Love Letter: Grand Baie

Isn’t it almost a cliché to talk about the wonders of holidaying in the town-village of Grand-Baie? The perfect place to define exotism. Time seems to freeze as you walk the streets. Merchants faces looking enthusiastic at the approach of white people. Mauritians are tanned people after all. Vibrant colors varying from shelf to shelf.

Few years ago who would have thought that this fishing village with the island’s most awesome beaches would become one of the Indian Ocean’s most prized holiday destination. Probably no one. Talk about your holiday to Mauritius and forget to mention Grand Baie and everybody becomes mad. Sugar cane fields at its periphery are slowly disappearing at the expense of huge malls like the Grand Baie La Croissette or Super U Coeur de Ville. Cinemas, luxury Shops, haute cuisine. You will not miss anything even if you’d wanted to.

And yet to go to Mauritius, to miss out Grand Baie is without doubt to deprive yourself of a vital organ of your holidays in Mauritius.

Grand Baie is mythical. Occupies a place of choice in the heart of travel lovers. Grand Baie is free. Free from the fast pace of the city and free from the boredom of the country side.

Grand Baie is romantic. The best place to be for your honeymoon. An energy which only strengthen the love between lovers they say. Reason to try.

Sassy little items carefully displayed on shelves in the “Bazar” only wake up the want to buy. Dodos, Shells, Jewelry or crafts.  Beware the wallet. Please take Mrs outside or she will ruin you. Fine language and some self-educated psychology on the menu. It seems they will never let you go without having persuaded you from buying something.

What is so special about this town will everybody say? Everything. From Sea to Sky everything is special about Grand Baie. If you are enough lucky, you may find your mammalian dolphin cousins expressing their joys inside the bay. Sandy Beaches, picturesque paysages, 5 star hotels, everything inside Grand Baie is minutely located.

Unabashedly talking about why we all love this town. Sea, Sun, calmness. You will make a lot of friends. Visit Grand Baie and show us someone who will hesitate to bring you home to taste the local delicacies.

No matter where you are holidaying in Mauritius, it is a must you visit Grand Baie, if only for some time to spend at the beach.

 

 

Best Day Ever: Mauritius

1.      Have a Great Breakfast

Getting out of bed from the right foot, nothing better than a great breakfast to kick start your best day ever. The best day has to start with a stellar breakfast. What would you take as a cheap breakfast for your perfect day in Mauritius? Head for any bakery, Rs 2.70 for a round bread. A too much inconsiderable amount of money to know how much it makes in euros or dollars. Well, I was pretty sure you’d wanted to know. 0.0068 euros or 0.080 dollars. Buy yourself an egg for 0.125 Euros or 0.15 dollars. If you’re staying with some Mauritian family, skip coffee, get some tea instead. If you’re on your own, we’d probably advised you not to drink tea or coffee from an hotel. Follow our guide and do it by yourself.

2. Take a tour of Port-Louis

Next, dress as per the season. Dress light in summer as temperatures can get extremely high- between 30 – 35 degrees celcius. Not to mention peaks of 40 degrees sometimes. Take a bus to Port-Louis. Less than a Euro/Dollar for the fare if you take a single bus. Traveling by bus can be very fun in Mauritius. Just try the adventure. Down in Port-Louis, you won’t miss places like the China Town, the Central Market or the Plaine-Verte Garden. Walking down the street of Port-Louis can be fun by itself. Lot of things to do or to buy. Street is always good for people watching. Go to the Caudan Waterfront to watch some big cruise, military or container boats. Don’t forget your camera. One of the places not to miss is the Jummah Masjid Mosque which is one of the oldest in Mauritius. Great Architecture. Calmness you will not see anywhere throughout the city. Time for some spirituality.

3. Try Some local Pastry

At noon, try some Tikka bread or the local pastries. Ask people for “Nabil” or “Al-Fayaz” pastry. You can also try some “dholl Puri” or “Rotis”. Anywhere, there is always a lot of local food you can always try. Just eat a little of them all. Mauritian food is great.

4. Visit some historical Sites

The city has quite a few number of historical sites to visit. The champ de mars and Fort Adelaide( aslso known as the Citadelle are good examples). Cool places to be. Great photos can be shot from there. The Citadelle offers a wide view of the city as it is located hill top. You can also go visit the Marie Reine de la Paix, a church found mid distance on a hill. You will have a remarkable view of the Harbour from there.

5. Go swimming at Mont Choisy

In the evening, we’d advised you to head to Mont Choisy, which is one of the gem of the indian ocean. Try Parasailing, Speed Boating or Sun tanning. Mont Choisy is one of the most beautiful beaches of the north of the island. One advice. Do not forget your sunscreen.

