With its endless beaches, bright blue sea and luxury resorts, Mauritius has long been a favourite for honeymoons and romantic breaks. But there’s another gem of an island offering luxury AND excitement just a 45 minute flight away. We say – why just do Mauritius or Réunion Island when you can do both?
Where to stay
We begin our trip at LUX* Grand Gaube, Mauritius. The traditional warm welcome means we’ve shaken about a dozen friendly hands before we check into our room complete with Jacuzzi, champagne, large sun terrace and colourful birds chirping on the balcony. There are two big pools, elegant sun loungers on the beach and palm trees everywhere. “Welcome to Paradise,” they say at the airport, and they got that right. This even has its own cinema and games room, just in case it rains.
In Réunion, sister hotel LUX* Ile de la Réunion in L’Hermitage is equally stunning and more European in flavour (Réunion is a French island). Our double room has classy modern décor and a balcony overlooking the beach and sparkling blue lagoon. LUX* Ile de la Réunion is the only five star hotel on the island but like the hotel, guests are classy without being pretentious – think professional couples rather than trophy wives.
Where to relax
We recommend the blissfully relaxing couples’ massage side by side at LUX* Grand Gaube, where you get to choose your own essential oils and recline in a private little garden with a bubbling pool afterwards.
What to eat
Both hotels offer delicious “Romantic Dinners” with cute personalised menus and attentive waiters. In LUX* Ile de la Réunion, we followed a little trail of fairy lights to our spot on the beach where champagne and our secluded table awaited. This kind of experience is what the newly-branded LUX* (formerly Naiade resorts) is all about: think pop-up restaurants, film screenings on the beach and retro-style ice-cream parlours rather than identikit resorts.
Both hotels have several restaurants offering choices between buffet meals and table service: LUX* Ile de la Réunion’s stylish Orangine is a must and their beachside restaurant serves up traditional Creole cuisine, which blends French and Indian influences with a lot more besides (the sausage Rougail is so good we’re still attempting to recreate it at home). Elsewhere on Réunion the food is still terrific: even roadside diners with plastic tables serve up hearty local curries for under 10 Euros.
What to do
While there are pleasant day trips to be had in Mauritius, most people opt to stay in their luxurious resorts. Réunion is a different matter. A varied island of stunning waterfalls, majestic mountains, awe-inspiring volcanoes and more, it’s popular with couples who want to throw a bit of adventure into the mix. Your hotel can arrange a local guide who can drive you anywhere in the island within two hours, from the breathtaking waterfalls of Salazie to the colourful mosque of St Andre or the imposing black cliffs of the “Wild South”. Our guide Philippe’s clients include Ashley Cole and Audrey Tautou so he knew all the hotspots (not to mention celebrity gossip).
And if you’re feeling flush, the most thrilling way to see the island is to take a helicopter tour. Flying through clouds and hovering over volcanoes before swooping down over whales thrashing about in the sea is one experience you will never, ever forget.
Put it this way: you’ll want to be reunited with Réunion.
LUX* Grand Gaube
Rainbow Tours (rainbowtours.co.uk; 0845 277 3330) offers seven nights at LUX* Grand Gaube, Mauritius from £1,970 per person, including half board, return Air Mauritius flights from London Heathrow, meet and greet on arrival and resort transfers.
LUX* Ile de la Réunion
Rainbow Tours (rainbowtours.co.uk; 0845 277 3330) offers seven nights at LUX* Ile de la Réunion from £2,140 per person, including half board, return Air Mauritius flights from London Heathrow, meet and greet on arrival and resort transfers.
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