[New post] Review: Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
The Luxury Travel Expert posted: " Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review. I recently enjoyed a sunny holiday on the beautiful island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. You can read my trip reports here: Review: Austrian Airlines Boeing 777 Business Class " the Luxury Travel Expert
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Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita is a luxurious tropical sanctuary, where greetings of warm smiles and gentle lagoon breezes fill each day. The property's 136 villas and residence villas are generous in size and designed to interact with the outdoors. An extensive overwater spa is interwoven into the landscape and offers a diverse range of rejuvenating treatments that draw from local ancestrual wisdom to promote natural healing and relaxation. Whether you're playing a complimentary round on the thrilling oceanfront finish of the resort's Ernie Els-designed golf course or splashing with the family by the lagoon, the stylish open-air luxury resort invites relaxation, romance and endless possibilities for adventure amid the dramatic landscape and the vibrant colors of Mauritius.
The Four Seasons Resort Mauritius is part of the Anahita Sanctuary, a private mixed-use development. Located along the east coast of Mauritius, where the island's lush mountains meet the Indian Ocean, the prestigious Anahita estate unfolds over 213 hectares of tropical gardens and private beaches. Combining elegance, refinement and personalized service, Anahita offers a unique Mauritian lifestyle and includes a selection of freehold luxury villas and apartments, two five star hotels (the Four Seasons is one of them) as well as two breath-taking golf courses. The resort area borders one of Mauritius' largest lagoons and occupies its own stretch of coastline, extending across wooden bridges to encompass a private island, Ile aux Chats.
Opened in 2008, the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius is surrounded by lush, mature greenery, with dramatic views over the Bambous Mountain and the turquoise waters of the island's lagoon available at every turn. Embracing its natural surroundings and vistas, the resort is built in a contemporary Mauritian style of open-air architecture that is designed to invite interaction with the outdoors. Tiered barachois (fish breeding pond) decorated by flowers surround the resort's main pavilion, which houses the chic lobby as well as several bars, restaurants, shops, and an art gallery. The lobby looks out over the lagoon and the extensive resort grounds, where spacious villas are scattered in a dry forest with banyan trees. As the resort is fairly large – it's divided in two by the lagoon – guests are offered bicycles for the duration of their stay.
The Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita features 136 all-pool villas which are arranged around the existing landscape. All villas feature extensive outdoor living spaces that include a large verandah, plunge pool and private garden filled with indigenous plants and trees. Outdoor terraces look out over either the garden, mangrove, ocean or onto the pristine beach. During my holiday, I stayed in an Island Beach Pool Villa, which offered direct access to one the resort's three beaches. On the outside, the villa featured a thatched roof, wooden deck and stone walls amid palm trees and lush vegetation, while on the inside, an understated but elegant decor was styled with neutral tones, wooden floors and rich fabrics. The bedroom featured a kingsize bed, sofa and working desk, while the ensuite bathroom was equipped with a standalone bath, two washbasins, an indoor shower, and an al fresco outdoor shower.
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita features two pool areas, where guests can swim laps, entertain their children, or simply do nothing at all. The main pool area is located at the heart of the resort and easily reachable by bike from all villas. Here, under a lush archway of towering palm trees, two-tiered infinity pools look out over the main beach towards the Indian Ocean lagoon. The pools are flanked on one side by the resort's all dining restaurant Bambou (more on that below) and on the other side by a row of stylish loungers. The upper pool is a zero-entry pool characterized by a sloping entrance and is popular among families with young children, while the lower pool is a deep pool and more popular with teenagers and adults. The resort's gym complex also has a 25 m (82 ft) pool, but it's made to swim lengths in and not one you'd necessarily lounge around.
Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita features three beautiful beaches.
Four Seasons' guests can enjoy a day of castaway enjoyment at the resort's beautiful beach on the nearby Ile aux Cerfs. Ile aux Cerfs is an island famous for its stretches of white-sand shorelines and turquoise lagoon waters that are ideal for swimming. The Four Seasons has its own private beach club on Ile aux Cerfs, which is just a 15 min speedboat trip away from the main resort (complimentary shuttle service is offered). Adding flavorful sustenance to relaxed beach days, the beach club has a Beach Bar and Grill on site, which serves a menu of light fare and fresh seafood – brought daily by local fisherman.
