Situated on the East side of Mauritius is the ocean fronted 5 star Long Beach Hotel, part of the Sun Life Group.

Appealing to families and couples alike, our stay there was not only comfortable with their pillow menu and a luxury stay, but welcoming too.

It is true we tired to check in twice, but as Cyclone Freddy postponed our first stay, management were so friendly to us when we did finally get to stay there.  Similarly, when friends stayed there we went to visit them, management again were friendly and fun to chat with, despite our couple of weeks absence.  The warm welcome from the management speaks volumes

It was great to have a room on the ground floor as this gave us not only our own private area overlooking the Indian ocean, but easy access to the beach too.  A welcome plate is always, well, welcome, but to do a golf themed welcome plate went down a treat and showed they were happy to go the extra mile for us.  We were grateful for the extra little touches the hotel provided.

Dining in the Japanese Haku restaurant was a special and one we’d recommend for its quality authentic Japanese food presented as it would be in Japan, with tastes that burst with freshness and methodical care as only the Japanese can do.  

Le Marché was the main restaurant, although you could dine in Sapori for breakfast, dinner or lunch.  We stuck to the buffet for its variety of choice to suit all palettes.  Despite it cafeteria appearance, if you could grab a table by the front, you get your ocean views.  Families were catered for with larger round tables too, some tucked away to afford privacy.

An infinity pool again with an ocean view was open to adults only, but there were other pools to suit your holiday needs, including a pool with a swim up bar.

A trip to the spa yield a welcome deep massage which forcefully stroked away those knots left over from golf and computer working.  Followed by a fruity drink by the small lake was a lovely way to relax afterwards.

Meeting Jack the mixologist with his infectious passion for all things liquid, was unique too.  A chap who knows his drinks, he has created a cocktail to cure all evils – OK that might be stretching it, but my initial reaction is one of WOW, to the sherbet and fruity tastes smashing together in the mouth.  All complimented with his theatrical performance in preparation.

The perfect location to play Ile Aux Cerfs golf club (in previous vlog and blog) with a frequent shuttle bus running to greet the boat over to the island.  Timing was perfect as we didn’t need to wait around.

Or just enjoy the pristine beaches right on your doorstep.

Want more from your holiday?, check out Long Beach’s :

• beachside restaurants
• boutique shops
• kids club
• teens club
• gym
• wall climbing
• archery
• football
• tennis/volleyball
• Bocciball
• Herb garden

All the family catered for, or a perfect getaway from the kids

n.b. the majority of the plug sockets in the room were European standard, so if you’re coming from the UK, bring an adaptor or two!

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This You Tube video and the related social media information has been produced as our honest and unbiased opinion on the day. Golf Guru Group trading as Travel Lifestyle Golf (TLG) did not receive payment for this review, but were hosted to some degree by the venue. TLG can take no responsibility should your experience differ to ours in any way.

Meaning Deer Island this privately managed 87 hectare idyl is edged by the beautiful white sandy beaches of postcards offsets by the azure sea deepening to dark blue of the Indian ocean.

A canopy covered boat takes you across the lagoon in about 10 minutes.  With the first ferry being at 0730 for golfers, this frequent service runs every 30 minutes, back and forth until early evening.  Running like clockwork as a transfer awaits your boat to take you back to your hotel.

A light bright airy but naturally decorated clubhouse greets you, together with a smiling welcome from the check in ladies in the pro-shop.

With the clubhouse behind you, the first hole is memorable for its flora and fauna, in so far as it was right in front of the clubhouse.  Taking in a riot of colourful planting and the odd drop of water too!  An achievable drive to a lush fairway.  It became evident on hole one that they were having problems with worms, or rather worm casts which sadly marred the overall appearance of the big greens.  Not using chemicals and finding a local solution is underway – failing that, grab the witches broom and start sweeping.

It soon became apparent that the Bernhard Langer school of golf course design must have shares in silly string.  

Being on an tropical island certainly has it advantages when looking for the ultimate golf course view, but some of the holes were a bit silly or technically difficult – I can’t quite decide.

Not so much quirky as long, the par 5, 6th, ranges from 490 to 601 meters.  A slight dog leg right around a huge bunker on the inside of the hole brings its own challenges in.  At handicap 6 its not one to sniff at!

Bermuda grass does hone your skills in a different way.  This deep and often spongy grass grabs the ball then lets it settle, so if you don’t commit to your shot, the ball does respond in strange ways; either flushed so far you marvel at your own strength or sinks further into the spongy grass with you left looking forward incredulously – with hope!

