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Original poster

Has anyone been to Mauritius? Is east or west better?

30 replies

Shylo · 13/10/2022 13:36

Just about to book, just me and two teens (12 and 15) and I’m paralysed with indecision

has anyone been? Is east or west coast better?

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TeaCosyApplePie · 13/10/2022 13:39

I've been and to be honest didn't like it. I think it's over priced and over hyped, the beaches and sea life were disappointing. The Maldives was amazing in comparison and the price when I went wasn't much different. I would return to the Maldives in a heartbeat but wouldn't go back to Mauritius.

Original poster
Shylo · 13/10/2022 13:43

Aaaargh, that’s what worries me @TeaCosyApplePie !! I’ve been eying the Maldives but my 15 year old thinks she’ll be bored and there’s a bit more to do in Mauritius ….

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QueenWenceslas · 13/10/2022 13:45

I’ve been to Mauritius and was a bit underwhelmed if I’m honest. It’s not somewhere I’d be in a hurry to return to.

The beaches look stunning in photographs but in reality, because the island is surrounded by a coral reef, the bits of coral that wash up are very sharp underfoot and you need beach shoes to walk on the sand.

I can’t comment on whether the east or west coast is better as we stayed in Bel Ombré in the south although I seem to recall that the east side of the island is windier and therefore the sea is rougher.

Cazziebo · 13/10/2022 13:45

We loved Mauritius - perfect chill out holiday. We were in the West as we were advised there were fewer mosquitoes and other insects there and I didn't get one bite. Very unusual for me. Food was superb, island is beautiful. Everyone so friendly.
Haven't been to Maldives yet.

ruthieness · 13/10/2022 13:50

Mauritius is lovely - time of year matters - our summer is their winter!

On one side the sun sets into the sea which is better than setting behind the hotel.
The very good thing is no time difference so no jet lag!

Freedomfromguilt · 13/10/2022 13:51

Been loads, prefer west to east. The sea life has gotten less each time we go, if we go back we would only consider Le Morne where the beaches are nice and sea life more plentiful.

Divebar2021 · 13/10/2022 13:52

We went this summer and it was beautiful. The east side ( where we stayed at “The Residence”) was less developed / touristy. There is a coral reef along this strip which actually stops the sea being rough. Bearing in mind it was winter there the sea was shallow and warmer than the pool. The coral reef also stops the sharks coming in. We didn’t see much of the west but there did seem to be more restaurants etc. I think there’s quite a lot to do if you want action but you will probably want a car if you want to see the island.

Freedomfromguilt · 13/10/2022 13:52

It's also a really long flight so would only fly direct overnight, both BA and Air Mauritius do this.

Divebar2021 · 13/10/2022 13:53

The east side is windier than the west which is I presume why the east is more developed

Divebar2021 · 13/10/2022 13:54

Yikes Why the west is more developed. God my brain… sorry.

Deliaskis · 13/10/2022 13:59

We were in the very north west. I am also a bit lukewarm about Mauritius really. We had a great time as we were going to a wedding and had a lot of social things to do, but when we did try and do activities and trips out etc. it was quite logistically challenging at times, and the hotel was lovely but the beach a bit rubbish really. I have never been to the Maldives either but I think I was expecting something that felt a bit more idyllic tropical paradise kind of thing, which it didn't feel like to us.

Are you set on Indian Ocean? Obviously a whole other direction, but thinking of you and your teens, we absolutely loved Barbados for combination of relaxation and fun and scenery and culture and so on. (I realise there are other lovely Indian Ocean places, I just haven't been to them so can't advise!)

sidesplittinglol · 13/10/2022 14:04

I love Mauritius. The hotels are beautiful with sandy beaches. The north and west side are great but also the south. There's plenty to do but you just need to know where the hot spots are. The Maldives is Great too but more of a honeymoon destination. December is the best time to go for weather and fruits.

sidesplittinglol · 13/10/2022 14:06

I also think it depends on what your expectations are of a place. If you set them too high and it's less than what you expected you'll be deflated.

SagittariusDwarf · 13/10/2022 14:08

ruthieness · 13/10/2022 13:50

Mauritius is lovely - time of year matters - our summer is their winter!

On one side the sun sets into the sea which is better than setting behind the hotel.
The very good thing is no time difference so no jet lag!