6. Watch the sunset from a Catamaran in Grand Bay

Next, head to Grand Baie to watch the Sun set. Jump on a catamaran which offers you this unique opportunity for Rs 300 per person. Sailing and sunset combined will make you want to cuddle your beloved sipping a cocktail. Let the soft breeze gently crush on your face and relax to the sound of the waves as they hit the boat.

7. Try local food for dinner

For dinner, try the local restaurants. In Grand Baie, there is a bunch of these which will offer you haute gastronomy for a cheap price. Local food is spicy and saucy mainly accompanied by Rice and salad. Try the “ladob”, “masala” or “rougaille”. Ask for small portions as restaurants offer big portions.

8. Visit some night spots

Before everything locks for the night, head to the red light district- Grand Baie. Variety of nightclubs to choose from. Many often side by side. You can jump from club to club by foot. You will enjoy the night life in Mauritius.

Six Days in Mauritius

This is a typical day of a Tourist in Mauritius.

Royal Palm… Une Expérience Inégalée au-delà des sens

Au cœur de l’Océan Indien, entre terre et mer, se dresse un éden au décor paradisiaque. Niché dans un luxurieux jardin, face aux eaux turquoises où affleurent des bancs de sable fin, cet hôtel cinq étoiles vous accueille dans un univers qui dégage sérénité, douceur et splendeur.

Membre de la prestigieuse enseigne “The Leading Hotels of the world”, Royal Palm est l’excellence personnifiée. Ce somptueux palace offre un service de qualité à la hauteur de ses remarquables invités, où mêlent hospitalité légendaire  et professionnalisme hors-paire. Au Royal Palm,  on se fait choyer dans une atmosphère unique faite d’élégance et de raffinement.

Les trois restaurants de l’hôtel vous invitent à venir partager une expérience culinaire exceptionnellement inventive dans la plus haute tradition gastronomique. Le summum de la perfection culinaire représenté par Michel de Matteis,  chef de réputation mondiale, étoilé au guide Michelin. Ses plats, délicatement mijotés et des plus raffinés, sont inspirées des saveurs mauriciennes et de la cuisine internationale.

Dans un cadre alliant élégance tropicale et modernité, le palace rime avec grandeur : 84 suites, dont chacune se caractérise par une décoration unique et minutieusement choisie. Ces suites harmonieuses, toutes pourvues des dernières technologies, offrent une vue somptueuse sur l’océan. Une merveilleuse palette de soins de bien-être ainsi que d’activités récréationelles invitent à l’évasion du train-train quotidien.

Simplement dit : Un oasis d’intimité où les soucis s’évaporent et tous les plaisirs vous attendent…

 

Royal Palm… Crafting the Ultimate Hotel Experience

A slice of paradise at the very heart of the Indian Ocean. That’s Royal Palm on one of the sunny days it enjoys all year round. Settled in a luxurious garden, facing sparkling turquoise waters and white-sand beaches, the five-star hotel welcomes you to a world filled with tranquility, warmth and splendour.

Member of “The Leading Hotels in the World”, Royal Palm is synonymous with excellence. Here, heartfelt hospitality blends with the highest standards of service. An array of inimitable details designed to pamper a discerning clientele accustomed to world class luxury.

Experience an extraordinary culinary journey with authentic cuisine through the hotel’s three exotic restaurants. The world renowned chef, Michel de Mattéis, and his team will spoil you with delicacies of the highest order and conjure up a never-ending stream of signature dishes.

Between elegance and modernity, the 84 suites, each exquisitely furnished, allow guests to enjoy the coziness without renouncing to the benefits of technology. Lavish and elegant in equal measure, the suites feature the finest materials, state of the art amenities and intimate touches throughout, all with uninterrupted seaview. The hotel offers a great palette of comfort, sports and spa facilities that invite to break free from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A fairy tale come true awaits you here.

Simply put: A sanctuary where Luxury takes on a new meaning.

 

 

Surya Ayurvedic Spa – Rejuvenating body & mind

Step into a world of eternal bliss: timeless therapies and lasting tranquility. Surya is THE place to rejuvenate your body and mind in the pure tradition of the Ayurvedic culture and spirit.

A haven where you can be yourself. Our spa will greet you with plush interiors, exquisite furnishings and welcoming hues of prune and orange as you embark on a uniquely relaxing experience. Let soothing music fill you while you sip your aromatic herbal tea.

On entering the Surya Spa, be prepared to leave the day’s troubles at the entrance and allow your body be coaxed into a state of bliss and well-being. Each Surya Ayurvedic treatment incorporates innovative, state of the art techniques which nurture and soothe the tired spirit. Inspired by the most ancient healing science, our full range of spa therapies and special packages will meet your every expectation.

We love what we do and are always pleased to share it with you. So give yourself a time out. Browse through our Spa menu and contact us for details, we will take care of the rest!