Things to do on holiday in Mauritius

Mauritius, also known as the “Jewel of the Indian ocean” is renown as one of the most incredible tourist destinations in the world.

This holiday paradise naturally has so much to offer when it comes to luxurious hotels, resorts, sports, social activities, breathtaking scenery, excellent food and great service!

For an unforgettable holiday experience, the following resorts are highly recommended: Le Paridis, One & Only Le Saint Gran, Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa, One & Only Le Touessrok and Royal Palm Grand Baie.

Mauritius has seven superb championship golf courses to offer, which are found near to or inside the resorts. Most of the golf resorts have pro-shops and offer caddies as well as professional instructors for private lessons. An experience not to be missed is at the La Vanille Crocodile Park in the southern part of Mauritius in the fame fatal rain forest. La Vanille Crocodile Park boasts over a thousand Nile crocodiles, giant tortoises, monkeys and bats. You also have the opportunity to walk among the giant tortoises and even ride on them.

For a totally unique experience, go for an undersea walk. Once all kitted up in your clear bubble helmet, rubber shoes, oxygen hose and the rest of the equipment you then take a leisurely stroll along the sandy sea bed while the fish nibble food from your hands. Even if you cant swim you can still do the undersea walk. Just awesome! The undersea walk is all in all about half an hour long.

Ever been in a submarine? If not then Grand Baie is the place to be. Blue Safari Submarine, has two vessels, the BS 600 (a small submarine) and the BS1100 (a large submarine). You are taken on a one-hour trip down to depths of 40 meters for fantastic views of the coral-life, fish as well as the wreck of an old Japanese fishing boat called the “Star Hope”. And to add more to the experience, you can even stop deep down under for some lunch and wine!

For the keen fishermen, Mauritius is the ideal destination for superb deep-sea fishing. Large game species include; barracuda, tuna, marlin and a variety of sharks such as hammerhead, tiger and black fin. For organised deep-sea fishing trips the best locations are at the Trou Aux Biches and Grand Baie.

A holiday in Mauritius, with its abundance of water sports such as parasailing, windsurfing, sea kayaking, water skiing, catamarans, snorkelling and scuba diving and much more packs the day full of action and adventure.

If you enjoy diving then you will be blown away by the stunning coral reefs and the numerous fish species to be seen. Come face-to-face eagle rays and sharks! Other species you may encounter on dives include dolphins, whales and the ever-graceful turtles.

Diving trips can be organised through the following companies: Aquarius Diving Ltd at Grand Baie, Seafan Diving Centre at Le Palmer or Atlantis Diving Centre and Nautilus Diving Centre at Trou Aux Biches.

So as you can see, Mauritius, as a holiday destination is unquestionably a travellers tropical paradise, an island so beautiful, you wont want to leave.

Things to keep in mind for last minute holiday

Unexpected holiday plans can spring anytime and for any reasons and often such last minute situations can lead to confusion and travel goof ups. Last minute traveling can be little complicated to handle especially when there is so much to do and you have no idea where to begin or what to do.

Following are some of the key pointers you should keep in mind when planning a last minute holiday or when getting ready for that last minute travel:

Choose the destination

If this is some sudden plan of going out with the family for a day or two or if it’s some random idea of spending time with friends away from the rush of your city, always decide on a destination or a city before packing those heavy bags of yours. The best way is to either come with a common favorite place or call up friends or family members who might be able to come up with great holiday spot ideas. Another way is to decide is to consider factors like budget and time.

Find the cheaper airlines or hotels

Last minute travel can also be result of emergency or difficult to avoid circumstances leaving no time to plan a budget or to search for the most affordable way to travel or stay. At such situation, the best thing that could be done is to find cheaper online deals for airlines and hotel reservations. Internet is full of such last minute deals and can prove to be a good idea at such status of your travel.

Even the last minute holiday based on urgent account of affairs can be made suitable to one’s pocket by such deals. It is advisable to discuss the matter with any friend or family member who might have idea on affordable traveling ideas or might have any such experience.

Start the holiday one day in advance

It is always a good idea to mark the beginning of a holiday a day in advance, a day when you can sit think, plan and shop. A day in advance means lots of time and less of confusion especially if its one of those last minute holiday plans.

Make a list

For everything you plan, wish to do and still have to do make a list. By penning down every little thing you get to have a clear idea on what’s been done and what’s still not done, also it saves you from asking yourself ‘am I forgetting something?’, when you board your plane or train.

List making technique also helps in checking everything twice and ensures that you have planned it all.

Reach not on time, but before time

This is one of the important tips to follow when planning or getting ready for last minute holiday. Reaching the airport or station much before the time saves you from unexpected incidents that might delay you and gives you sometime to sit and think. Often, last minute holiday or last minute traveling makes you forget things you might have wanted to take with you or things you simply forgot to pick, with early arrival at your airport or station you get enough time to drive back, in case you have to. Also, reaching before time helps to unwind the trouble and lets you begin your journey with peace.

Vacation and holiday home rental – 4 things you must know!

Want to rent a holiday home, but don’t want to get scammed or waste money on the house that you THOUGHT was your best choice, only to find out that you made a big mistake? Or are you interested in getting cheap holiday homes or even package deals!
Below are some solid tips you can use to find and rent your vacation home without any hassles or problems, and even save money.
Know what your getting
When you look for short-term vacation rentals, everything should be included. Always double-check for hidden charges on the invoice. Do you have Wi-Fi or internet? Is it basic or premium? Does the price involve the whole months cost? Maybe the internet is free up to the first 5 Gigabyte.

What if you have to leave early? will you get a partial refund? They might tell you that everything is included, but check the invoices just to make sure, because it might be up to some amount.

