The Oberoi Beach Resort, Mauritius Is A Honeymoon Paradise
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21 minutes ago
An impossibly beautiful resort set across 20 acres of sub-tropical shores
As a chronically indecisive person, I went back and forth for months when trying to decide where to go on my honeymoon. Where do you go for the holiday you’re going to remember forever? After falling for its charms on The White Lotus, my husband and I initially had our sights set on Thailand, and for a while we had grand plans to finally do that American road trip we’ve been talking about for years. But eventually, we settled on Mauritius, a luscious archipelago perched in the middle of the Indian Ocean. And I’m so glad we did.
Known for its pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and year-round pleasant climate, it’s the stuff of traditional honeymoon dreams. But Mauritius is about more than postcard-perfect landscapes: the island also has plenty to offer when it comes to culture, wildlife and food. It’s the perfect place if you want to balance lounging by the pool with wandering around buzzing market towns, hikes through national parks and day trips to see unique natural phenomena.
Mauritius is also famous for its luxe five-star hotels, one of the most prestigious being The Oberoi Beach Resort, where we kicked off our trip. It’s located beside the quiet Turtle Bay on the enviable north side of the island, which benefits from sunnier, less windy weather (November is a particularly good time to go, with warm yet not too humid temperatures and lower rainfall).
The Oberoi Beach Resort, Mauritius: Review
STAY
Competition is rife when it comes to Mauritian hotels – all corners of the island are overflowing with paradisical resorts offering top-class beaches, food and facilities. But from the moment we arrived at The Oberoi, it quickly became clear why this long-standing resort has remained so popular since opening back in 2002: it’s a cut above the rest when it comes to service.
Upon pulling up at the hotel, woozy and bleary-eyed from our 11-hour overnight flight, we were greeted warmly by the team before being offered a cold drink beside the cascading waterfall at the hotel’s entrance – a moment to pause and soak up the incredible sea and mountain vistas. Then, we were whisked straight to our villa on a golf buggy. The smooth check-in process takes place in your room – a nice touch, which sets the tone for the informal, personal style of service demonstrated throughout the hotel.
The Oberoi’s setting certainly has the wow factor too. Thatched-roof rooms and villas are generously spaced amid the resort’s tropical enclaves, which are lined with frangipani and hibiscus, and bursting with wildlife (look out for the red-whiskered bulbul, a kind of punk rock robin distinguished by its pointed black crest). We stayed in an Ocean View Villa, which is decked out with its own private pool, sun loungers and an outdoor dining area, allowing direct views of the magical sunsets the north is famous for.
All rooms feature a similar design: think neutral tones and high ceilings, with cream marble flooring and giant four-poster beds with rattan headboards. The bathrooms are particularly special, with sunken bathtubs, products from organic Indian brand Forest Essentials, and floor-to-ceiling windows creating an indoor outdoor feel (fear not – they’re completely private). For those who really want to splash out, the two-bedroom Presidential Ocean View Villa offers direct beach access, plus its own living room and two outdoor dining pavilions.
This seamless feel continues throughout, as the hotel was designed to blend harmoniously with its natural surroundings. Interiors reflect the rich Mauritian heritage, which includes Indian, Creole and French influence, with Asian artefacts and Indonesian sculptures dotted across the grounds, plus nods to the site’s history as an 18th-century French fortress, used to protect entry to Balaclava Bay.
DO
If relaxing is high on the agenda, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to peaceful places to recline with a book (I was glued to Florence Knapp’s buzzy debut The Names). The Oberoi has two pools, one adults-only infinity and one family-friendly, as well as sun loungers and hammocks sprinkled beneath palm trees along the white sand beach, so thankfully there’s none of that rushing down first thing to reserve a spot. Fancy a refreshing drink? At the press of a button, one of The Oberoi’s friendly team will be over with a menu – often bearing complimentary treats, like fresh fruit (mango, pineapple, papaya) and ice cream. My top cocktail pick was the chilli and ginger mojito, but the bar team can whizz up pretty much anything you fancy.
Be sure to take some time to visit the spa too, a temple-like haven offering African-inspired therapies. We were treated to a signature couples massage in a blissful open-air treatment room to the sound of birds tweeting, which incorporated warm kasa bowls – a practice rooted in Ancient Indian medicine to help release muscular tension.
More active holidayers, meanwhile, can head down to the boathouse, which offers an array of complimentary watersports including snorkelling and water-skiing. There’s also a well-equipped gym, tennis courts, and a programme of holistic classes including mindful yoga with the lovely Henri, which is all about encouraging you to slow down. Aside from wellness, the hotel has a wide range of other activities on offer including wine tasting, cooking classes and stargazing.
You’re also well-placed to explore the island here. Try street food and browse the markets in the bustling capital of Port Louis, or go for a leisurely stroll around the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, which is home to an incredible range of native plants including the famous giant water lilies. The hotel can also arrange dolphin spotting boat trips, hiking in the Black River Gorges National Park, or excursions to Charamel, where you can see the Seven Coloured Earths, a geological formation featuring rainbow-coloured sand dunes.
EAT
Food is a highlight at The Oberoi Beach Resort. Breakfast is served in The Restaurant, where you can soak up ocean views while enjoying smoothie bowls, fresh juices, eggs, pancakes and Indian-inspired dishes including dosas and rotis. Come evening time, this transforms into a dazzling dinner spot, with the reflection pool lit by flaming torches and the twinkling lights of Port Louis in the distance. Begin with spicy Creole crab soup, Mauritian prawns with torched pineapple, and smoked scallops ahead of mains like seafood risotto infused with Indian saffron, and venison from the East Coast.
The Gunpowder Room, meanwhile, is the hotel’s concept restaurant, an atmospheric space housed within a former French-built ammunition store, decked out with stone walls and antique wine barrels. At first, we were a little daunted by the size of the giant tables – it was probably the furthest away I’ve ever sat from a dining partner – but once the food arrived, it became clear these were needed to house the huge feast on offer. The set menu began with mille-feuille of taro and mangrove snapper, ahead of a spread of sharing dishes: grey snapper curry, punchy octopus vindaye, clove-spiced lamb salmi, braised taro leaves, pumpkin fricassee and more. As the dishes began piling up beside us, we understood the tongue-in-cheek comment we’d had from a waiter at the start of the meal: ‘you arrive in Mauritius with a six pack, and leave with a family pack’.
Private dining can also be arranged, whether you’re after an intimate dinner on the beach, a group lunch amid the herb garden, or a floating breakfast in your villa.
My favourite spot of all, though, was On The Rocks, the resort’s relaxed beachfront eatery where you can dine to the sound of the waves lapping the shore. It serves casual lunches of poke bowls, crispy calamari, prawn tacos and tropical shopped salads, before turning into a BBQ restaurant for the evening, with an open grill sizzling up the catch of the day alongside veggies from the kitchen garden.
THE FINAL WORD
With its romantic feel and sense of privacy, the resort is the ideal honeymoon destination – although it also caters for families, with a kids club and child-friendly activities on offer. We’re told lots of guests have been coming back to The Oberoi for many years, which is no surprise… as island escapes go, it really doesn’t get much better than this.
