In many ways, Mauritius is the ideal choice for a family holiday. There’s not much in the way of time difference and it’s an overnight flight to get there, so your little ones will wake up in paradise itching to build a sandcastle. It’s a long-haul destination, so you’ll feel like you’re going on a proper adventure with minimum fuss. When you’re there, hotels are well stocked with child-friendly activities and beyond your resort’s grounds, Mauritius is akin to a playground for young, adventurous hearts. We all agree at The Turquoise Holiday Company it’s one of our favourite family destination, so we’ve put together our top tips to help planning your next family getaway that little bit easier.
Top hotel
Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort
Located on the beautiful south coast, Heritage Le Telfair is one of the few hotels on the island where the kids’ club is free of charge for youngsters of any age. This is especially handy for families with babies or toddlers, where dedicated facilities for children of these ages are few and far between in hotels in Mauritius. Young ones can enjoy a soft play area and a sheltered pool outside, so they can splash around away from direct sunlight.
For older kids and teenagers, there are some many activities you could return to Heritage Le Telfair time and time again and they’ll always find something new to do. They can sign up to lessons for tennis and a range of water sports, go hunting for shells, quad-biking and explore the emerald surrounds on a nature walk (maybe with the odd game of hide and seek). Come night-time, there’s stargazing and a beach cinema to enjoy, among many other things!
Top excursion
Domaine de L’Etoile for teenagers, dolphin-spotting for youngsters
If you have teenagers who love the rush of adrenaline, then the verdant peaks and leafy plains of Domaine de L’Etoile nature reserve aren’t just easy on the eye, but an emerald adventure playground, too. They can whizz through the sky on a zip-line course around the reserve, or scoot along winding dirt tracks on quad bikes, looking for colourful birdlife, deer and boars along the way. There’s archery and pony rides as well.
Dolphins always evoke a sense of fascination in younger children. Visit Mauritius and they no longer have to see them on the pages of a book, but witness them in their natural habitat. Dolphin-spotting tours offer close-up encounters with these beautiful creatures off the island’s south-west coast, which will leave your children wide-eyed with jaws open.
Top Tip
Explore beyond your resort
While it could be very tempting to cocoon yourselves in the excellent kids’ clubs that Mauritius’ resorts have to offer, the rest of the island is just as brilliant for children, too. There’s jungle walks, boat trips, interesting museums, adrenaline-seeking activities and plenty more for kids to enjoy across the entire island. You can hire a driver guide for a day and structure it however you like, with a friendly face to both cast an expert eye on the island and tell legendary tales to wow the young ones. Now, that’s a family day out with a difference!
Top itinerary
Mauritius is an exciting family destination in itself but when you twin it with an unforgettable safari in South Africa, it becomes the ultimate family holiday. Your children won’t be able to take their eyes off the wonderful wildlife which wander the African wilderness, tracking animals such as lions, leopards, elephants and rhinos. Then, to go to Mauritius and have so much fun on an island paradise will be just as exciting! If you would like to know more, here’s the link to our itinerary
For more family holiday inspiration, visit www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk or call 01494 678400.