There's a 3 hour time difference at the moment. Not enough for jet lag but worth noting.

I have been twice and I love it. West coast first time, North the second. First time was in February and second in October. Both had great weather. There's things to do and it's also very relaxing and chilled (in my experience).

Freedomfromguilt · 13/10/2022 14:14

Avoid the south, we just returned from Bel Ombre. The sea was almost to shallow to swim and the current was dangerous when we were there.

magicstar1 · 13/10/2022 14:19

We stayed on the west side in 2020, and it was lovely. Great weather, lovely warm sea, but because of the reef, you had to get a boat out to snorkel.

We've also been to the Maldives and the snorkelling was much better as we had a house reef.

If you do go to the west of Mauritius, try to do the 5 island tour with Chris. Book the private one, and the driver will take you in a speedboat out to different sites. Feed the monkeys, visit a sandbank with lighthouse, go snorkelling, have lunch on a deserted beach etc. It's a fantastic day, and teenagers would love it.

Original poster
Shylo · 13/10/2022 14:31

Thanks all so much for responding - quite a mixed bag of replies there!

we are going next week once I pull the trigger so travelling westwards is out @QueenWenceslas as I don’t want to risk getting caught in the tail end of hurricane season :/

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ReviewingTheSituation · 13/10/2022 15:13

Next week?! That's pretty soon for long haul! I have a vague memory of needing jabs for Mauritius - is that still the case?

SuperCamp · 13/10/2022 15:20

You don’t need jabs for Mauritius.

It’s only in their winter that it is windier and rainier in the East. Now is a lovely time to go.

cannaethink · 13/10/2022 16:59

I went at this time of year, although over 10 years ago, and the weather was perfect. I stayed on the west but travelled all over. I loved it! There was loads to do, and I enjoy travelling about on local buses and exploring so it was great for me. I did a few organised trips too which were excellent. The food was really good. I met an old woman on a beach who said she’d cook for me, I was sceptical but she turned up that evening on a moped with the most amazing food!

petalpower · 13/10/2022 17:03

We stayed on the west coast (Black River Gorge area). Hired a car, easy driving. As a previous poster said Le Morne is lovely. We went a couple of years ago in our summer.

Vicliz24 · 13/10/2022 17:19

We got married there and I was distinctly underwhelmed by how non tropical it was. The hotel was nice and the beach pretty but the snorkelling was rubbish. We do have an amazing boat trip and saw hump backed whales though.

Original poster
Shylo · 16/10/2022 07:43

Thanks again all - I continued to faff about a decision until the bloody price went up so there’s a life lesson, don’t prevaricate lol ! However we are heading to the west of Mauritius on Tuesday :)

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VenusClapTrap · 23/10/2022 12:54

Hi, @Shylo just come across your thread and figured you must be in Mauritius now. How are you finding it? We are considering booking for the Easter hols. Dh likes the look of Blue Bay because it’s supposed to be the best place for snorkelling.

Original poster
Shylo · 23/10/2022 16:25

Hi @VenusClapTrap we are indeed ! Most of the way through our week :)

looking at the feedback from other people I can see the differing views - the island itself isn’t tropical at all, it’s pretty unattractive in the main to be honest (I like it, it just isn’t pretty lol) but then beach side resorts are totally different. I am staying at La Pirogue in Flic en Flac and it’s has a really tropical feel being in a coconut grove with traditional cottages. I’d say from what I’ve seen travelling along the coast most hotels on the west side have a similar ‘leafy’ feel

the locals all tell me the west side is the better side, with the east side not being good for swimming because of the wind

there is quite a lot of dead coral on the beach here and although there is a coral reef all along the beach it isn’t amazing As far as I could see when we passed over it - it certainly isn’t the Maldives! That said lots and lots of people are snorkelling and seem to be content for hours on need so they must be seeing something lol. I am too claustrophobic to wear a mask so can’t tell you for sure :/

we’ve done a couple of trips from here just along the cost and saw dolphins and stopped at some snorkelling sites which my 12 year old tells me had lots and lots of fish. We also went to trou aux biches today and snorkelled with two green turtles just off the beach so that was pretty amazing!!

Trou aux biches was beautiful but very very busy. La pirogue is super chill in comparison

id also say wherever you choose to go make sure you pretty much have what you need on site - there don’t seem to be many restaurants etc outside of the hotel campus

does that help?

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