Luxury Travel Guide 2017

8 CORPORATE VISION / Luxury Travel Guide , Mauritius is, in no uncertain terms, an island paradise – Mark Twain once wrote, “Mauritius was made first and then heaven, heaven being ... for a glimpse of a Mauritian kestrel soaring on the thermals high above it all.” Mauritius Holidays Direct do, however, realise the cultural differences that exist between what some clients may expect from a holiday there and what is deemed within the realms of social acceptance on the island. As such, the operator makes sure to educate its clients on the various events, public holidays, and the certain restrictions that overseas visitors to Mauritius ought to abide by. Specifically, the occurrence of certain religious events and public holidays might cause some interference with specific plans, but with adequate planning beforehand, with the guiding hand of an experienced, well-versed representative from Mauritius Holidays Direct, these can be circumvented. Besides, with Mauritius being such a melting pot of great international cultures and faiths, the religious festivals on the island make for incredible displays of individual identity. The Cavadee Festival, starting at the end of January and going into February, is celebrated mostly by the Tamil- descended Indian population of the island, and is one of the most impressive festivals on the island. After a period of fasting, devotees partake in mesmerising displays of piercing cheeks, tongues and chests with needles – almost in a solipsistic trance all the while, before walking barefoot to the temple whilst carrying upon their backs the eponymous Cavadee, an arc of wood, metal or plastic adorned in flowers that represents the island’s sacred mountains. As a spectator event, this is a ceremony unlike any other, and a definite draw for tourists that attract a year-long appeal to the island. In addition, Mauritius Holidays Direct takes it upon itself to direct, to some extent, the behaviour of its clients, all in the interests of enhancing their experiences on Mauritius. “In general,” its brochure reads, “your own common sense must prevail… when booking local excursions and tours, please only use the services of our officially appointed local agents, and not of any companies or persons who may approach you otherwise, as these companies or persons may not hold the necessary government permits and licenses to operate excursions and tours.” This is not to say, however, that the operator leaves its clients especially lacking for options. Quite the opposite, in point of fact – as if a selection of nearly 60 hotels was not enough, there is a veritable host of options presented to clients of Mauritius Holidays Direct should they wish to leave the confines of their resort’s immediate vicinity and venture off into the wider island, to nose around the historical sights of a perfectly preserved Creole mansion, to take in one of the world’s best botanical gardens at Pamplemousses, or to experience the refinement of a catamaran cruise around Grand Baie, a location that the 17th- Century Dutch settlers called the ‘Bay Without End’, a modern hotspot with all of the virtues of beach resorts the world over. Neither does Mauritius Holidays Direct limit itself to a particular seasonal appeal – rather, the destinations that are featured by the company are available all year round. Some, of course, do have quieter off-peak periods, making them ideal for a romantic liaison where discerning couples might take full advantage of uncrowded beaches and more personal attention from the hotel staff. Mauritius is, of course, one of the most renowned places in the world for Honeymoon & Wedding holidays. Mauritius Holidays Direct is the specialist in arranging honeymoons and weddings in Mauritius. Most of the hotels featured offer tremendous deals and discounts for these special clients. The sales consultants are experts in finding these clients the perfect spot for their romantic stay, and at the perfect price as they know which hotels offer the finest special deals for these guests for their most romantic holiday. Some resorts are simply ideal for honeymooners and wedding guests because of their affordable luxury and characteristics; resorts such as Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok, Paradise Cove Resort & Spa (an adult’s only hotel), LUX* Grand Gaube, The Residence, The Westin, Outrigger Resort, Sofitel L’Imperial and Maritim Resort & Spa, to name but a few. These hotels are truly popular with Honeymoon and Wedding couples. In addition, the operator does not shy away from presenting some of the more popular spots on the island, where a greater influx of tourists in the peak seasons of travel make for a lively and exuberant display of Mauritian lifestyle. For example, hotels located in the north are perfectly placed for guests to have easy access to areas such as Grand Baie. Tamassa, an All-Inclusive resort located on the south coast beach at Bel Ombre, surrounded by impressive mountains and lush sugarcane fields is another example. Meandering pathways go around the resort’s three large swimming pools, en route to the long sandy beach. Active families can indulge in the wide- ranging on-site activities and the extensive PLAY and STUDIO 17 club facilities for children, while outgoing couples can enjoy their nights by dancing in the resort’s private nightclub. Nature has created a wonderful serendipity in Tamassa with winding white beaches leading to aqua-hued waters, making for a balanced experience of Mauritius that culminates in the experience of taking in a cinema screening whilst sitting under the mesmerising starlit sky of the Indian Ocean. “The choice of hotel is crucial to your holiday,” is the Mauritius Holidays Direct approach to this. “The hotels we feature have been selected for their location, their character, or their value…the final selection is, however, entirely up to you”. With an increasing volume of clients on the hunt for a truly indulgent, relaxing escape to the dreamy Indian Ocean, the very last thing that these holidaymakers want to be concerned about is the integrity and security of their financial investment in this enterprise. This is why Mauritius Holidays Direct take their involvement in maintaining the security of their clients’ finances, with full confidence and complete assurance. Being a fully-bonded tour operator with a licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL), many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays that are on offer are financially protected by the ATOL scheme, under the company’s own ATOL number – ATOL 5744. The firm is also a member of The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA J5618/W5490) and IATA (91275914). While ATOL protection does not necessarily apply to all holiday and travel services listed in this brochure, Mauritius Holidays Direct take it upon themselves to address their clients personally, so as to confirm what protection applies to their booking. With a certain level of financial protection guaranteed through the CAA, who will ensure that no customer is stranded abroad should the worst-case scenario ever happen, and with ATOL-protected booking allowing for a swift arrangement to refund any advance bookings.