Still first choice for families
AGENTS across South
Africa continually name
Mauritius as one of
their top family destinations.
The reasons range from
value for money, through to
accessibility and the range
of accommodation on offer
catering specifically for this
demographic.
Joanne Visagie, sales
and marketing manager of
Beachcomber Tours, says
Mauritius is just a few hours’
flight from the main cities in
South Africa. “Also, the ocean
is safe for swimming as it is
sheltered by the coral reef.”
Karen Camm, kulula holidays
product manager – Indian
Ocean Islands, says the quality
of the kids’ clubs at the many
resorts is definitely a major
factor in Mauritius’s family
appeal. “Most have daily fun
activities and adventures for
the little ones to enjoy and
some are open as late as
23h00!”
Resort choice is key
Karen says the best advice
she has to offer agents is that
they need to ensure that their
clients consider the amount
of time their children will enjoy
spending at the kids’ club, as
well as the kind of activities
they prefer.
“If the family like to get
their toes into the sand and
explore a beautiful beach, then
a resort with a long stretch of
pristine beach is a must.
“However, if they would prefer
to be close to the market for
shopping, then a location like
Grand Baie becomes a better
choice. Ensure that the family’s
needs are covered when
selecting the resort,” adds
Karen.
Additionally, she points out
that most resorts, aside from
a few adults-only
options, have
family rooms that
can accommodate
a group of four
comfortably, while
still affording
parents their
privacy. “Each
resort is unique
and that’s why
it’s important
to consider the
family’s needs and
expectations and
convey this message to the
wholesaler.”
Top tips
John Ridler, PR and media
manager of Thompsons
Holidays, says agents should
always enquire about special
deals for families as many
resorts can accommodate
up to two kids sharing with
parents at no extra cost. Other
properties have
suites with a small
extra bedroom
suitable for two
children. “This
allows the family
a bit of privacy
and avoids the
disruption of rollout
beds cluttering
up the main
room,” he says.
John adds that
the Air Mauritius
Travel Smart
programme enables children
to fly free of charge, paying
for taxes only.
“Always ask for more
information about resorts’
kids’ clubs and ensure the
hotel offers suitable facilities
for kids – like a kiddies’ pool,
cookie-baking classes or
educational activities. These
can make or break a family
holiday,” says John.
New family offerings
Beachcomber has added
additional facilities to
cater specifically for
families. At Mauricia,
Cannonier and Le Victoria
resorts, a baby room
is available to parents
travelling with a young
child under the age of
three years. The room
offers nappy-changing
facilities, purée ordering,
fresh fruit yoghurt and
crackers during the day
and a host of other
conveniences for parents.
Trou aux Biches Kids’
Club now welcomes
small kids (one to three
years) between 13h00
and 16h00 from Monday
to Friday. Bookings for
each child are required
24 hours in advance and
all necessities should be
provided by the parents,
such as nappies, foods
and drinks.
Tips for catamaran trips
EXPLORING by catamaran
remains a very popular
excursion for visitors to
Mauritius. “They offer the
experience of being out on
the open water – something
very few South Africans have
had the fortune to experience
back home,” says Karen
Camm of kulula holidays.
John Ridler of Thompsons
Holidays says catamaran
trips are the most popular
day excursion on offer in
Mauritius. “This is a great day
out for families, with stops at
pristine spots for swimming
and snorkelling and heaps
of fun on board: a tasty
Mauritian barbecue, delicious
rum cocktails and sega music
to create a unique island
atmosphere.”
Karen points out that
these excursions can be
booked with any reputable
wholesaler at the time of
booking the package, and
to ensure that the clients
have a good experience,
agents should find out what
their expectations are and
relate this information to
the wholesaler. She also
recommends pre-booking the
activity as this often works
out to be more cost-effective
than booking on arrival in
Mauritius.
Joanne Visagie of
Beachcomber Tours, says
parents should be mindful
that a catamaran cruise all
the way to the north of the
island may be a bit too long
for small children.
Catamaran trips are the
most popular day excursion
in Mauritius. Photo: The Westin
Turtle Bay Resort and Spa.
Great value for MICE
TO GET the most out
of their client’s event,
MICE organisers should
recommend that it takes
place in the right season, as
this can have a big impact
on costs and value-adds on
offer.
