Mauritius recommendations

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DP and I are looking to spend a week or so in Mauritius in December, just before Christmas.

I'm very much a sit-by-the-pool-and-read traveller, whereas he likes activities and exploring.

Any recommendations of hotels which could combine the two?

I'm not hugely keen on the all-inclusive Thomas Cook style holidays though but if one of these is perfect, we could be interested.

The Residence in Mauritius is the only hotel ever that has been so good that I've returned (3 times) and I'm a complete princess when it comes to holidays. Amazing service, beautiful rooms and setting. They even unpack your bags for you whilst you go off and have lunch. All watersports & tennis included - waterski and sail as much as you like with the nicest people. 5 minutes walk from the local village, and taxi's are cheap to explore the rest of the island.

Trou aux Biches is lovely with easy access to lots of sights.
The Dinarobin is my favourite but it's more of a 'stay where you' are holiday on La Morne.
Both offer tons of activities included & the food is amazing.

We're looking at The Residence - looks amazing!

Flessan - can you tell me a little more about the food etc? We'd probably be looking at half board as the quote I've been given is only £200 more than just breakfast. I'm guessing this would cover breakfast, dinner and drinks?

All the hotels of the standard of The Residence will be gorgeous - just make sure they are on a natural beach, as the older more established ones will be.

Exploring and days out is good in the W and SW IMO, depending on what he likes doing. The Black River National Park is amazing, and there are hiking trails from Petrin on the top to Black River Peak, or down to the Visitor Centre just of the main road between Tamarin and Le Morne. For the shortest of strolls you can drive into the mountains and simply look over the parapet at the Black River Viewpoint, and do a trip round the Chamarel Falls, etc. La Varangue is a great restaurant for lunch. Also Tamarind Falls, or ziplining / quad baking at Casela. Any of the Le Morne hotels would be good for exploring the W and S of the isand - or else Sugar Beach and it's neighbours (Hilton, La Pirogue) at Wolmar - Flic en Flac

If you are on the East coast (The Residence) you can do a huge circuit of ziplines over the forest (and see huge fruit bats flying beneath you) at L'Etoile, go ti Isle aux Cerfs (lovely beaches) for Parasailing and other activities.

Beach stalls are safe to eat from, delicious roti and 'dholl puri' available for about 25p, look out for the tiny pineapples sold ready to eat, peeled, like a lollipop on it's stalk, and in towns the stands where they fry samosas and 'gateax piment' in front of you for pennies. (chick pea fritters with mild chilli).

The highly coloured Tamil temples are good for a visit, and the central temple in the mountains at Grand Bassin, round a small volcanic crater lake and overseen by a simply enormous statue of a Hindu god. You can walk round this collection of temples and up to a further temple peak which has a fantastic view.

Heritage awali. You can use restaurants/facilities in the neighboring hotel and the beach club. Lots of activities included.

Or Long Beach is meant to be good. Think it is cheaper than residence so probably not as mega luxury, but still luxury.

Can anyone recommend a west coast hotel.
we are thinking of going next august with 2 teens.
we would need 2 rooms rather than a family room unless it was separate beds for the kids.
thanks

Ihate, we loved the Maritim at Balaclava on the west coast. Very nice rooms and excellent beach. Its grounds are huge, with its own golf course and well kept riding stables, interesting ruins and some very ancient inhabitants - giant tortoises. I was there with DH, so you would have to check its suitibility for your teenagers. Not much in the disco line and no foam parties. We were there at the end of May, you might want to consider the weather in August, as it varies a lot depending on coast and time of year.

The maritim is the resort we would like to go to.
We can only go during summer school hols.
My neighbours have been to the Maritim 3 times and love it.

The Maritim brand has recently opened another hotel in Mauritius, the Maritim Crystal Bay. They took over an existing resort and apparently have done lots of work to it. It gets generally good reviews on Trip Ad. and seems more geared to families, with plenty of watersports, than the Balaclava one. It is on the east coast though. I would love to try it, but would be terrified it would not be as good as the original.

We've been advised that during our summer to go to the north west/west coast for the best weather.

I understand that to be the case. We were at the Maritim at the end of May with perfect weather, and had previously stayed at Lux Tamassa, further south, in April. The only problem is the long flight. If you can get a direct flight it makes a hell of a difference.

We've been to maritim 4 times and never had rain. End of then Nov and 2x Dec. We like it. Be interested in trying out the 'new' one..
BA direct flights for us made huge difference.

we stayed at lux belle mare last October. Couldn't fault it, fantastic place. Great for families, couples without kids might not be as impressed. Food, staff, weather, everything fantastic (except long flights)

End of Aug! Then Nov 2x Dec
Sorry

Thanks everyone, we decided on Koh Samui in the end.

One day i will go to Mauritius, definitely!