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earthy delights
Published in the January-March 2009 issue.
To spa or to golf? That is the question. Thankfully, in Mauritius, you can do both in grand style. Julia Bound reports.
Whether your preferred recipe for R&R consists of three parts spa and one part golf, vice versa or any combination in between, Mauritius is ready to entertain you.
A seductive blend of ancient Ayurvedic tradition and Gallic beauty culture (about results, rather than pampering) has established Mauritius as one of the world’s great spa destinations. No doubt the island’s French colonial legacy has infused the place with beauty benefits: as rulers of Mauritius throughout the eighteenth century, the French left behind more than a penchant for pétanque. The hallmarks of French beauty culture were established then – and today, the French spa tradition is carried on at many of the best Mauritian resorts, from the Paradis Hotel & Golf Club to Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa and One&Only Le Saint Géran.
At Dinarobin, the list of Clarins beauty and body treatments available is as extensive as any you would find in an upmarket Parisian spa, from jetlag recovery treatments to grooming for men and slimming procedures. In 2008, the facilities were upgraded to include six massage rooms, two hammams, four Ayurvedic treatment rooms and a meditation deck, swimming pool and beauty parlour. It’s said that minor European royalty and international supermodels – including Claudia Schiffer, just quietly – fly in for detox and rejuvenation packages and to soak up the sea, sun and sand.
At nearby Paradis, a purpose-built Clarins spa offers signature therapies including body polishes, sunless tanning and soothing Vichy showers. And over at the flashy six-star Royal Palm resort, a brand-new spa by Clarins was launched recently to a wowed crowd. Here, earth tones and soothing water features create a rarified ambience, and the 18 treatment cabins are used for everything from Thai and Swedish massage to Ayurvedic treatments, reiki and balneotherapy, along with a broad array of beauty experiences.
Self-proclaimed “foot virtuoso” Bastien Gonzalez, a French chiropodist with a cosmopolitan clientele in Paris and London, has begun setting up satellite salons in glam locations around the world. At One&Only Le Saint Géran, his staff will treat you to a full pedi-makeover including nail care, skin smoothing and a dreamy foot rub.
But it’s not a purely French affair: equally important to Mauritius’s spa culture are the centuries-old practices of Ayurvedic medicine and bodywork. The rituals and expertise of the island’s many Indian residents are showcased in treatments as diverse as Indian massage and steam baths. Resort spas and stand-alone establishments dotted around the island provide wonderful Ayurvedic healing and nurturing experiences. At the truly luxurious Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, a complimentary session with the resident Ayurvedic doctor provides an assessment of your ills and promises to set you on a path towards blossoming health.
Find out which of your doshas are dominant at the specialist Surya Ayurvedic Spa, near Grand Baie. Miss India herself is said to be a fan of Surya’s authentic Ayurvedic massages featuring oil blends imported direct from Kerala. During the signature treatment, Dhara, a continuous stream of medicated oil flows gently onto the recipient’s forehead from a prescribed height. The treatment is said to be very effective for chronic headaches, stress and insomnia.
If there’s any culture that takes beauty and personal grooming more seriously than the French, it’s the Japanese. Inside the Shiseido Pavilion at the Constance Belle Mare Plage, cosmetic care is coupled with skincare routines and relaxation massage designed to aid inner and outer beauty. Indulge yourself here for a few days and you could fool friends back home into thinking you’d nipped and tucked your way to that youthful glow.
For those who prefer the exhilaration of the fairway to the tranquillity of the spa, Mauritius doesn’t disappoint. Breathtakingly beautiful golf links sprawl across the island, the bright-green hues of courses accentuated by the deep blue of the ocean all around.
Eighteen holes of manicured green perfection can be enjoyed at the Paradis Hotel & Golf Club at Le Morne or at the Belle Mare Plage, on the Ile aux Cerfs Golf Course or the Golf du Château at Domaine de Bel Ombre.
The main course at Belle Mare Plage is the Legends, designed by Hugh Baiocchi and home to the Mauritius Open each December. The course is pleasantly challenging, with plenty of bunkers and tricky doglegs to keep your mind focused. Experts say the outstanding hole is the par-three 17th, with its jaw-dropping views across the bay.
Stand-out accommodations for golfers are the Paradis Hotel & Golf Club and the adjacent Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa. Boasting their own award-winning shared green, the hotels also share an acclaimed Golf Academy that offers video lessons and enlarged golf practice areas. A daily green free covers play of unlimited holes for a very reasonable AU$35 per person and includes a set of practice balls for use on the driving range.
Guests of both hotels can also play at the golf courses of Bel Ombre and Tamarina (a scenic 20-minute drive away) at reduced green fees and with a “privileged” welcome. The staff at Paradis Golf Club will cheerfully arrange bookings, teeing up tee-off times and transfers by limousine or taxi.
Luxury golf villas are the latest craze to sweep Mauritius: at Tamarina Golf, Spa & Beach Club on the island’s southwest coast, 119 deluxe villas overlook the par 72 championship golf course. Residents enjoy the life of Riley, playing golf day after blissful day and, between times, enjoying the five-star amenities of their own luxury villas.
For people who like to combine their pleasures, one of the best things about golfing on Mauritius is the massage that’s readily available at day’s end. •
Photography courtesy Mauritius spa resorts and golf courses.
TRAVEL FACTS
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