This is the view of Enid
Maullin, groups sales
executive of Beachcomber,
who says the hotel chain
offers added services
to clients during certain
seasons, and these can
make quite a difference in
terms of value.
To make the trip
extraordinary, she suggests
adding fun off-site options
and excursions, some of
which will have particular
appeal for the adrenalin
junkie. “We offer a truly
amazing zipline experience
over waterfalls and
mountains, with quad-biking
on one of the estates.”
Recognising Mauritius’s
prominence as a MICE
destination, Air Mauritius
offers some attractive
extras to groups heading to
the island for an incentive
programme, conference
or meeting. The airline
guarantees the best group
rates, as well as a free
ticket (excluding taxes)
for every 50 passengers
ticketed. Organisers can
also count on dedicated
account management.
At check-in, passengers
will find an airport counter
dedicated to their group,
along with an Air Mauritius
representative on duty to
see to their needs.
Dedicated in-cabin seating
is arranged at no additional
cost. The group can also
have business-class lounge
access at discounted rates.
There’s a free allowance
of two 23kg pieces of
luggage for economy-class
travellers and two pieces of
luggage weighing up to 32kg
each for business-class
passengers. Golf bags of up
to 20kg are also carried free
of charge. On board, the
airline will happily place the
client’s branded headrests
on seats.
Three great add-on adventures
THE growing number of young,
first-time travellers visiting
Mauritius has resulted in the
adventure activity industry
growing significantly across
the island. Mauritius experts
selected their top choices for
an adrenalin fix.
1. Kitesurfing
Mauritius is gaining a
reputation as one of the
world’s best kitesurfing
destinations. This is due to
favourable wind conditions
for a great part of the year,
although the peak season
runs from June to September.
Le Morne is the kitesurfing
hub, with a number of schools
and shops selling and renting
out all the required gear.
2. Zip lining
Joanne Visagie of
Beachcomber says there are
“outrageously wonderful” ziplining
excursions available at
a few venues. Some options
include Chazal in the south
of the island, where there are
six zip lines along the Rivière
des Galets; as well as Vallée
des Couleurs where there are
also six options, including
an extra-long one of 1,5km.
Casela Park in the west also
offers zip-lining activities with
some being ‘double zip lines’
that take two people at once.
3. Segway tours
John Ridler of Thompsons
Holidays says Casela Nature
Park at Flic en Flac has loads
of adventurous options,
including Segway tours. The
Segways can go off road,
enabling visitors to explore
the park and view its animals
at their own pace. The
Segways are eco-friendly and
noiseless, ensuring minimal
disruption to the animals
within the park. Participants
need to be at least 12 years
of age and weigh between
40kg and 100kg
Did you know?
With Beachcomber, two children under the age of 12 fly free of
charge internationally, paying only airport taxes. Also, free businessclass
lounge access is included for the whole family in Johannesburg,
Durban or Cape Town prior to the international flight. This is valid
from April 18 to June 29, July 24 to September 28 and October 9 to
December 2. Additionally, up to two children under the age of 18 stay
free of charge when sharing with parents, depending on the resort
and suite selected. Valid until October 8.
The latest new builds and hotel upgrades
Marriott is set to open
the Sheraton Mauritius
St Felix Resort and The
Residences at Sheraton
St Felix Resort in July
2020. The resort will
be part of a mixed-use
development with a
boutique retail mall and
branded residences. It will
have 152 guestrooms and
suites and 37 branded
apartments and villas.
It will also feature the
Sheraton Club Lounge;
restaurant amenities,
including an all-day
dining venue; a speciality
restaurant, the Pavilion
restaurant and bar; as
well as Sheraton’s lobby
bar menu concept, Paired,
combining artisanal small
plates alongside premium
wines. Over 2 000sqm of
event space will include
a ballroom and three
meeting rooms. Other
leisure facilities are a
500sqm fitness centre,
a pool and Shine Spa with
15 treatment rooms.
For something completely
different, Mauritius’s
first ‘Bubble Lodge’ has
opened in the Domaine
of Bois Cheri – a famous
tea estate about 17km
from the airport and
40km from Grand Baie.
The Bubble Lodge Bois
Chéri is situated near
a lake on a hilltop with
panoramic views of the
south coast of the island.
