Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa

On Mauritius’ sheltered west coast sits Flic-en-Flac, a modest fishing village turned relaxed trip haven. For those who had been to stroll south alongside the seashore (one of many longest within the nation) you’d hit Wolmar and ultimately, the sand would give strategy to the black volcanic rock that the island is understood for.

On this stretch of pristine sandy seashore, you will discover Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa. Based in 2004, the resort was as soon as part of Taj Exotica (a Mauritian hospitality firm) earlier than going unbiased in 2009. To this present day, it is the one five-star resort on the island owned and run by a Mauritian household, the Ramadanees.

In 2023, Maradiva closed for seven months to provide the property an intensive facelift. There are actually 16 extra two-bedroom villas, an expanded health heart, a brand new restaurant, and a number of soon-to-debut villas and penthouses accessible to buy. All of the villas additionally bought an replace in the course of the renovation and now have Mauritian-inspired inside design with elegant touches like Hermès wallpaper, framed botanical prints, and rattan furnishings.

Maradiva is the only real villa-only resort on the island, and it is not exceptional for company to share the property with a Hollywood star or a member of royalty and be none the wiser. There’s even a small on-site backyard, often called “Jardin des Stars,” the place celebrities like Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway have planted bushes in honor of their stays.

And it is no marvel why this property is such a draw for the wealthy and well-known—it is exceedingly personal. Even in the course of the excessive season month of December, I awakened and strolled from my villa’s patio onto the seashore, the place I took a dip within the ocean. I solely needed to change just a few fast bonjours with a few employees members on my stroll. Each villa right here has a personal plunge pool, however there’s one massive, communal infinity pool that overlooks the ocean and mountains—that is the place it’s possible you’ll catch a glimpse of different company who’ve managed to tear themselves away from their villas.

Mauritius is understood for its lush out of doors areas, vibrant culinary scene, and wealthy historical past, however the luxurious and peaceable grounds of the resort make it laborious to depart the property.

Here is what it is like to remain at Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa.

The Rooms

There are 65 villas at Maradiva, and 6 lodging sorts company can select from, a few of which have simple seashore or pool entry. Nevertheless, even essentially the most “primary” rooms listed here are fairly spacious—the Luxurious Suite Pool Villa sprawls out over 1,765 sq. ft. Guests can count on loads of pure inside design parts resembling strong wooden furnishings, woven textiles made out of pure fibers, a simple breezy indoor-outdoor circulation, and marble counter tops within the bogs. The patios are lined by eye-catching pagoda-style roofs and are outfitted with sufficient eating area for 2 individuals, lounge seats, and solar beds for the plunge pool. If you’re touring with little ones or a big group, go for a two-bedroom villa. Every of the lodging sorts even have personal choices, that are extra secluded than their normal siblings.

But when luxurious is the secret throughout your go to, spring for the two-bedroom Presidential Suite Pool Villa. Each comes with 24-hour butler service, a personal kitchen, a lounge with an in-home cinema, out of doors eating area, and a 602-square-foot swimming pool.

Meals and Drink

There are 5 eating places at Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa: Cassine, Cilantro, Haiku, Seaside Home Grill, and Lantana. They’re all overseen by Michelin-starred head chef Yannick Hochet.

Recent off a flight and an hour-long automotive journey from the airport, North Indian fusion restaurant Cilantro appeared like the best choice to me. I feasted on a thali-style (the place a number of small dishes are served on a spherical platter) dinner and loved my meal to the sounds of a stay tabla (a percussion instrument) participant.

The principle on-site restaurant is Cassine, which serves high quality eating all day lengthy—I liked taking my breakfast of recent fruit, cloud-like Belgian waffles, pastries, and detox juice right here with views of the garden and waves. The cute red-whiskered bulbuls had been welcome avian companions, even when they did attempt their luck with my berries.

Haiku is the Japanese-inspired, two-room eatery. Culinary fanatic and former Japanese ambassador to Mauritius, Shuichiro Kawaguchi, consulted on the washoku (conventional Japanese) menu, and it even has a teppanyaki station. However, should you’re searching for one thing extra low-key, head to the Seaside Home Grill for recent seafood and meat served below the shade of a giant tree, with breathtaking ocean views.

No journey to Mauritius is full with out at the least one encounter with rum, the island’s hottest drink. Whether or not you are searching for a poolside beverage, afternoon tea, predinner aperitif, or a nightcap, Lantana Bar & Lounge has you lined. One in all my favourite locations to sit down right here was on the window, which completely framed Le Morne Brabant and the infinity pool. Steps away from the bar, you will discover the resort’s cellar and cigar humidor which is dwelling to an array of top-shelf liquors and nearly 2,000 cigars—the biggest assortment on the island.

