World Ocean Day was celebrated on the 8th of June 2019. Among the many events held worldwide were an array of activities organised by the Veranda Tamarin hotel, on Mauritius’ west coast, to preserve Tamarin’s famous bay and the surrounding area. We look back on a day honouring the ocean.
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Fancy turning back time in a 1950s vintage car? We took Veranda Resorts’ beautiful Morris Minor for a spin along the north coast of Mauritius over the course of a weekend. Fasten your seatbelts!
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Spending a holiday in Mauritius in one of our hotels is a must, but it would be a shame not to experience the local Mauritian lifestyle while you’re here! But how do you find out about the best places to eat and go out off the beaten track? For that, you need to ask a local. Veranda Resorts’ team members give us their tips.
An overview of the best places in which to experience the real Mauritian lifestyle…
Kajal Dookhit, F&B Reservation Agent at Veranda Grand Baie, recommends Mon Choisy Beach, where she likes to play badminton with her friends, as well as Chamarel Adventure Park for ziplining and nature walks. If you’re in Grand Baie, want to meet some locals, and enjoy a delicious and ridiculously inexpensive meal, try Ti Couloir, the Super U food court or Saffron Grill. And to experience the best of Grand Baie by night, Kajal recommends having a cocktail at the Banana Bar then hitting the dancefloor at Safari.
Nicolas Laide, Housekeeping Supervisor at the Veranda Paul et Virginie, gives us his favourite addresses in Grand Gaube, a typical Mauritian fishing village in the north of the island. Head to La Maison des Boulettes by the football field for a delectable bowl of steaming dumplings, then enjoy a cold beer at Ah Kam’s. Nicolas’ favourite spot for a family picnic – an extremely popular activity among Mauritians – is the wild and unspoilt Melville beach. And if you enjoy bargain-hunting, head to Goodlands market on Tuesdays and Friday mornings!
Clifford Pierre-Louis, General Manager of Veranda Pointe aux Biches, lives in Grand Gaube… and waxes lyrical about the beauty of his island! For family outings, he recommends the walk between the Grand Gaube barachois and Butte à l’Herbe public beach in Calodyne. Expect a peaceful stretch of coast offering magnificent views of the Northern islands – no noisy, busy beaches here! Finally, for a taste of local seafood (kono kono, giant clam and fresh crab), try Chez Patrick in Mahébourg.
For her part, Deevya, a Spa Therapist at Veranda Palmar Beach, invites us to discover the island’s east coast. The endless stretch of beach at Belle Mare is a must for get-togethers with friends. As for restaurants, she’s a regular at Chez Tino in Trou d’Eau Douce. Deevya also recommends the Le Bois Chéri restaurant – the perfect place to indulge in a crepe while sampling the different teas produced by the estate’s factory. Ideal for anyone with a sweet tooth!
Jean-Marie Chinappen, General Manager of Veranda Palmar Beach, is passionate about music and literature. He sings in his church choir on Sunday mornings then heads to Flic en Flac beach with his family. For a day of adventure and discovery, he recommends the Domaine de l’Étoile, whose hiking, quad-biking and ziplining activities are sure to give you an adrenaline rush. Kas Poz is, according to him, the best place on the island for live music. For Mauritian food, he goes to Chez Manuel in St Julien d’Hotman, and also recommends the Flowers of Paradise restaurant in Pereybere for its gourmet cuisine.
Enjoy a night out, try Mauritian delicacies in a local haunt, take the road less travelled… These simple pleasures will make for wonderful memories, but will also give you a glimpse of the island’s soul!
#VerandaResorts #Mauritius #LocalLifetyle #DeepIntoMauritius
We’re on a mission here at Veranda Resorts: we want you to discover our island in the most authentic way possible, by meeting local people and living extraordinary experiences. We’ve concocted a small selection of things you should do to discover our tizil* differently.
Mauritius is famous for its dité vanille*. But did you know that the island is also home to an excellent range of coffee blends? To help you discover this slice of Mauritian culture, Veranda Resorts has teamed up with Mauritian roasting experts Les Brûleries de la Fournaise and their Dodo Café brand to offer guests classes in coffee art (that is, the art of creating images on coffee) and an exceptional house coffee blend. Continue Reading
Mauritius is known for its immaculate white sand beaches and its azure lagoons… but did you know that this little treasure in the middle of the Indian Ocean is home to a cornucopia of über talented artists? Their unique charm and creativity have pushed some of their voices far beyond local soundwaves. To spare you hours of Wikipedia searches, here’s the Top 7 of the island’s very best talent, recommended by our Sports and Leisure teams. Plug your earphones in, unwind on a sun lounger and live Mauritius… the Mauritian way! Continue Reading
Veranda Resorts is committed to keeping our planet as healthy and as happy as possible: it’s why we’re Deep Into Sustainability. We’re constantly on the lookout for ways in which to protect the environment and engage with the local community that live around our hotels. Two projects are particularly close to our hearts: Bis Lamer and Lakaz Liv. Continue Reading
The third edition of the annual Porlwi festival of contemporary culture has begun. During five days and nights, our historical capital city was instilled with a big dose of Arts, Culture and Nature (this year’s theme!) Each year, Porlwi picks a theme that encapsulates a key element of the city’s urban regeneration. Mauritian citizens and travellers from afar come to Port Louis to discover the innumerable artistic creations, the multicolored street art, performances, sizzling street food, music and art. It is also just a chance to gather with friends and family in a city, which, on a regular day, is quiet come 5:00 p.m. Continue Reading
December on our little island brims with exhilaration; it has the power to stir senses, bring people together and trigger euphoric emotions. Mauritians—all 1.3 million of them—no matter their culture or creed, are connected by their mutual love for the magic of this season. There’s no better time of the year to discover the idiosyncrasies of the local culture than when the street lights change colors, sleepy towns transform into vibrant spaces and exotic flavors waft through the toasty warm air. Dive deep into Mauritius’ rich history through the lens of Jeeva, Jeff, Aldo, Magalie and Melanie. Continue Reading
Names are a funny thing. All humans no matter their culture are attributed at least one name. There are the one-word-wonders, the designer names you can’t pronounce, names with triple alliteration that keep their owners from going to Starbucks because the whole cup-name thing is simply too vexing. There are babies named after Game of Thrones characters (Arya is a popular one), Instagram names (everyone seems to care the most about those) and cities whose names have changed over the course of history. Street names and names of cities are repeatedly named after political figures, activists, visionaries, the wildly famous, trees, birds, landmarks or the topography of the place. Names of towns, designate, more often than not, a sense of place. Continue Reading