The two other man-made, golden sand beaches are located on the resort itself, one overlooking the lagoon towards Ile aux Cerfs, and the other one overlooking the lagoon toward the Indian Ocean. The first beach - named Bambou Beach - is located in front of the main pool area, and features a water sports club (complimentary non-motorized water sports are offered). The other beach - designated as Quiet Beach - is an adults only sanctuary and a magical place for sunsets; a leaning palm tree at Quiet Beach calls out to be photographed as it perfectly positioned in front of the Bambou Mountain.
One of the many highlight's at the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita is its wellness center. The spa's gardens are home to an abundance of tropical plants and trees, several of which, such as aloe vera and lemongrass, are cultivated for use in treatments to harness their natural healing properties. As guests set foot in this haven of tranquillity, staff welcomes them with a choice of teas, background music and a choice of essential oils for treatments. There are 12 treatment rooms which are set on wooden pillars above the lagoon; each one offers their own private haven with a sauna, a changing room and an outdoor shower. An overwater deck boasting lagoon views invites guests for pre- and post-treatment relaxation. Yoga addicts can also find inner peace at the spa, where a resident yoga instructor is available for group or private lessons in a variety of styles.
Four Seasons Mauritius at Anahita is able to cater to every culinary desire through its wide variety of terrific restaurants (6 in total!), bars, and 24-hour in-villa dining:
Enjoying a poolside location and views over the tranquil lagoon, Bambou is the resort's all day dining restaurant, with a Mediterranean-themed lunch menu being complemented by the best of local Creole cuisine each evening. Each morning, Bambou is also home of the resort's breakfast offering (which comprised a lavish buffet complemented by à la carte dishes).
Set at the water's edge, Acquapazza is the resort's chic open-air signature restaurant, serving delicious Italian cuisine. Occasionally, the venue is transformed into a pop-up and taken over by internationally acclaimed chefs, such as two-Michelin-starred Italian Chef Marco Garfagnini.
Beau Champ is a modern French bistro by the water's edge. Classic French dishes are crafted in an open kitchen and made with style – taking full advantage of Mauritius' abundant local seafood and produce.
Next to Beau Champ is Chatkar, the resort's Indian fine-dining venue. Here, Chef Vishal transports guests across the Indian peninsula through a menu of locally sourced ingredients, setting the scene to express his truest interpretation of his Indian heritage.
Right next to the lobby building is Umi Zaka, a trendy Asian eatery. Playful and energetic, Umi Zaka blends the Japanese word for "sea" and the African name for "pure" – the foundation of the restaurant's concept, and fuses a seafood-inspired Asian menu with an island setting for starlit oceanside dining.
The popular La Plaz Beach Grill on the Four Seasons exclusive beach at Ile aux Cerfs welcomes guests for blissful days of castaway relaxation via a 15 minute speed boat transfer. This causal beachfront grill serves fresh seafood dishes and refreshing light bites.
Centered around an open bar counter, the Lobby Bar enjoys the most beautiful view in the entire resort. Throughout the day, the bar evolves in its offerings, with a selection of teas and coffees served from early morning, ahead of a light tapas selection for lunch from late morning until late afternoon, prior to catering to aperitifs and digestifs in the evening.
Guests at the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius enjoy a unique golfing experiences: access to two internationally renowned courses, one located on the Anahita estate and the other on the iconic Île aux Cerfs:
Built to USGA standards and the first of its kind in Mauritius, the Anahita Golf Course is designed by South African champion Ernie Els and makes the most of its tropical setting. Backed by lush mountains and fringed by the crystal-clear lagoon, its large fairways and six stunning oceanfront holes culminate in a final shot that is among the most spectacular in the world.
Designed by famous golfer Bernhard Langer, the Ile aux Cerfs Golf Club is accessible to players of all levels. The course covers 38 hectares on the southern half of the Ile aux Cerfs island, with the holes snaking up and down the length of the island, boasting naturally undulating topography, volcanic rock outcrops, lakes and gullies, and a variety of tropical trees and plant.
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