After four fantastic nights at the Shandrani, a small group of us decided to add on a two-night road trip from the south to the north of the island rather than head straight back to the UK.
It was centred around the Attitude Hotels, where we were staying at one and visiting three others.
Car hire is easy to arrange, with delivery direct to our hotel and drop-off at the airport prior to the flight home.
Driving in Mauritius is on the same side and the roads are good with little traffic, other than passing through the capital, Port Louis, so travelling north was very straightforward.
Attitude Hotels offer three and four-star hotels and are very focused on sustainability, supporting local farmers and ensuring guests enjoy the sea and sun without harming the seabed. Some are adult-only, others have family-friendly options.
Lagoon Attitude
The first hotel we visited was Lagoon Attitude:
a 4-star adult-only with 182 rooms
the most eco-committed of the Attitude Hotels.
faces one of the largest lagoons on the island
hosts the Marine Discover Centre
an idyllic location for snorkelling, paddleboarding, kayaking and kitesurfing
three zones - each with their own pools for different moods â lively, laid back and local
Five restaurants offering different atmospheres and five bars including a juice and tea bar
Live concerts and DJ entertainment with beach and pool parties
Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel
Our second stop was just five minutes away and although not an Attitude Hotel, the Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel is managed by the same company.
5-star adult-only with just 75 rooms
romantic boutique hotel - member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World
set on a private peninsula with 3 hectares of beautiful tropical gardens
four swimming pools, four restaurants and four bars
nightly live music events
stay Half-board or All-Inclusive
included water sports: windsurfing, pedal boats, kayaking, snorkelling and paddleboarding
recently expanded spa including a massage kiosk for two by the lagoon
Ravenala Attitude
A 30-minute journey took us to the 4-star Ravenala Attitude on the northwest coast, our home for the next couple of nights.
The hotel is comprised of 272 suites, a combination of Couples, Family, and Executive Beachfront suites, the latter being in the adult-only wing.
Ten restaurants offer a round-the-world tour of foods and flavours, two of which are adult-only.
Riviera is a floating restaurant at the end of a pontoon and Lime is a Japanese-Mauritian sushi bar on the beach â both require a supplement for dinner (although lunch is included at Lime when staying in an Executive Suite).
Iâve been to the Ravenala previously and loved the spacious couples' suites overlooking the pool and gardens. This time I stayed in an executive beachfront suite, identical in size, layout and dĂŠcor, but with an additional stunning ocean view.
Two giant bean bags are allocated per room, either on the beach directly below you or next to your room â who needs a sunbed, eh?
We ate breakfast in the buffet restaurant MozaĂŻk and enjoyed dinner at both Lime and Madame Ming (Asian Cuisine) â the food was delicious, well presented and the attentive staff provided excellent service.
A highlight of our stay was a cooking lunch under the guidance of a chef at the Mauritian cuisine-inspired Kot Nou restaurant. This was a lot of fun and the food was surprisingly edible despite misreading some of the measurements for the ingredients!
Zilwa Attitude
Our final day included a site visit to the 4-star Zilwa Attitude, a 30-minute drive away on the north coast. A spectacular beachfront location overlooking the northern islands gives this hotel a real âwowâ factor.
Itâs great for both families and couples, with an adult-only restaurant and pool, plus areas exclusively for children. There are 214 contemporary rooms including two-bedroom family rooms and couples-only Junior Beachfront Suites.
There are seven restaurants to choose from including one on the private island of Gran Zil where we spent a wonderful couple of hours relaxing and enjoying an idyllic and special BBQ lunch.
The drive back down to the airport was as simple as the one up with a seamless airport drop-off after refuelling nearby and a short walk into the terminal.
Having now experienced how easy it is, car hire for at least a couple of days is something I would highly recommend. It provides so much more freedom to get out and about to tour and experience this beautiful island.
Until the next time, Mauritius. â¤ď¸