Actions and Experiences

Gymnasium fans will enjoyment of Maradiva’s expanded health heart, which is open 24/7 and has a cardio room, a weight room, and two tennis courts. There’s additionally a roster of group workout routines to take part in, together with morning yoga on the seashore. Some actions require advance reserving, so be sure you test the weekly schedule that will likely be accessible in your villa.

For those who’re into all issues nautical, head to the boat home, which serves as a handy place to begin for issues like offshore sports activities fishing, catamaran outings, snorkeling, water snowboarding, and different enjoyable ocean actions.

For these in want of retail remedy, there are two on-site shops. There’s Necessities Boutique, specializing in locally-made clothes and artisanal items, in addition to Maradiva Boutique, which carries designers resembling Missoni, Peninsula Swim & Put on, Balushka Resort Put on, and different high-end clothes manufacturers. There’s additionally an on-site artwork gallery, certainly one of eight on the island curated by Adamah Fantastic Arts. It is a vibrant, fashionable area the place the work of an artist-of-the-month (or an artist in residence) is proven. Choose items can be found to buy.

If you wish to discover the property, the concierge can organize so that you can be taken out within the resort’s Rolls-Royce Phantom for sightseeing. Or, you possibly can take pleasure in certainly one of Maradiva’s signature experiences, like a luxe picnic with a view, full with champagne and caviar served by a butler.

The Spa

The spa greater than earns its spot as one of many major attracts of Maradiva, and it makes a speciality of Ayurveda, a system of conventional Indian medication. I began my time right here with a session from the in-house Ayurvedic physician (and Kerala native), Dr. Praveen Nair. I realized some Aryuveda fundamentals and what my dominant doshas (energies or “humors” that affect psychological and bodily well being) are. I used to be then whisked away to obtain my advisable remedy: a sweeping abhyanga therapeutic massage involving a medley of oils matched to my particular wants and structure.

Nevertheless, there’s a variety of remedies right here, together with traditional massages, ayurvedic oil remedies, facials, and physique wraps. There are additionally chilly and heated swimming pools, a steam room, a sauna, in addition to a laconium. Visitors can take pleasure in a heat or chilly tea earlier than or after their appointment, and even e-book a while within the yoga studio or meditation room.

Household-friendly Choices

Kids are welcome on the resort, and it has the Peter Pan Children Membership, which has a shallow swimming pool, an out of doors playground, padded play rooms, a eating space that is open every single day till 6 p.m, and a each day roster of actions appropriate for teenagers as much as 12 years previous. Babysitting providers (each in-villa and on the Children Membership) are additionally accessible on request.

The younger (and younger at coronary heart) will respect the property’s new recreation room, which has a PlayStation 5, pool desk, loads of board video games, in addition to a wealthy assortment of books masking historical past, artwork, geography, and extra.

Accessibility and Sustainability

All villas at Maradiva are at floor ground degree and are wheelchair-accessible. There may be one Luxurious Suite Pool Villa that has been fully tailored for wheelchair customers and is on the market on request. If you’re touring to Maradiva and wish further help, contact the resort prematurely.

Maradiva has an on-site bottling plant for the consuming water supplied in villas, eating places, and the health heart, which makes use of glass and biodegradable bottles made out of native sugarcane. The resort additionally makes use of a fleet of electrical autos for day-to-day operations.

Location

Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa is situated throughout the island (about 36 miles or a one-hour drive) from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Worldwide Airport (MRU). Because of Mauritius’ small (however mighty) measurement, any mountains, waterfalls, reefs, islets, or cities it’s possible you’ll wish to see are seldom greater than a two to three-hour drive or boat journey away.

The resort is situated on the shores of Tamarin Bay, and simply throughout the water you will discover the Tamarina Golf Membership with its Rodney Wright-designed course—some classes of villas even get a waived inexperienced charge. For nature lovers, Le Morne Brabant, the well-known peak simply throughout the bay from the resort, and the Black River Gorges Nationwide Park are worthy day journey choices for some gentle climbing and taking within the island’s legendary sights. However, if you wish to get a style of what the native tradition is like head to Flic-en-Flac, which is only a brief automotive (or bicycle) journey away and has a variety of eating places, bars, boutiques, public seashores, and supermarkets.

Ebook Now

Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa is part of American Specific’s Fantastic Inns + Resorts program. If in case you have a qualifying card, such because the Platinum Card by American Specific, and also you additionally e-book on the FHR web site, you will get enjoyable perks like early check-in, late check-out, and a $100 property credit score that you should utilize to spend on issues like eating.

The resort can also be a member of the Main Inns of the World program. If you’re a Chief Membership member, you possibly can take pleasure in advantages resembling prearrival upgrades and on-property advantages resembling complimentary breakfast for 2.

Each T+L resort evaluate is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every resort chosen aligns with our core values.