LUX* Belle Mare
A sophisticated and laidback retreat, on one of the best beaches in Mauritius, LUX* Belle Mare has emerged butterfly-like from a complete renovation. Architecture is a cool mix of colonial tropic and contemporary, whilst the décor draws inspiration from the lush vegetation surrounding it, and the waters of the Indian Ocean in front, with fresh blues and greens all around. Restaurants sit around the vast tiered infinity pool, with the ocean beyond beckoning, lapping the sugary white sand.
It’s a paradisical haven for both couples and families, where absolutely everything has been thought of – giving you no reason to set foot outside of the gates for your entire stay.
At A Glance
Luxury Family Hotel
Why We Love It:
For its creative dining and its welcoming tropical spirit to all.Style:
Minimalist tropical chic.Location:
On the north east coast of the island, on the very gorgeous Belle Mare Plage.Rooms:
Airy beach house style suites and villas with garden, pool or ocean facing terraces or balconies.Swimming:
A vast, tiered infinity pool and the warm Indian Ocean.Children:
Absolutely! Children are called “Little Travellers” – all the stops have been pulled.Accessibility:
Adapted suites and accessible public spaces for guests with limited mobility.rooms
Each and every one of the suites is designed to be a cocoon – whether it’s just the two of you, or your family. Décor is cool and refreshing coral and sand colours, with minimalist bathrooms, with a distinct beach feel. Each one features a balcony or terrace with daybeds for lazy mornings, afternoons or both. And they all have a very well stocked mini bar! Junior Suites have a tropical feel and can sleep up to three guests.
Wellness Suites are designed for couples and come with yoga mats, exercise blocks and a complimentary coaching session in the gym. At the heart of the hotel are the Pool View Junior Suites which work well for families with a young child. And if you’d like to look out over the Indian Ocean, then go for a Beach View Junior Suite. Ocean Suites are ideal for couples, as are the romantic, beach hideaway Lux* Suites. Then there’s the Grand Lux* Suite – a vast penthouse haven – it has honeymoon written all over it. For larger families, many of the suites can interconnect, or choose one of the villas. The two bedroom Prestige Villas can sleep up to four, and come with an outside shower, whilst the one bedroom Ocean View Villas have their own pool, dining pavilion and can sleep four guests. To be able to step right onto the sand, the Beach Front Villas can’t be topped.
food
From breakfast through til late, the choice and variety at the Lux* Belle Mare is impressive. The day starts with a lavish selection of freshly baked pastries, homemade yoghurts, mountains of tropical fruit and a juice bar with almost everything you can think of. Mondo is the heart of the resort, with all day dining, live cooking stations and themed evenings. There’s gastronomic Chinese cuisine at Duck Laundry and southeast Asian at Royce Street.
The Michelin starred Vineet Bhatia is behind Amari, where you’ll find delicious Indian dishes. And you can easily spend the day lounging at Beach Rouge, the beach club and restaurant right by the water.
activities
The pool or the beach will compete for your time most days. The former is one of the largest on the island, where the service is likely to mean you won’t wander far. Naturally, there’s a wide choice of watersports, from kayaking to sailing, paddle boarding to waterskiing. The resort has its own PADI centre, with a fabulous choice of dives within easy reach. If you’d rather stay above the water, there’s a glass bottomed boat.
There are two tennis courts and a fitness centre where you can book a personal trainer or join in one of the many classes. And each day there are yoga sessions. The resort also has bikes for guests to explore a little further, whilst golfers are spoilt for choice with greens not too far away. For a holistic treatment head to the Lux* Me Spa, with its ethos based firmly on the elements. Then head to the beach bar for an aperitif as the sun dips below the horizon.
family
From an ice cream parlour to a chocolate fountain in one of the restaurants, from the kid’s club, PLAY, for children between three and 11, to well-thought out menus (at Mondo, kids have their own pizza and buffet station), every possible effort has been made to make this the perfect family destination. Parents are encouraged to go on date nights, by taking advantage of the babysitting service, and the resort has one of the island’s largest swimming pools.
For older children, there’s Studio 17, which even has its own Spa treatment room. And for families travelling with babies, there’s no need to pack the essentials – they’re all there.
sustainability
The major renovation of LUX* Belle Mare allowed for some serious eco-friendly initiatives to be put into place. Energy usage is monitored, water recycled for irrigation and the planting schemes have only used indigenous shrubs. Close to the hotel is a hydroponic farm where vegetables are grown for the kitchens, and there is collaboration with local conservation projects, especially promoting marine biodiversity.
Location
Mauritius, Indian Ocean
On the north east coast of the island, on the very gorgeous Belle Mare Plage. Close to Trou d’Eau Douce and the Ile aux Cerfs, it’s just an hour from the airport.
