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Not all clients want to solely relax and top up their tans on their Indian Ocean honeymoon, and James Draven finds that Mauritius is the perfect getaway for adventurous newlyweds
It’s strange having a complete stranger orchestrate a surprise night of romance for you, but then our five-star hotel, Heritage Le Telfair, is giving us the honeymoon treatment.
The petals continue around the bed and into the bathroom, where a roll-topped, claw-footed bathtub is filled with a cloud of soap bubbles, sprinkled with more blossoms. It’s all incredibly romantic. But the water is stone cold.
Why? It’s not the hotel’s fault at all. We’re a wildlife-loving couple and – after finishing our candlelit dinner on the beach – rather than return to our room to gaze into each other’s eyes, we instead spend the next hour-and-a-half watching cuttlefish swim through the shallows.
En route to our room we tiptoe through paths strewn with giant snails, which we photograph and goggle at as they mate. In fact – along with the adorable flying foxes that swoop between trees – they manage to entirely distract us from the carefully curated night of romance expertly organised by our hotel.
Only around 5% of Heritage Le Telfair’s guests are honeymooners, making it ideal for relaxed couples who don’t want to be surrounded by countless other couples who are also on their honeymoons.
The hotel and sister hotel Heritage Awali both offer weddings, so couples can enjoy a wedding at either venue followed by a honeymoon there.
Ian Dindoyle, communications manager for Heritage Resorts, says: “We have on-site wedding planners who handle every detail of clients’ wedding ceremonies and receptions. Whatever dream wedding your clients have, we can make it come true.”
Couples can have an intimate wedding on the beach or at the hotel’s funky C Beach Club, including a seated dinner followed by a beach party, cocktails and a DJ. For nature lovers, the hotel can arrange a ceremony surrounded by verdant rainforest.
“Our planners will also organise smaller details such as hair and make-up, photography, exclusive fine-dining and private spa treatments,” adds Dindoyle.
My partner and I visit the resort’s Seven Colours Spa and enjoy a couples’ chromotherapy massage, during which our treatment room is bathed in indigo light to match our collective emotional state, with music similarly married to our moods. Afterwards we’re served champagne, tropical fruit and canapes in a private Romanesque bathing pool.
A few hours later, beside me, my diminutive, blonde partner flashes her winning smile: her teeth bright white against the dark, rich mud that cakes her face. This morning’s spa bath was filled with hot water, not mud, I should clarify, but this afternoon my partner clings to the passenger grab handlebar to keep herself in her seat as we hurtle through the 3,000-acre Frederica Nature Reserve in an off-road vehicle, which resembles a steroid- fed dune buggy.
My foot grinds the pedal into the cabin floor as we approach a ditch of standing water. My tiny co-pilot shrieks, “Faster!” over the roar of the engine and the rush of air that whistles in our ears, and a turbid tsunami floods our cabin.
“Whether it’s diving, snorkelling or swimming with dolphins, waterfall hikes, canyoning or zip line tours, Mauritius means a honeymoon can be as exciting as it can be relaxing,” says Julie Winder, head of product, East at Gold Medal.
The operator is reporting a “definite uptick in honeymoon enquiries for the island”, with forward bookings for 2021 up compared with the same time last year.
“Anecdotally, agents are telling us that more and more clients are asking them about what else they can do while they’re there, and that as much as they want to indulge themselves with that classic luxurious beach experience that Mauritius offers, they also want to get active too,” she adds.
Smarter: The time difference between the UK and Mauritius is four hours, so your clients won’t waste honeymoon time getting over jetlag.
Better: In light of Covid, Heritage Resorts has reviewed and updated its sales materials, ranging from wedding packages, renewal of vows, symbolic ceremonies and all-inclusive fact sheets.
Fairer: Heritage Resorts has implemented a plastic and glass bottle recycling plant in the Bel Ombre area (where Le Telfair is based), which is now run as a co-operative by local people.
Multi-destination honeymoons are rapidly becoming the norm for couples who want to do more than just relax for two weeks, with many newlyweds jetting off to combine a city break or an African safari with an island paradise. Of course, travelling to multiple destinations on honeymoon is worse for clients’ pockets and the environment than doing everything in one place.
Cheaper than both Seychelles and the Maldives, Mauritius is also a working island, which combines unique attractions and shopping destinations along with Indian Ocean vibes.
“Mauritius’ rich history and varied landscape means there are plenty of reasons for couples to get off the sunbed lounger and start their new life together with an adventure,” adds Winder.
Mauritius offers the best of both – from the complimentary honeymooners’ chocolates and bubbles onboard our Air Mauritius flight, to hiking up to the 556-metre peak of Le Morne, a trip to Mauritius is a bed of roses for adventurous couples and pampered partners alike.
Book it: Gold Medal offers seven nights’ B&B at Heritage Le Telfair & Wellness Resort from £1,489pp based on two sharing a Deluxe Suite, including in-room wedding gifts, a special turndown and one dinner per stay. Also includes flights and private transfers. Valid for travel from 1-15 June 2021. goldmedal.co.uk
Why is Mauritius a good option for weddings and honeymoons?
“Other than being home to picture-perfect venues and world-class luxury, couples can marry anywhere in Mauritius – be it onboard a catamaran, underwater in a submarine or even on a zip line over the forest. Most hotels offer extensive wedding and honeymoon packages and have their own wedding co-ordinator. Villas are also increasingly popular with multigenerational wedding parties and honeymooners.”
How is the island preparing to welcome back UK visitors safely in 2021?
“Due to the precautionary measures put in place by our government, we have been successful in containing the spread of the virus, which is a reassuring message for visitors. All measures will be shared with the trade to pass on to clients so that future visitors are fully informed. We will also maintain the news section of our website (tourism-mauritius.mu) with the latest measures being implemented.”
How do you plan to support the trade going forward?
“The focus for the MTPA is on promoting long-stay tourism and giving clear guidance, and the trade will be a key part of this. Training is also a vital aspect of the recovery plan so we can look ahead with confidence.”