Knowing the manager
Knowing the manager of the holiday house is very important. Your contract should say they’re exact contact information for when you need help. What if your washing machine breaks, or the hot water won’t work anymore and you need to stay another 3 weeks on holiday.

Try keeping the contact information in and out the holiday home, so you can always get in touch. If you can get a second person to contact, do it! Make sure you have at least the telephone and e-mail of the owner.

Family and Pet friendly
If you are with a pet, look for pet friendly vacation rentals! Imagine traveling all the way to your holiday home just to find out that pets are not allowed in the house. Some people don’t like it when the previous guests had a pet (hygiene).

Or if you have 3 kids and the guest-room only has a king-sized bed, this could be a big problem. Make sure you see enough pictures of the house, to make sure. Check the location, is it safe for the kids? Is it close to local activities?

Booking early
Book early to make sure that everything will be as promised. Certain times in the year, villa rentals are very busy due to holiday seasons, so try to book early. You can look for holiday homes with the availability slightly out of season time, to get better deals.

Don’t be shy and contacts the owner/manager of the property, most of these villa renters have package deals. They might be able to offer a rental car, cheap flights, attraction tickets, and more. Just ask and see for yourself. Now you have the tips needed to rent a holiday home that fits your needs. But… this final tip is the most important one. Especially if you’re from out of the country, and don’t want to get scammed, conned or your money taken…

Learn to rent holiday homes safe and smart.

Self-Catering Holiday an Advantageous Solution for Holiday Budgeting

Self-catering holidays are more popular than they have ever been in the UK at least this is the case, the biggest market utilising such a holiday are parents and their accompanying offspring – so families essentially. Choosing self-catering options over traditional all inclusive options helps to reduce the overall cost of a holiday and gives the holiday maker complete control and flexibility with meal times and indeed meal choices – thus self-catering holidays are an advantageous solution if you are looking to budget for your next holiday, regardless of whether it is a family affair, a couple or a lone holiday – you can still save a packet!

Focusing on the self-catering accommodation means that you could well eat at any number of different restaurants, take away and cafes – alternatively you could prepare and cook food in the kitchen of your self-catering accommodation. This is what I meant by flexibility, consider that if you have any special dietary requirements such as high fibre or gluten free you can rest assured and consume your regular foods and drinks without having to make any special requests or worry if they even cater for you in the first place.

It’s likely that most places will have an alternative menu item for certain dietary needs and certainly vegetarian alternatives to choose from. The cost saving of not eating out every night is enormous – in some instances you might save the same amount as your daily accommodation rate and have just as good meal. Consider also that inclusive will generally mean you are confined to eating in the same set place day in day out, no variety and if you don’t like the food well you will end up spending more in the long term anyway.

Personally I hate doing the washing up after eating so if I go self-catering I ensure there is a dishwasher to pop dirty dishes in, little things like this just make the whole self-catering holiday experience an enjoyable break from the normal. Did you know that there are self-catering properties out there which now come with a chef or other service staff to assist you when on holiday? Amazingly you could have your meals prepared in the comfort of your own self-catering holiday home. Though I don’t imagine there will be too much cost savings here from staying in inclusive accommodation – flexibility is still provided though.

The self-catering holiday market has had an explosion in growth in recent years throughout the world. Self-catering provides an unrivalled level of independence, control and flexibility over all aspects of your holiday including location, budget, activities, timing and the things you eat and drink. If it’s not something you have considered before – I would certainly recommend trying it out, after all what have you to lose?

A Socialites Guide to the Holidays

If December means a calendar fool of obligations then this article is for you. Making it through the holiday season in one semi sane piece isn’t easy, but with these holiday tips you’ll be sashaying from party to party effortlessly and stress free.
Pack Light: While we all know the advantages of having a nice big purse to lug around everything you may ever need at any given time, during the holiday festivities its just not practical. Before the holiday party season gets underway, you should either clean out your over packed purse or buy a cute, compact wallet size clutch that you can carry only the essentials in. What are the essentials you ask? Limit the contents of your purse to some lipstick or gloss, keys, cell phone, and a few other fashion emergency items like clear nail polish and a needle and thread.

Think Ahead: The average adult spends most of the day on the go. Between work, errands, family, and personal needs, there is barely enough time to breath let alone figure out what to wear. The key to lowering the stress often brought on by busy holiday schedules is to plan well in advance. Planning doesnt necessarily mean that you have to try the outfit on weeks in advance, but it does mean you should start piecing together outfits and make lists in your head so you have a point of reference when you hit the stores.

Dress for the Occasion: Are you going to a party inside or outside? Is it a short get together or an all day affair? By asking yourself these questions you should be able to rule out what not to wear to your holiday get together. If youre going to be standing around for several hours, you may want to live the super high ultra skinny heels at home and look for something a little more practical and comfortable. If youre going to be at a party held out doors or in less than cozy conditions, make sure you dress warm and leave your strapless cocktail dress at home on the hanger.

Bring a Gift: If youre going to a gathering at someones house and you are basically enjoying a night of entertainment, food, and beverages all on the hosts bank account, its a good idea to bring a small token of thanks. It doesnt need to be elaborate or expensive. A small bottle of wine or a Christmas decoration is just fine.

Mingle: Holiday parties are a great time to chat with people you don’t normally get a chance to see. When you get to the party, say hello to the host/s, chat with them a bit, and then move on. Not only do you need to make your way around the room, but the individual/s responsible for the party have a million things to do, including speaking to guests. Save the deep discussions for later on in the party when the party has calmed down a bit and your host has time to have a conversation.