It’s always a good sign when the taxi driver approves of your hotel choice. After a few days already spent on the island of Mauritius, my husband and I hop in a cab and ask the driver to take us to the Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa. He nods approvingly, telling us it’s one of the best hotels on the island; “beautiful beaches, very good sunsets, and I’ve heard lots about the cheese naan at Mahiya”.
He had me at cheese naan.
Hotel
The longest-running and most luxurious hotel group in Mauritius, the eight Beachcomber properties can be found scattered across the island: from family focused resorts perched on Le Morne peninsula, to the adults-only Victoria Beachcomber Resort and Spa.
We’re staying at one of the portfolio’s most indulgent hotels which is often linked to a flurry of Hollywood names. So, it comes as no surprise that you’ll see plenty of sunkissed guests wafting around the resort in crisp linens, oversized sunglasses and a Loewe beach bag slung over one arm. The long, shaded driveway takes guests to an open-air reception surrounded by emerald ponds and stumpy palm trees, serenity only further heightened by low sumptuous seating and a zesty ginger welcome drink.
Following one of the most personalised check-in processes I’ve ever experienced, we’re whisked away on a golf buggy to find our suite. The resort is enormous but manages to completely retain an air of intimacy and exclusivity. Even the entry level suites are scattered around semi-private swimming pools, tucked amongst coconut groves and flowering frangipani trees. And while there might be an occasion for guests to hop in a golf buggy every now and then, most choose a stroll through manicured lawns, drooping Banyan trees, and pathways muddled with fallen Hibiscus – a background which feels more like a botanical garden than a meticulously serviced resort.
Room
Everything you’d expect from a luxury resort is delivered in full: super king sized beds, large deep baths, waffle robes, and glossy and all too tempting mini bars. But the beauty of all of the rooms is the ability to slide open the doors and let the warm breeze swallow up the air conditioning.
The closeness to nature is what truly sets the suites apart. All come with outdoor showers – the prettiest little corners attached to the bathrooms, where palm fronds clumsily obstruct the rainfall shower head for a very chic take on alfresco bathing.
Food and drink
There is great pride taken in the food offering at Trou aux Biches Beachcomber. I’ve already mentioned the famous cheese naan at the property’s Indian restaurant, Mahiya, which is best served alongside buttery daal and tandoori paneer. Piles of poppadoms sit alongside teeny bowls of chutneys and relishes. Top tip is to tell your server if you have a particular passion for poppadoms, as that pile will appear to magically replenish. Thankfully there’s no shame in polishing off several bowls of the overly morish appetiser.
For lazy daytime dining, there’s always an option to have food delivered while you sunbathe. While straddling a sun lounger and tucking into a veggie burger might not feel like the most glamorous route, there’s nothing quite like a swim-fuelled appetite resulting in a hearty lunch washed down with a peach iced tea (served in a frozen glass I might add).
For something slightly more sophisticated, lunch at La Caravelle is a must. There is nothing quite as delicious (or beautiful) as the sight of glass of the crispest, palest rose against the turquoise Indian Ocean. Gigantic salads, loaves of bread, and saucers of olive oil make for an Instagram-worthy banquet, and the service is impeccable. Sanjana, one of the restaurant’s most attentive servers, ensures everything is perfection – even down to delivering an off-menu scoop of homemade passionfruit sorbet. Delicious.
And for breakfast lovers, each morning starts with a hike around what feels like one of the world’s most beautiful breakfast buffets at L’Oasis. The fruit section is a thing of beauty – dishes piled high with freshly chopped coconut, pineapple, wedges of watermelon, and halved passion fruits. My plate is slightly more virtuous that my husband’s who tends to opt for pancakes drenched in syrup and various glossy pastries.
And to round off the day, there’s nothing like a sundowner with one of the best views of the Mauritian sunset. Daiquiris, cosmopolitans and punches are popular choices, but for an expert led concoction, Benito is the man to ask. Head mixologist and having spent over a decade at Trou aux Biches Beachcomber, he’s adept at making all the classics (a very good vodka martini) as well as twists on old favourites (a scoop of coconut ice cream in a pina colada, anyone?). For those with a taste for rum, Benito will happily take you through a menu of amber hued elixirs – his personal favourite being the banana vanilla flavoured St Aubin – distilled on the Southern slopes of Mauritius.
Spa and wellness
A Mughal-inspired sanctuary, the spa is hidden among trees that clamour with the sound of hummingbirds. The air smells a little like almond oil and everyone’s hushed tones instantly put you at ease. The spa is everything you would expect from a leading luxurious resort – there’s deep tissue massages, edible sounding body wraps, and a parlour for those looking for a last-minute manicure or blow-dry.
But the star of the show is the signature facial – a 60-minute-deep-cleanse that genuinely alters your complexion. A mix of hot and cool clothes, cooling coconut creams and elixirs, and the lightest massages and an hour later skin is fresh and even and holiday skin is looking at its most beautiful.
There’s also the option to have various coaches throughout your stay – whether that’s a personal trainer, yoga instructor, tennis coach or a tailored expert-led programme in the spa. But being totally honest, even if the spa isn’t necessarily your thing, then I can guarantee that after a few days at the resort you’ll still return home feeling completely refreshed. Because it’s nothing short of magical.
With limbs slightly achy from swimming, perhaps a few new freckles on your nose, and a belly of cheese naan, you might just leave feeling the best you’ve felt in years.
Factbox
Seven nights half board in a junior suite at Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa, for two adults starts from £2,220 per person sharing. Price includes return economy flights with Air Mauritius, various complimentary land and water sports, and private transfers in Mauritius. Departs 4 December 2023, price subject to availability.
Address: Royal Trou Aux Biches Rd, Triolet, Mauritius
Phone: 01483 445 610
Website: beachcomber-hotels.com/en
Photography courtesy of Trou aux Biches Beachcomber Golf Resort and Spa.
