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Beachcomber Tours has its own unique way of hosting a fam trip for agents to Mauritius. Karl Cushing joins in the challenge.
Minibus transfers are sooo last year” I muse to myself as we swoop over the lush mountainous interior of Mauritius en route to Beachcomber’s Shandrani Resort and the dramatic, volcanic southern coastline opens up before us.
By now I am well into the swing of the Beachcomber Experience fam, supported by Air Mauritius, and the words of Beachcomber Tours’ UK sales manager Sarah Archer – “We always like to do things a bit differently here at Beachcomber” – have proven to be an epic understatement.
Surprise and intrigue are the order of the day with a fun-packed itinerary shrouded in mystery and subterfuge. Even the helicopter transfer has its roots in artfulness: our driver from DMC Mautourco fakes a minibus breakdown on the driveway at Beachcomber Paradis and uses method acting worthy of Robert De Niro, or at least a bit part in Eastenders to convince us.
No sooner has Sarah announced “you’re beautiful people and beautiful people should travel in style” than the first chopper descends to spirit us away – and I make a mental note never to play poker with anyone from Beachcomber.
Conversely, the “Don’t Be a Dodo” challenge – sprung on us at Mauricia Beachcomber Resort & Spa one morning after a site visit – has our five teams hitching and hiking their way to Beachcomber Trou aux Biches, some four miles yonder, using whatever free transportation we can rustle up. We are also given a list of tasks to fulfill, from blagging cigarettes to snapping local landmarks on supplied cameras.
Ice cream vans, bikes, tour boats… even the coastguard is tapped up by the enterprising agents. My group’s efforts peak with a memorably squished trip in the pint-sized jeep of local DJ Dylan, a true gent who goes out of his way to deliver us to a local police station to complete our task of blagging a pic behind bars.
Aside from being a fun way to explore the Grand Baie area, the treasure hunt serves to highlight the kindness and generosity of the islanders as they help us decipher clues, offer rides and directions and even cigarettes. That includes the local police chief who obligingly poses with us for a selfie behind one of the station’s window grilles after it emerges his cells are otherwise occupied.
“I’ve only known some of you a short time but I’ve already realised that some of you are a bit child-like,” pronounces Sarah before launching us into a morning of T-shirt painting at Beachcomber Paradis. Squeezed into the Bob Marlin kids’ club’s teeny tiny chairs we channel our inner Picassos. Later, a giggling assistant helps me find my inner Captain Jack Sparrow of Pirates of the Caribbean fame by giving my face-painted chops the pirate treatment.
Proving that bigger people are also well catered for on the activities front, some try out the excellent golf offering at Paradis while I have a go at everything from snorkelling and kayaking to waterskiing. A gusty bout of sailing proves such an epic fail that myself and Nikki Curran of Atlas Travel end up in need of rescue by one of the instructors after we capsize four times in as many minutes.
Another fun task sees us – again in teams – attempt to carve the recently rebranded operator’s new nautilus logo into a beach. Sarah’s instructions not to take it too seriously are quickly lost on the losing teams who are soon crying foul about their inferior tools, or moaning that their sand is too dry or too wet.
Beyond the resort activities, a well-oiled sunset catamaran cruise helps broaden the focus. A memorable day sees one group focus on quadbiking at Casela World of Adventures and another explore attractions such as Bois Cheri tea factory and La Vanille nature park while mine plumps for high-octane Seakarting, a kind of speedboating, along the south-west coast — possibly the best fun you can have on water.
Despite the best efforts of City Travel & Tours’ resident petrolhead Karin Roberts to bump me out of the kart we all make it back safely to swap tales, with a stop at the rum distillery in Chamarel helping to suitably loosen our tongues.
Having launched in Mauritius back in the 1950s Beachcomber has bagged some enviable locations. The action-packed itinerary really helps us to grasp their selling points while stays in Paradis, Shandrani and Trou aux Biches — and visits to Dinarobin, Mauricia, Cannonier, Victoria and the top billing Royal Palm — helps us get to grips with the product.
This includes the fresher, lighter look now in evidence at properties such as Paradis, with its impressively light and lovely new Ocean rooms, and Victoria, where a new adult-only cluster of 40 rooms is set to open in December 2017. Top pick for me personally is my butler-serviced villa at Trou aux Biches, which I miss long after I return home.
With properties in the south-east (Shandrani), south-west (the adjacent Paradis and Dinarobin) and north-west, as well as further afield in locations such as the United Arab Emirates and Seychelles, the logic of booking twin or multi-centre trips isn’t lost on the agents. They also note the broad range of target clients, from families and couples to honeymooners and weddings — a point reinforced by the mock wedding we help prepare at Shandrani.
The broad appeal is further aided by the spread of ratings, from four to six stars, with four hotels offering all-inclusive packages. Indeed, as of November 1 guests on all-inclusive packages at either of nearby properties Mauricia, Cannonier and Victoria can freely use their all-inclusive package at the other two.
“We try to get under the skin a bit more on our fams,” concludes Sarah.
With the ever-surprising itinerary and a TV crew in tow to catch all the action they certainly pull it off. And with the agents selling 20 Beachcomber trips within two weeks of returning home the group’s new nautilus but nice approach looks to be a surefire winner.
Beachcomber Tours offers a 10-night, twin-centre Dubai and Mauritius break from £1,995pp departing on June 15, 2017. This includes three nights with breakfast in a Sea View room at JA Ocean View Hotel in Dubai; seven nights’ all-inclusive in a Superior Room at Beachcomber Shandrani Resort; transfers; and Emirates’ flights from Gatwick.
Gerry Yiatrou, managing director, Freedom Travel & Cruise, Saddleworth
“The experience was great fun and the surprises were fantastic, particularly the helicopter. I fell for the trick hook, line and sinker. My other favourite was the Bollywood evening. They even went to the trouble of sending ladies to dress us in our beautiful saris. The lovely touches like that will stick in my mind forever.”
Jordanne Mears, assistant manager, Millington Travel, Syston, Leicester
“It was one of the best weeks I’ve had and I loved that every day all the activities and plans were kept a surprise for us, such as the treasure hunt which showed how amazing and friendly Mauritian people are. I also really enjoyed the Seakarts – I have never laughed or screamed so much – and I’m currently waiting for more brochures to be delivered as I’ve given all mine away since I’ve been back.”
Sarah Kilgallon, travel consultant, World Travel Lounge, Blackpool
“It totally opened up my eyes to Mauritius and made me realise there is so much more to the island than luxury beachfront hotels. The whole experience has given me so much knowledge and confidence to sell Mauritius and these resorts, set in the most stunning locations with spacious luxurious rooms and food and service that is second to none. It was the most amazing experience and the memories will stay with me forever.”
Hussain Ahmed, travel executive, Not Just Travel, Newcastle
“I did things on this trip I would maybe never have done. The helicopter experience was just ‘wow’ and gaining first-hand experience of how a wedding is coordinated was fantastic. I am now much more confident in selling Mauritius and I’m pushing Beachcomber for all the destinations they cover. They say Beachcomber is ‘The Art Of Beautiful’ and they really did make it beautiful.”