At only around 20 years old, the course is maturing nicely.  Usage of the existing trees has helped that feeling of being established beyond its years.

I did like (maybe because I did visit a few of them) the bunkers.  Nice gritty sand which the ball pops out with little resistance.   

The course was full of surprises, some nice, some not so nice.  An idyllic location with the blue sea in view for many holes, calming the soul, even when you’re having a nightmare or just lost yet another ball.  

Hole 15, a par 3, 96 to 167 meters had water all around which wasn’t that visible at ground level.  Handicap 13 gives away its no walk in the park – (or on the golf course) with its target, albeit largish target green.

This is a course built and designed by an illusionist. It plays with your senses; the eyes are drawn by the narrowing and planting, the smell of the sea allows you to drift into tropical island mode, before the soft gritty sand responds to the gentlest of touches and brings you back to reality.   Even the grass doesn’t always respond as you’d expect.

It is definitely a course one needs to play more than once.  Whereupon the lost ball count is hopefully reduced each time you play and as you start to understand the intricacies of its quirky design and unravel the silly string.

Quirky, silly, technically difficult, frustrating, rewarding – all apply at Ile aux Cerfs.

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This You Tube video and the related social media information has been produced as our honest and unbiased opinion on the day. Golf Guru Group trading as Travel Lifestyle Golf (TLG) did not receive payment for this review, but were hosted to some degree by the venue. TLG can take no responsibility should your experience differ to ours in any way.

The Beautiful South.

You’re away golfing or you’re a non-golfer and looking for something else to do, something truly spectacular that can only be found in Mauritius.

Ask a Mauritian which is the best side of the island for great beaches, some might say the North and some might say the South.

We’ve shown you North, now we will show you South – so you can decide for yourselves.

Macondé is a viewpoint on a hairpin bend around a jutted out piece of land into the ocean, climb a few steps to really appreciate the wonderful Indian Ocean.

This sweet island of sugar cane galore, with maybe a obvious by-product in the early days of Rum.  Now a full blown industry, Mauritian rum is to be revered. Rhumerie de Chamarel is definitely worth visiting, if only for the tasting experience! 

In the same region is Chamarel waterfalls, seven coloured earth, the Ebony Forest and Alexandra Falls – all showing you a side to Mauritius, you might not think about when conjuring up images of a tropical island.

Dine at Le Chamarel restaurant with is stunning views drawing the eye down to the far reaching views of the oceanside, or at the authentic Kaz’alala who produced the best Mauritian authentic food we tasted (more to come on this)

Finish your trip around the Beautiful South with a peaceful visit to Le Morne Heritage Trust, a garden dedicated to aid thoughtful processing of the horrific slave trade years.

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This You Tube video and the related social media information has been produced as our honest and unbiased opinion on the day. Golf Guru Group trading as Travel Lifestyle Golf (TLG) did not receive payment for this review, but were hosted to some degree by the venue. TLG can take no responsibility should your experience differ to ours in any way.

You get the first glimpse of the Rempart Mountain.  Known locally as King Kong Mountain due to its shape, the sharp rock protrude skywards like chocolate shards on a designer birthday cake.  So stunning with its multiple grey shades, the sun highlighting the crudeness of its shape whilst allowing the shadows to add drama and mystique.

Attach a piece of string to a pin. Put that pin on top of Rempart Mountain and follow the taught string around – thats how it felt with pretty much all of the golf holes in sight of the Mountain.

Large greens of irregular shapes were pleasing to see.  Less so were the worm casts, that said the casts were dried and did brush away easily, it just made the greens look a little spotty and unkempt, that was all.

Driving down to hole 13 is a bit of a WOW moment, with its elevated staggered tees, dropping down to the green ranging between 104 and 197 yards.  Pretty in its appearance, evil in its play, this handicap16 hole caught us both unawares.  One not to be taken too lightly as we walked away with one stableford point – between us!

Full article to follow on travellifestylegolf.blogspot.com

Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @TravelLifestyleGolf (Golf Guru Group)

Connect with me on LinkedIn @Sarah Forrest or @Steve Forrest

This You Tube video and the related social media information has been produced as our honest and unbiased opinion on the day. Golf Guru Group trading as Travel Lifestyle Golf (TLG) did not receive payment for this review, but were hosted to some degree by the venue. TLG can take no responsibility should your experience differ to ours in any way.