Insiders Guide to Mauritius

The best weather in Mauritius is to be experienced in November in the early summer before the humidity gets high, but December and January are exceptional also, albeit more humid. This is the Southern Hemisphere so summer is really October to April and winter is May to September, but for the north European the best golf weather can be had in May, June and September. One can expect temperatures of up to 28 degrees in May for example and the prcies start to tumble from this time of the year.The 2 months to avoid somewhat would be mid to late July when it can be the coldest time of year and perhaps March which is potential cyclone season when humidity is at its highest.

In the high season when hotel prices are at their peak the best coast is the east coast at venues such as Belle Mare Plage and Le Touessrok as there is more wind here and it keeps you cool on the coast during the hot summer days, whilst on the west coast which is the more protected coast is can be very hot in the peak season. In the low season when the best deals can be found, from May to September the weather is best on the West Coast because it is drier and less windy , west is best at this time of the year at venues like Tamarina, Paradis and the Heritage Resorts at Bel Ombre.

The scenery in Mauritius is very varied and mostly stunning and picturesque, the only area which is not great is close to the airport in the south east. The commercial parts of the island are in the north and north west of the Island from Grande Baie across to the capital city Port Louis. The golf resorts are all located in the most scenic parts of the Island. The pick of the most gorgeous scenery lies between Tamarina on the mid west coast down to Bel Ombre in the south west corner - the most unspoilt coastline and the spectacular regon between Le Touessrok and Anahita on the mid East Coast. Natural lagoons, mountains, estuaries and mature woodland are the main features together with rivers bursting with wild life.

Some Interesting Facts about Mauritius

Being a former British colony one drives on the left, electric sockets in the hotel rooms are UK style not European, there are nearly 50 rupees to the £. If you are taking cash - take £100 worth of rupees for tipping (the average salary on the island is £300 per month), bring euros or £s not US Dollars. Most airport transfers take 1 hour and there is only 1 motorway which heads due north to the Capital. The TV channels cover most UK sports like premiership football, cricket, rugby and golf due to the excellet South African satellite channels. The Mauritian hospitality continues to be exceptional and the native language is Creole and French and English is covered by most hotel staff and taxi drivers.

Mauritian Golf Courses

There are 7 top quality courses in Mauritius, everyone will have their favourites, but this is our ranking list based on several visits and games over the last 10 years...

Heritage Golf Club

Four Seasons Golf Club - the Els

Le Touessrok

Tamarina

Belle Mare the Links

Belle Mare the Legends

Le Paradis

Heritage Golf has great views of mountains, valleys and ocean, in the delightful district of Bel Ombre. Four Seasons on the east coast is laid over a mature piece of coastline and on an ancient hunting ground mature woodland similar to Heritage. Great sea views also on display such as Ocean Drive the amazing 5th hole. Le Touessrok on its own island is a breathtaking layout over mangrove swamps and soem lovely woodland - holes 11-18 offering great ocean views. Tamarina is the east well known and is absolutely stunning - mature parkland with great mountain scenery and lovely treelined fairways. Belle Mare has 2 very contrasting layouts the very flat and natural Legends which is exceptionally tight and shortish but brimming with wildlife including a herd of friendly deer and the more open but spectacular Links Course. Paradis is the islands easiest course with the most privileged location next to Le Morne Mountain - stunning sea and lagoon views on many holes.

Mauritian Golf Resorts A Quick Overview

Our job is to sell the right resort to the right type of customer and Mauritius has everything for everybody, looking for a boutique getaway hotel right on the beach in the most idyllic of settings, then Tamarina is the perfect venue. It is all inclusive, it is simple, unpretentious and yet memorable, with great friendly staff and free golf on the classy Tamarina Course. The only hotel where you can hear the ocean crashing on the shore from your balcony.

Moving up the scale 1 notch the Belle Mare Plage is the most famous golf/beach resort in Mauritius and also the best value of all, it has arguably the best beach of all and the only resort with free golf on 2 courses and buggy hire is now included on the Links. Moving on up the Heritage Awali at Bel Ombre in the south west is the best value all inclusive on the island with great rooms, a good variety of restaurant options including the new C Beach Club venue and free golf at the island's finest course, the Heritage Golf Club. The Heritage Le Telfair is the most picturesque property on the island and French Colonial style it lies next to the Awali sharing free golf on the Heritage Course, lovely rooms, ambience and service and now offering an all inclusive optional supplement.

The best newcomer in Mauritius is the excellent Long Beach Resort owned and managed by Sun Resorts, this is the most stylish contemporary and hip of all our venues. Long Beach has the longest beach and perhaps outclasses Belle Mare in this regard, but the rooms, spa, restaurants and evening ambience blow most of the competition out of the water. It is great for the younger clientele and for families also - it is cool and trendy and oozes class. Best value for 2012-13 as it is new and you even get free golf on Le Touessrok with transportation.

Le Touessok its sister hotel just 15 minutes south continues to be the iconic resort in Mauritius - it is all about location, set on a fine peninsula, with lovely rooms dotted right down both sides it has 3 separate beach areas, the hotel oozes quality and is brimming with honeymoon couples and golfers and a cracking ambience year round. Touessrok is all about location and is only really bettered by the location of Le Paradis and Dinarobin in the very south west tip of Mauritius. Beachcombers run 2 lovely resorts in this idyllic part of the Island where lagoons meet ocean meet Le Morne Mountain.

Saving the best for last are the twin resorts in the east of Mauritius, namely the Anahita Resort Suites and the Four Seasons at Anahita, which both share the marvellous Els Course. Whether you prefer the space of villas or townhouses with garden, golf or ocean view at Anahita with unlimited golf on the Els Course and real privacy or the sheer breathtaking quality of a Four Seasons Resort with amazing scenery and gorgeous accommodation with the ultimate standard bedrooms more than 2-3 times bigger than most of its rivals. This Four Seasons is the only resort worldwide in this exclusive hotel group, which includes dinner bed and breakfast and free golf on a daily basis.

Two Centre Venues

Mauritius has so much diversity we recommend two centre stays especially in the high hot season - combine Tamarina with Belle Mare Plage, Heritage Le Telfair with Four Seasons, Heritage Awali with Long Beach etc. Or do two centre holidays with stop overs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or South Africa.

Airlines to Mauritius

Air Mauritius offer direct flights from London to Heathrow - 12.5 hours with economy or business class cabins to choose, British Airways offer direct flights from London to Gatwick including 3 cabin choices Premium Economy being the middle cabin. Emirates can offer connecting flights from several UK airports including Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle via Dubai to Mauritius. We rate Emirates as the best economy option with the edge on Business Class also and exceptional cabin staff. However if price is important Air Mauritius offer the best value and free golf club carriage - plus the best Business Class fares.