This is *exactly* why you should book a week long break to Mauritius
If you’re currently debating between the two big Ms: whether to spend a week in Mauritius or the Maldives, then the price will likely be a huge factor. In fact, a trip to the Maldives is, on average, two to three times more expensive than an equivalent holiday in Mauritius. This was reason enough for my husband and I to book return flights to Mauritius for our belated honeymoon – and the colourful culture, volcanic landscapes, hiking activities and powdery white beaches, of course, only added to the appeal.
After much deliberation on where exactly to stay, we decided to spend a week in Le Morne – on the palm-fringed shores of the southeastern side of the island. Our hotel of choice? JW Marriot.
What’s the vibe at JW Marriott Mauritius?
The JW Marriott Mauritius is located on the famous Le Morne Peninsula, nestled under the towering UNESCO World Heritage Site, Le Morne Brabant Mountain. The mountain became a refuge escape for slaves in the 18th century and has since become a symbol of freedom and protection – as well as the island’s complex past. It’s quite the backdrop.
Featuring colonial-inspired architecture – think: wrap-around verandas, floor-to-ceiling shutters, plantation-like columns and a mix of dark wood and cane furniture – the old-world charm of this hotel offers a luxurious yet laid-back vibe.
From the moment you check in to the moment you check out, the staff here make you feel like one in a million – they know every guest by name. Each morning, Manishka would welcome us at breakfast with the biggest grin as she proudly reeled off our usual drinks orders – two freshly squeezed orange juices, a cappuccino for me and an English Breakfast tea for my husband.
Smiling butlers bring fresh fruit right to your sun lounger, while pop-up coconut huts on the beach offer the ultimate refreshment. Just stroll up, ask for a coconut, and watch as they slice it open on the spot and pop in a straw.
Sinking into a bean bag, Piña Colada in hand, and watching the sun dip below the horizon – turning the white sand and turquoise sea golden – you’d be forgiven for assuming this is just another beach holiday. But then, under the shadow of Le Morne, when a troupe of dancers appear, bringing the energy of the island to life with the rhythmic beats of the Sega dance, you’ll realise this is uniquely Mauritian.
The rooms
With 172 rooms, this isn’t a small resort – each of the suites and villas are dotted throughout the lush gardens, thick with tropical trees and splashes of vibrant flowers, which run parallel to the beach. Don’t fancy walking along the path to your room from the main Manor House where all the restaurants are? Jump on a golf buggy, which shuttles guests to and from their rooms.
We stayed in one of the Junior Suites with an ocean view – a spacious 699 sq. ft colonial-inspired retreat, just 100 meters from the icing-sugar sandy shore.
Amenities here include; a King-sized bed, a large walk-in dressing room and a private terrace with views of the glittering azure-blue ocean. But the real showstopper? A ginormous oval bathtub, perfect for soaking after a day in the sun.
For those seeking something a little more luxurious (and private), JW Marriot happens to be home to one of the largest private villas in the Indian Ocean – the Grand Beachfront Villa. Spanning a huge 17,870 sq. ft, it sleeps up to eight adults and eight children across four villas – three with private pools. Guests enjoy a private entrance, a secluded beach, and a dedicated team including a 24-hour butler, chef, security guard, and housekeeping attendant. It’s a real ‘resort within a resort’ experience.
What’s on offer in terms of wellness?
If you can rouse yourself from your sunlounger (and no judgement here if you can’t), there’s a wealth of health and fitness facilities available here. My husband used the fitness club most days (it’s open 24/7), which boasts state-of-the-art Technogym equipment, including free weights, cardio machines, and weight training equipment. And there’s also a complimentary weekly wellness calendar filled with activities such as sunrise yoga, Pilates, meditation and circuit training.
If you’re searching for more outdoorsy adrenaline-filled pursuits, there’s plenty here to keep active types entertained. Golfing on manicured courses, diving in pristine seas, hiking in national parks, canyoning, zip lining, mountain biking, helicopter tours... you name it, you can probably do it here.
Being in touching distance of Le Morne, we couldn’t not at least attempt to hike up part of the mountain – where we, plus a small group of other hotel guests, hiked the ‘easy’ 3km path 100m up, and were rewarded with panoramic views over the peninsula.
And of course, if wandering to the hotel spa for a head-to-toe wellness ritual is all you can really manage, then that’s ok too. With 12 treatment rooms, including two couples’ suites, as well as a hair and nail salon and a men’s grooming salon, there’s a wealth of treatments to choose from. We opted for a couples massage – a gentle shoulder, neck and head massage for me and a firm muscle-tension relieving massage for my other half. Afterwards, we sat in fluffy robes, drinking herbal tea, on the spa terrace – which feels like a real sanctuary.
And the food?
Each day here began with a spread of exotic fruit, smoothies, freshly made omelettes and french toast or pancakes with a giant scoop of Nutella. It’s an all-you-can-eat style breakfast buffet – and there’s everything ranging from curry to ice cream at the tip of your fingers – so some people do go a tad overboard.
For lunch and dinner, there are five different restaurants on-site to choose from (or just order chips and healthy wrap to your sun lounger) – so there’s enough variety to please all palates.
Le Manoir Dining Room is the fine dining Mauritian restaurant at JW Marriott – but we only chose to eat here once, preferring the more relaxed vibe of the other restaurants on offer.
The Floating Market offers a mix of Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese dishes, bursting with bold flavours, while Atsuko offers Japanese-inspired cuisine.
Then there’s The Boathouse Bar & Grill – a barefoot beachfront bar with live music. By day, it serves healthy light bites and fresh juices, and by night, it transforms into the place for sundowners and Mediterrean-inspired food.
Our favourite restaurant though, had to be Simply India – we indulged in authentic, spice-infused dishes, designed for sharing. And the head chef, Malik, made it his personal responsibility to make sure everything was just perfect.
What else can you do at JW Marriott?
As well as enjoying those incredible views of the mountain, being on the west coast is the best for enjoying watersports and marine life.
My favourite day here – by a country mile – was getting up super early and taking a boat trip beyond the reef, to swim with dolphins in the wild. It was, simply put, a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
My husband and I took a speedboat, just the two of us with a guide, out to about 5km offshore where two pods of dolphins – spinner dolphins and bottlenose dolphins appeared. We were handed a pair of fins and a snorkel and jumped into the deep blue to swim alongside them. It was pure magic.
While experiences like this, of course, cost extra (totally worth it, in my opinion) the hotel does offer a series of (free) activities, too. These include a stargazing experience hosted by the resort’s expert astronomer, and the chance to master the art of sabering – a centuries-old technique of opening a bottle of champagne with a saber.
WH Verdict
JW Marriot Mauritius really does offer something for everyone – whether you’re on your honeymoon or on a multi-generational family holiday with multiple kids in tow. I recommend trying everything to work up an appetite (water sports, hiking, morning yoga... the lot!) because the food here is rich and filling and delicious – and you’ll want to eat it all.
Go there!
Rooms at JW Marriott start from £520 per night. BOOK NOW
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport is around a 90-minute drive from the hotel. Air Mauritius and British Airways offer direct flights from the UK, or you can fly with Emirates and arrive via Dubai International Airport. The resort can arrange transfers from the airport.
Address: Coastal Road, Le Morne Peninsula, Le Morne, Mauritius
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