The eco-friendly design of
the lodge enables guests
to enjoy the sensation of
sleeping under the stars
without being exposed to
the weather and insects
that come along with the
outdoors. Accommodation
options range from suites
with a double bed to
family options and rates
include breakfast and
dinner at the plantation’s
Bois Chéri restaurant.
One&Only Le Saint Géran
closed on February 1 for
an extensive renovation
and is due to reopen later
in the year. New guest
rooms and suites will be
introduced, along with
new culinary experiences,
swimming pools and
fitness and spa offerings.
The new rooms are being
designed to make the
most of the views, while
the restaurants will get
additional outdoor dining
areas, along with new
dining concepts such as
pan-Asian cuisine, tapas
and teppan bar.
Couples-only option
Le Victoria is in the process of expanding its facilities
to include a new couples-only section, Victoria for Two.
This will comprise 40 ocean-facing rooms opening on
to a private beach and marine park. There will be 17
‘Swim-up Rooms’ with direct access to a swimming
pool of over 600sqm. The remaining 23 rooms will be
named ‘Ocean View’. Photo:
Eight of the best specials
1.Kulula holidays is offering
a seven-night, four-star
family package with rates
starting from R15 930
per adult with up to two
kids under the age of 12
sharing with parents from
R3 525 per child. The
package includes seven
nights’ accommodation
in a deluxe room at Le
Meridien Ile Maurice,
breakfast and dinner
daily, return flights from
Johannesburg on British
Airways (operated by
Comair), all taxes and
levies, return airport-resort
transfers, welcome drink,
waterskiing and other
watersports and three
yoga sessions per week.
It excludes beverages
and meals not specified.
Valid from May 1 to
June 29 and July 19 to
September 25.
2.World Leisure Holidays
is offering a package
from R15 645pps at
the Radisson Blu Azuri
Resort & Spa. The rate
includes seven nights’
accommodation with
breakfast and dinner
daily, return flights from
Johannesburg on Air
Mauritius, return airportresort
coach transfers, all
land and non-motorised
water activities and travel
insurances, but excludes
taxes. The offer is valid
from April 21 to
September 28.
3.SAA has a promo fare
from R1 520. The rate
includes economy-class
flights from Johannesburg,
Cape Town or Durban for
sales on and before June
15. Airport taxes are not
included. Travel is valid
from June 1-30.
4.Thompsons Holidays has
a seven-night special with
rates from R18 491pps.
Included are return direct
flights from Johannesburg
on Air Mauritius (including
taxes), return airportresort
transfers, seven
nights’ accommodation
at the four-star Radisson
Blu Azuri Resort & Spa
Mauritius in a deluxe
garden double room,
breakfast and dinner daily,
WiFi, watersports. One
child under the age of 12
stays free when sharing
with two adults (excluding
approximate flights, taxes
and transfers of R6 986).
5.Beachcomber Tours’ earlybird
special is priced from
R18 390pps. The rate
includes seven nights’
accommodation at the
Mauricia Beachcomber
Resort and Spa with
breakfast and dinner
daily, return flights from
Johannesburg (including
taxes), return airport-resort
transfers as well as land
and motorised water
sports. Valid for travel from
July 24 to September 28.
6.Dream Kist Tours is
offering a seven-night
Mauritius special from
R15 459pps. The rate
includes seven nights’
accommodation at the
four-star Radisson Blu
Poste Lafayette Resort
& Spa, return airport-hotel
transfers and all meals
and drinks. The offer is
valid for set date,
May 20-27.
7.AfricaStay’s Mauritius
getaway is priced from
R12 295pps. The rate
includes seven nights at
Solana Beach on a halfboard
basis, return flights
from Johannesburg to
Mauritius (including taxes)
and return airport-hotel
transfers. Valid from May 3
to June 24.
8.Thompsons Holidays is
offering a special package
for seven nights at the
three-star Friday Attitude,
starting from R16 437pps.
The rate includes return
flights from Johannesburg,
taxes, transfers, seven
nights’ accommodation
on a full-board basis
with selected drinks. Two
kids under the age of 12
fly free (paying R8 571
for taxes, transfers and
shared accommodation
with two parents). Valid
until June 29
