They call her the ‘Grande Dame’ of Mauritius. The One&Only Le Saint Geran has recently received a multi-million pound face-lift in light of increased competition within the luxury hotel market space. One travel competition through leading trade publication TTG Luxury later and we were whisked off to Mauritius for four days of utter indulgence in one of Mauritius’ top luxury resorts. I found myself among a small group of agents organised by TTG Luxury editor April Hutchinson and it wasn’t long before we gelled like long lost relatives in an air of uncontrollable excitement!
Just an hour from the airport, One&Only Le Saint Geran finds itself perched at the tip of the Poste de Flaq peninsula in the north east of the island. This rural location offers uninterrupted views across turquoise lagoons on one and a nature reserve on the opposite side. Lush tropical vegetation features prominently across the resort giving it a sense of maturity and status.
A very warm welcome and a customary fruit cocktail later, we were introduced to our home for the next 4 days. If you have been to this resort before, you may at first be excused for not noticing the full extent of the refurbishment. Although the main building hasn’t changed structurally, the primary focus has been on upgrading the rooms and hotel facilities.
All 142 suites have been completely upgraded using high quality materials, fixtures and fittings. Even the most basic entry level room boasts spacious and luxurious facilities including a twin sink bathroom complete with walk-in shower connected to a wardrobe/study area with ample storage facilities. A large television with access to a myriad of channels is easy enough to operate and the mini bar will not disappoint!
Lunch was served at the completely redesigned La Terrasse consisting of dining pavilions set over an intricate pool complex with panoramic views across the beach and ocean. This is the hotel’s main buffet style restaurant serving breakfast and evening meals and where you will find evening entertainment in the form of live music and dance demonstrations.
Day 2 was about soaking up the Mauritian culture and so we headed off for a whistle-stop tour including the Aapravasi Ghat world heritage site in Port Louis, wine tasting at the Takamake boutique winery followed by lunch with a traditional Mauritian family and a visit to a colonial house. A thoroughly enjoyable day out was had by all and we thank Emotions DMC for putting together this well balanced itinerary that finished with sundowners at La Pointe restaurant & bar.
Dinner that evening was held at the exquisite Tapasake restaurant serving a range Pan Asian dishes including Sushi, Teppanyaki, Batayaki and Tandoor. Beautifully located on the lagoon side of the resort and built on wooden stilts, guests can dine in a gastronomic atmospheric setting complemented with laid back beats played by Tapasake resident DJ Dierry.
The following day was about sampling the spa and fitness facilities and it’s here that you will find some of the most noticeable upgrades to the resort. At the expense of some golf course real estate, the Le Saint Geran has gained a state-of-the-art health and fitness centre at Club One complete with tennis courts, 9-hole mini golf, archery, gym, table tennis, mountain bikes, juice bar, the list goes on. Water sports enthusiasts can waterski, sail, paddle board, windsurf or join scuba diving or fishing trips, at the well equipped Boat House.
For those seeking a more relaxing experience, the hotel spa offers a comprehensive range of treatments from conventional deep tissue massages to indigenous, authentic techniques or ‘Biologique Recherche’ methodologies provided individually or in larger suites ideal for couples. The spa comes complete with dipping pool which you can use for up to an hour after your treatment, happy days!
Our final evening was spent at the impressive Prime restaurant, an industrial style grill house situated within the hotel courtyard. The Prime menu features protein rich dishes including Australian Angus Wagyu beef, Mauritian seafood or shareable seasonal side plates to be washed down with a bottle of choice from the extensive wine selection on offer.
One more breakfast on our final day at La Terrasse set us up for a perfect day of relaxation at La Pointe. Whilst the group gave it all to demonstrate their tanning skills, I took a rare opportunity to sneak off for some kitesurfing action at a nearby lagoon. Considering the last minute request, I was off on my private speedboat transfer to a picture perfect lagoon where I hooked up with a mobile kite school. This was also a great way to see the resort from a reverse perspective.
This really was the perfect way to end an unforgettable trip to a resort that has truly recaptured her title of the Grande Dame of Mauritius with exceptional style and hospitality – we’ll be back!
Contact us on 01730 711010 to make an enquiry today.