years old.
Children’s mini-clubs offer a wide range of fun things that can include traditional fun in the sun and water as well as games such as hide and seek, fishing, body painting and drawing competitions. Supervised trips out of the resort can include glass bottomed boat rides or excursions to nearby attractions, while more sporty children can get an introduction to activities like golf, tennis, snorkelling and diving.
Some resorts also offer clubs especially for teenagers with programmes of activities that can include special beach nights or karaoke evenings. Resorts with dedicated teenager programmes include Beau Rivage, Legends, Le Touessrok, Indian Resort, Sugar Beach and La Pirogue.
Making New Friends!
Although the resorts that offer special programmes for children under the age of three require parental supervision, kids’ club programmes are so well run that other adult guests are only vaguely aware that there are any children around the resort.
Youngsters can become immersed in day-long programmes of activities that keep them absorbed while their parents can get on with the serious business of relaxation, or they can dip in and out of clubs to join the adults for certain parts of the day.
Car hire is easily arranged and good for a change of scenery. One of the favourite family days out from resorts is the Waterpark Leisure Village on the east coast, which offers a day of fun riding a range of water flumes. Pamplemousse Botanical Gardens offers a cool walk amongst exotic greenery plus the sight of giant tortoises, while the Vanille Reserve des Mascareignes in the south east of the island has the added excitement of crocodiles. Both of these attractions appeal hugely to children of all ages.
Another nature park is Domaine Les Pailles, just ten minutes’ drive out of the capital, Port Louis. Visitors to this 3,000-acre estate get the chance to enjoy a 4×4 safari into the mountains looking for deer, monkeys and rare birds. Other activities in the nature park include mini-golf, horse riding, quad biking and rides in a horse-drawn carriage or train. A choice of restaurants serving pizza as well as Chinese and Indian food is available.
Sugar Beach, Couple
Parc Aventure-Chamarel is the place to go for families with a head for heights. This attraction offers the Mille-feuilles track, a botanical stroll along footbridges suspended in the treetops, or the adventure track, an assault course that requires greater strength and balance.
Dolphins are always a favourite attraction with children and families looking for a special day out should head for Tamarin on the west coast where they can take a boat trip out to see the area’s resident dolphins.
To Book Call Now 02087747298 (Ref:GuideToMauritius)
