Four Seasons Mauritius at Anahita

We were very happy with service and information we got from the staff before arrival. My many questions by email were answered in perfect English, very promptly and with a high level of details. We had booked a stay 10 nights, pay 6 nights + 500 € F&B credit package . When we decided to prolong our stay with three more nights, we were able to negotiate one further free night + additional € 250 F&B credit.

I had read about people being dissatisfied with the arrival service, but we did not experience anything less than what one would expect: Meet and greet, help with luggage, nice resort SUV with plenty of space, cold towels, water etc. and a very nice driver who explained lots of things during the 40 minutes trip to the resort. At the resort we were served drinks in the arrival pavilion while doing the quick paperwork. During this the GM and other members of the senior staff greeted us. This – together with an upgrade to a beach villa and a complimentary our spa jet-leg massage to be taken first afternoon - made us feel very welcome.

We were very happy with the location of our villa which was situated at the so called “Wild beach” which is much more private then the two main beaches at each side of the pool. The view was sea/lagoon. The villa consists of a sleeping pavilion with a big bathroom and separate wardrobe + an outside terrasse with dining table, sofa and private pool with garden in front of it. Everything looked very new (resort now 2 years old) and modern. The only thing to complain about would be that inside of villa is pretty small. The extra bed for our son had to be placed in the bedroom (no space in the bathroom which is the case in for example FS Koh Samui, Landaa Giravaru, Seychelles etc.) meaning that we would not really have anywhere to sit inside except from in the beds. Sitting outside was of course possible, but given the strong winds during some evenings, it was not comfortable, even with the outside slides down. In addition we were missing some storage space, in form of more drawers in the wardrobe. There was an extra cupboard outside at the terrasse, but it was not very convenient to store clothes out there. Except from this, the villa was very comfortable. Great FS beds as usual, good light inside, flat screen TV, I-pod docking station, a nice Nespresso machine to make our own morning coffee (including complimentary fresh milk), little sweet surprises or fruit in the room every afternoon and very good housekeeping. Bathroom very spacious with separate WC (door can be closed), his and her sinks, large bathtub + inside and outside shower. The latter was used less than normal (I love these) due to the wind and lower than tropical temperature at this time of year (22-26 degrees Celsius during our stay).

We have been to 10 FS and would rate the service at this FS resort highest. During the two weeks we were there, really nothing went wrong. This should maybe always be true at such a hotel, but we have never before experienced absolutely no problems when ordering meals, checking bills, asking for something special to be done etc. Everybody knew our names, and soon got to know our preferences for drinks, spicy food etc. The beach boys were really great always having our favorite place ready for us when we arrived at the beach, constantly serving us complimentary little drinks or iced fruit, polishing our sunglasses, removing sand and refreshing towels while we were swimming etc. Buggy service quick and if you do not feel like calling a buggy you can easily walk everywhere or there are bikes that you can use. Needs were anticipated and our requests over delivered.

Again the best that I have experienced. In addition to a fully equipped gym with the newest equipment, the resort had spinning bikes and a Power Plate. However, the best was the complimentary fitness classes offered once or twice every day: Spinning, water aerobics and a number of other classes (ABT, body toning etc.) with highly motivating and very good trainers. In addition there is tennis and a world class and very beautiful golf course.

I had four treatments during our stay, all to my full satisfaction. The spa looks beautiful and the therapists are very good. No special treatment that I will remember in particular, but I really felt very happy and relaxed after each spa visit.

The kids Clubs is really a complete Kids Village, something I have never seen at other FS resorts. The range of activities and the personnel is great. Still our son did not go there that much, since many of the activities are maybe better suited for younger kids (ours is 7). When he was there, he enjoyed tennis with the pro, golf and playing wii or computer games. There is also a teenage center with computers, table tennis, sing star and similar things and our son liked going there better than to the kids club with the younger kids were… He was allowed in there a couple of nights while we were having dinner when he was together with older friends.

Three restaurants: Beau Champ for breakfast (buffet with fruit, cereals, bread/rolls/Danish etc., salads and meat in addition to a wide selections of breakfast dishes made to order, of which the French toast and the Mauritian crepes + scrambled eggs with truffles deserve special mentioning). Dinner at Beach Champs are steaks and seafood, mainly grilled. Not our favorite food (we prefer Asian and lighter fare), but very tasty and perfectly prepared. Aquapazza serves Italian food at night, and while the pizzas were really good and very authentic Italian, we felt (as we normally feel outside Italy) that the other dishes are less good than they are closer to Italy. We did, however, really enjoy the third restaurant Bambou located next to the pool where lunch is served every day and where there are special theme dinners at night (ala carte “Simply Asia”, “Indian night” with a set menu and a wonderful “Tropical buffet” where a number of staff are cooking Mauritian and barbecued food to order in front of your eyes). We also ordered room service a couple of nights which was quick, tasty and enjoyable as well. However, the best food we had outside the FS resort when visiting the O&O Le Saint Geran at two occasions. Both the Indian restaurant Rasoi and the Spoon by Alain Ducasse were really excellent and more than worth the hour trip by taxi.

The Boathouse (run by outside company) offers complimentary water skiing and non motorized water sports in addition to snorkeling trips (did not try), glass bottom boat trips (tried – nothing special really) and trips to the nearby island every day + a number of other activities and excursions for a fee. Very good, but really quite expensive activities (€ 60 for 15 minutes). One day we went on an outside excursion (“The North Tour”) to see the island, booked through FS. We went in the resort SUV with a friendly driver who took us to see the most important sights (botanical garden, sugar cane museum, Port Louis). While I feel a need to see more than just a resort when I am away for 2 weeks, I cannot say that what we saw during this excursions is something that I would consider a must see. Also the shopping opportunities were nothing to write home about (no new shoes ;-) We also spent a full day at the beautiful O&O Le Saint Geran which is a great hotel with very good service and food (see above). Their beach is really beautiful, they have a great kids club and the spa treatment I had there was one of the best massages I ever had (90 minutes restorative massage). The rooms are spacious but, given the age of the resort, not as modern and fresh as the FS villas. We were also lucky to be invited to visit Le Toussrok island Ilot Mangie during one day and had a very memorable outing including a great lunch at the rustique and charming restaurant on this beautiful paradise island. One of our last days we were invited to join friends at a chartered yacht (Princess 50 – three bedrooms, two bathrooms etc.) and had a great day at a fantastic boat with dolphin watching (yes we saw them!), snorkeling and a wonderful lunch. Highly recommended, but “a little bit expensive” to quote the captain of the yacht.

All in all a very relaxing and memorable holiday which I would highly recommend. Feel free if I – in spite of the long report – did not answer any of your specific questions.