Your London Wedding - Jul/Aug 2019 (Issue 66)

THE MAGIC OF MAURITIUS Editor Claire Muffett-Reece enjoyed a taste of paradise at the five-star Angsana Balaclava Mauritius resort A s a mum of two young sons I can’t remember the last time my husband Scott and I spent a relaxing day at the beach. Building sandcastles, digging holes, collecting shells, applying suncream, distributing drinks, offering snacks, diffusing squabbles and blowing up endless inflatables – holidays abroad with our two are exhausting. So, when we were offered the chance to experience a five-star break, without the boys, in the paradisiacal island of Mauritius, we were straight on the phone to our parents organising childcare. Sure, I worried how we’d cope with a whole week away from them, but the second we stepped on our Air Mauritius flight I knew we’d made the right decision. Touching down at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, the first thing that hit us was the heat. It was 7am and already 30°C, which was a far cry from the freezing March temperatures we’d endured back in the UK. Breezing through customs, we were soon in our private transfer and on our way to Angsana Balaclava Mauritius, a five-star boutique hotel on the North West of the island. Nested in a secluded cove on Turtle Bay, Angsana Balaclava Mauritius is part of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and features 55 luxury suites in traditional Mauritian style with thatched roofs and bespoke local artistry. We’d been promised a Garden Lagoona Suite upon arrival but were delighted to discover we’d been upgraded to a Beachfront Pool Suite instead! We walked in to find our own private swimming pool overlooking the ocean, complete with huge veranda, massive Jacuzzi and direct access on to the sand. Inside was just as stunning, with a king size bed, Nespresso machine, a massive bathroom with its own hammam and an equally huge dressing room, complete with his and hers sinks and plenty of wardrobes for the ridiculous amounts of clothes I’d packed. After a quick change we decided to explore, eventually ending up at the poolside bar for a drink. I chose a delicious blueberry mojito, while Scott opted for the local beer, Phoenix – which soon became his refreshment of choice for the remainder of our holiday. GOOD FOOD If there’s one thing you need to know about a stay at Angsana Balaclava Mauritius, it’s that you won’t go hungry. Breakfast is a delicious buffet at the hotel’s main restaurant, with pastries, American-style pancakes, fresh fruits, a manned egg and omelette station and, every British favourite, good old bacon and baked beans! There’s also the option to have breakfast (or any meals) delivered to your suite, ideal for honeymooners who fancy a little extra privacy. When it comes to lunch, a visit to The Passion Chill poolside restaurant wins hands-down. The menu’s extensive and we enjoyed a huge variety of food, from classic burgers, pizza and Caesar salad to freshly-made pakoras and flavoursome curry. One day the chef cooked a typical Mauritian lunch; fresh prawns and chicken with rice and vegetables, served with a fried egg on the top. It was heaven in a bowl! We were so impressed with the Mauritian flavours that we booked up for a Wellness Cooking Class with sous-chef Curtis the following day. We got to make our own lunch; a delicious palm heart salad with smoked marlin, chicken in a spicy tomato sauce with basmati rice and green chilli paste, and banana and coconut samosas. As for dinner – you’re spoilt for choice. While holidaying we dined on sumptuous lobster in the pan-Asian restaurant, Jadis, feasted on melt-in- the-mouth steaks during a candlelit dinner on the pool deck, and enjoyed a myriad of Indian dishes while hosted by the hotel’s manager, Paul. Our favourite meal of the holiday was the Destination Dining Experience, a seafood gastronomic delight under the hotel’s bespoke Beach Cabana. Dining under the stars with your soulmate, with the sand between your toes, is a memory you’ll cherish forever. 122