Domaine des Alizées

‘Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven being copied after Mauritius’ – Mark Twain.

Travelling with friends, as I was, always presents unique challenges. Where can you easily access a diverse range of entertainment to keep every guest occupied? Where can you combine a vibrant and busy night-life, with intimate evenings in? Where is metropolitan enough for us to have our pick of bars, shops and restaurants, yet secluded enough to relax? And where can provide all of that, as well as a beach for when it’s time to lie down and soak up the sun with a good book?

Why only Mauritius, of course.

The Domaine des Alizées, a modern, new, high end resort in Mauritius, was the ideal location for our girls’ holiday. The location is just minutes from the heart of Grand Baie, putting us within a moment’s stroll of some of the best shops, restaurants and bars that Mauritius has to offer. However, it’s also only a short distance from Mauritius’s famed golden sandy beaches. Don’t fear having to get up early to save sun loungers and fend off tourist hoards, though – staying in one of the apartments at the Domaine des Alizées gains you exclusive entry to a private beach, only fifteen minutes from the resort door. Enjoying the same beautiful coastline and clear blue sea as the rest of Mauritius, guests also benefit from the range of kiosks, sunbeds, massage facilities and water sport activities the resort provides for their exclusive use.

Unlike so many resorts in such a sublime location, the Domaine des Alizées doesn’t rest on proximity to beach and board-walk alone. Their devotion to customer service is evident from arrival, whereupon we were welcomed with cocktails and tropical fruit baskets. A better start to a holiday I cannot imagine. Such attention to detail was continued our entire stay, with a pastry breakfast bought to us every morning, and our apartment cleaned daily.
The Domaine des Alizées has all the trappings of modern luxury, with five-star facilities and services. I stayed in the three bedroom penthouse, though one- and two- bedroom apartments are available for smaller groups. The resort, newly opened in 2013, is furnished with every cutting-edge convenience, including an American style kitchen for us to prepare meals in (on the odd occasion we didn’t eat out), as well as a large terrace equipped with sunbeds and, to our delight, a plunge pool. The style of the hotel is similarly modern, blending fresh design with time-honoured sophistication.

Indeed, the quality of the resort is of such a high standard that you could never venture outside its walls (save a trip to the beach, of course) and still feel that you had experienced the best Mauritius had to offer. On weekends, the bar comes alive with live music and dance. In addition, the restaurant was delectable and the spa was nothing less than exceptional. Any tension and stress was stripped from my body, and I left relaxed, rejuvenated, and utterly refreshed; the hallmarks of a wonderful holiday.