In Conversation with Akshada & Sylvabelle from Constance Prince Maurice

Akshada, the wonderful Assistant General Manager who’s been a fixture at the hotel for as long as we can remember, tells us that the ethos at the Prince Maurice is one of total luxury and privacy. The architecture of the place reflects this, with traditional Mauritian thatched buildings that are both open to the sun and home to cosy corners and tempting bars. They spill down towards the hotel’s infinity pool, which in turn overlooks a sweeping stretch of sand, deck chairs subtly hidden among the palm trees.

It’s no wonder that so many people come back year on year (Ludo among them), as Sylvabelle tell us; and they often come back for weeks at a time. She talks about how welcoming they are to all sorts of traveller – something we can attest to. There’s a first-rate kids club, with its own pool, dedicated staff and programme of activities to keep any child in a constant state of ecstasy. Romance, too, is part of the Prince Maurice’s ethos, according to Akshada. This is a honeymooner’s paradise, with suites and villas tucked away on stilts, beach villas with their own private pools, as well as a series of experiences dedicated to couples. There are private beach dinners, individual wine tastings, sailing lessons, kayak trips, doubles tennis lessons dual pool beds. And that’s just what’s offered officially. As far as we can work out, there isn’t a lot that the hotel won’t do for its guests. Last time we visited, there was a proposal: fireworks were arranged over the bay, a segment of the beach was raked, a line of flowers laid out, leading to an ice bucket of champagne and – we hope – a yes.

And then there’s the food. It’s a reflection of the island’s unique blend of influences: European, Asian, African. This delicious fusion, everything from light fish curries to Asian-inspired meat dishes, is on offer at the hotel’s main restaurant, the achingly elegant Archipel. There’s also the finest selection of Asian dishes a stone’s throw across the pool, at another restaurant nestled among bamboo features and orange umbrellas. The piece de resistance, though, is Le Barachois. It’s a restaurant that both Akshada and Sylvabelle say is one of the hotel’s most unique selling points and, forgive us if we sound over the top, it’s jaw-dropping. To get there, guests take a short stroll along a boardwalk cut through the mangroves; en route, there is a pontoon bar offering whatever tipple takes your fancy, framed against a backdrop of silhouetted mountains and mirror-flat lagoons. Once the aperitive is out of the way, it’s another short walk to the restaurant which is, quite literally, floating. A handful of pontoons, each one covered on top but open to the lagoon on all sides, sweep round the walkway, diners enjoying their meals whilst gently rocking to the swell. If you’re lucky, Sylvabelle says, you’ll catch a glimpse of Johnny, the lagoon’s resident (and non-dangerous) shark, who often slips between the lights of the boardwalk as guests tuck into the Mauritian fine dining menu on offer.

For guests who feel somewhat over-indulged by all this eating and cocktail-sipping, there’s a wide range of sporting activities on offer here, too. A pair of championship golf courses are a shuttle bus away; both beautiful, both ball-guzzlers. There’s also tennis, water sports, hiking, diving, snorkelling, kite surfing, a wood-panelled gym with every machine under the sun, cycling and more. And for those whose muscles need a bit of R&R, the fully decked out spa is calmness and pampering personified.