Bottomless champagne on a sun drenched island in the Indian Ocean. Yes please…

The smartest way to beat the transitional weather is to go somewhere where even during the rainy season the temperature is hot and the sun is still shining. Welcome to Mauritius, the sun-drenched island in the Indian Ocean...

(Image credit: Serge Detalle)

The smartest way to beat the transitional weather is to go somewhere where even during the rainy season the temperature is hot and the sun is still shining. Welcome to Mauritius, the sun-drenched island in the Indian Ocean...

Why go?

As Mark Tawian once said, ‘Mauritius was made first, and then heaven, and that heaven was copied after Mauritius.’ Once home to the now extinct dodo bird, the Maldivian culture is warm and welcoming, which is exactly what you need after a 12 hour flight! There’s so much to explore on an island that’s twice the size of Hong Kong but with only 1.2m residents. The main language is Creole, but French and English are also commonly spoken and are even the main languages taught in schools. There are activities for every type of traveller from backpackers to honeymooners and families.

The vibe

The La Plantation d’Albion, voted trip advisors travellers choice 2019, with a 4.5 star review, which is no surprise since club med is known for creating the perfect all-inclusive experience. Set along one of the most pristine beaches on the island, where crystal clear water meets 21 hectares of lush gardens, the La Plantation d’Albion hotel provides an authentic Mauritian holiday with attentive staff. The hotel was so family friendly, with activities each day for kids, my son even took part in a show as part of the kids club. Guests enjoy bottomless champagne from 6pm every evening and in the afternoon there is a party at the poolside for families and water sports for everyone. If a quieter experience is more your thing, then head over to the zen pool for adults only, where parents or couples can relax and unwind in a calm peaceful setting overlooking the Indian ocean.

Piscine Zen

You really must

Try everything the Club Med experience has to offer; for those with a sense of adventure there are flying trapeze classes, an archery school and a massive golf course. Couples and families can be seen playing beach volleyball or participating in the tennis club on a daily basis. There is also a vast majority of water sports including snorkelling, sailing, paddle boarding and kayaking. For guests who want to unwind after a day of activities, the spa offers a range of treatments. Our favourite experience of the holiday was having the chance to swim with wild dolphins, organised by the very friendly staff at the hotel, it couldn’t have been a more magical experience- discovering the ocean with these wild creatures. Club Med supports the Mauritian NGO Terre de Paix and has helped fund a senses park, advocating children’s rights to education and helping to combat poverty in Mauritius. The park is located close the hotel and is definitely worth a visit.

Dine at

The Maldivian cuisine is a perfect blend of Creole, Chinese, European and Indian flavours that La Plantation d’Albion represented perfectly with their menu. Most evenings there was a huge variety of flavours; the sense of French culture was evident with the bouillon, Coq au vin all served with good wine. There was also an Italian influence with the best pizzas and pasta served in the restaurants. The resort had a main restaurant for gourmet food and drinks, but offered a quieter restaurant for adults to dine in the evening overlooking the crystal clear night sky.

Prices start from £1,536 per adult for 7 nights, including flights from London (as well as the all-inclusive F&B, activities, watersports etc.)

To book, visit clubmed.co.uk

So, delay no further and get booking now.

Emily Ferguson
Emily Ferguson is the E-Commerce Director at Marie Claire and the Marie Claire Edit. She has over 10 years experience working with all the major fashion and beauty brands such as ASOS, NET-A-PORTER, Farfetch and Look Fantastic.   She cut her teeth in the fashion industry at the London College of Fashion gaining valuable insight into how to run an e-commerce business. She started her own fashion business over 10 years ago, funded by savings all while juggling two part time jobs. But she did prevail as all that hard work paid off when Emily, along with the valuable knowledge and industry contacts she gained over the years, launched the Marie Claire Edit in 2018. The Marie Claire Edit is a  fashion aggregator site that allows users to shop over 40 stores and 6000 brands in the same place. In just 2.5 years since joining Marie Claire Emily has grown the e-commerce revenue by 675% annually.   She regularly packs The Edit in her suitcase and takes it globally to speak at some of the biggest digital conferences- building big editorial partnerships to grow the Marie Claire Edit brand. A true geek at heart Emily manages the technology behind the Edit as well as building creative fashion campaigns for all her clients. When she's not taking over the digital world, Emily can be found spending her days renovating her house and contemplating whether or to have mini metro marble titles in her bathroom..obvs.