Day 1, 30th June

The flight to Reunion Island was around 12 hours on Air Austral, which was a pleasant airline however Carl and I were very glad the we packed snacks- we were fed close to the beginning and end of the flight, and not between. The first meal was very substantial and although we didn't know it, there were self-serve sandwiches available to the rear of the cabin. By the time we found out, only the soggy unwanted sandwiches were left. Never mind! The English movie selection was limited but we managed to entertain ourselves. We arrived in Mauritius somewhat late, after a 1/2 hour flight from Reunion and a hour or so drive from the airport. Nick Savage from Above and Beyond Travel had also organised the transfer with Soleil and they were patiently waiting with a chilled bottle of water each for us, I could have hugged them! Finally arriving at the hotel a little after 10:30pm, we agreed it was worth the wait. The Lux Grande Gaube is true paradise! They welcomed us with a refreshing drink and an upgrade to a Deluxe room- another thank you to Nick! Chilled champagne and other welcome goodies were waiting for us in our room. The room itself was on the quiet side of the resort, complete with a large bath, double sink and a balcony overlooking a gorgeous lagoon. We showered, put on the fluffy robes, cracked the champagne and ordered room service. What a fantastic start to our trip!

Day 2, 1st July

Breakfast at the Lux is delicious and plentiful- the buffet offers fresh fruit, yoghurt, juice, pastries, a selection of breads, meats and cheeses, and you can order omelets, pancakes, waffles, tea and coffee (I recommend all of the above!) On our stroll back to our room, we found a bottle with a message in it propped inconspicuously up against one of the beach chairs. Little did we know we had just won ourselves a free couple massage!

The beach itself is a stunning turquoise, with soft sand dotted with beach chairs. At this time of year, there were plenty to choose from and although others reserved their chairs early in the morning by placing their towels upon it, it was not necessary. The staff are beyond friendly, always greeting you with a smile and "bonjour!" and most stopping to chat. Many speak at least basic English. We were quick to take out some stand up paddle boards (free, along with most water sports at the Lux) which were easy to use, much easier than in Waikiki, provided you did not get stuck in the wind. We lazed about and tried to get a coconut (many other people on the beach were sipping the coconut milk from a straw directly out of the coconut), but we were too late, they were all gone. We ate lunch at Abalone restaurant, which was delicious, then tried our hand at some tennis (which is also free, but you have to buy the balls). Then it was back to the beach for some "pedalo" (paddle boat) time and a quick swim.

Dinner at The Kitchen was a delicious asian-inspired buffet. We finished the night with some cocktails at the bar. The staff were so generous with the local rum that my ever-classy self was completely smashed after two! Carl and I agreed that the All Inclusive package is an excellent way to holiday, Mauritian style.

Day 3, 2nd July

Preparing for the delicious food we were to eat, we went to the Lux gym, which is very well equipped with treadmills, cross-trainers, bikes, resistance machines, even yoga mats and swiss balls. After breakfast we enjoyed our massage - half an hour of absolute bliss! They do try to sell you products and fitness sessions afterwards, but it's a small price to pay.

We chilled on the beach and snagged the last coconut! Yay! To me it just tasted like warm wierd water, but we took our obligatory tourist photos sipping from our prize. Again we lunched at Abalone, enjoying the strumming sounds of a local guitarist.

After lunch we jumped on a double kayak and explored the bay.
Dinner that night was at The Beach, the Mediterranean restaurant, which we pre-booked. Our table was right next to the water, and the breeze was a little chilly so Carl went the short distance back to our room to get my shawl. The waiter was reluctant to speak English so I did my best in French and we got by with lots of hand gestures and pointing. The food (a pasta and pizza) was delicious, as was the local wine. With the exception of the resort cats meowing for food (the resort is crawling with kittens, but they generally leave you alone), it was an excellent end to the day.

Day 4, 3rd July

Our day trip was booked for today so we had to get up very early. We were driven by Mohammad from Soleil to the south-east of the island near Blue Bay to get our boat. A lovely South-African couple from Capetown joined us for the day, they were in Mauritius celebrating a combination of a (very) belated honeymoon, 50th birthday and 30 year wedding anniversary.

We started on a glass-bottom boat in Blue Bay Marine Park, where the water in the lagoon varies from 1-18m deep. We were transferred to a speed boat with pumping music and an assortment of drinks. Party boat! Although it wasn't the warmest day and the wind was high, we all jumped off the boat to do some snorkeling. I was glad I brought my own snorkel and flippers, as the others were struggling with water getting in their masks and flippers were not provided. Coming back on board, Carl and I braved the "Jungle Juice", a rocket fuel mixture of beer, local rum and goodness knows what else, and regretted it! We stuck to tastier drinks for the rest of the day. The boat took us to all kinds of attractions, such as a shipwreck, lighthouse and waterfall. At one stage he raced us through choppy water and the boat was a roller coaster- who needs an amusement park? The boat pulled up on a tiny stretch of sand on a quiet side of Ile aux Cerf (Paradise Beach) for the most amazing lunch we have ever had. Two local fisherman had set up a little table in the sand with four chairs, and served us their catch of the day, Captain fish, barbequed, along with some chicken, lobster, salad and barbequed banana for dessert! We could not have asked for a better location, view or meal.

At this stage we jumped back into the boat and went to the commercial side of Ile aux Cerf. At first it just looks like a selection of restaurants and markets, which were of no interest to us as we had no money (who needs money when you are going All Inclusive?!). The beach is exquisite but quite busy and at the time, windy. We grabbed our shoes and went exploring through the thick trees, and we're rewarded for our efforts when the trees opened into a secluded beach with crystal clear water. We ran and dived in, and frolicked for a short time before we freaked each other out about the possibility of getting in the way of a stonefish. At this stage, we quickly (and carefully) made our way back to shore and through the trees to the boat. This was the last stop and at the nearest port, we said reluctant goodbyes to our South-African friends and the captain of the party boat. On the way back to hotel we stopped to use a cash machine for the first time, and tipped Mohammad our driver on the arrival at the hotel. You would have thought we gave him $100 by how appreciative he was.

Later that night we met Dane Smith, the co-ordinator of Lux, for a drink at the bar. We chatted about various things, from travel to TV shows, and gushed about his hotel.

Dinner was at Abalone (again, pre-booked), although we sat in The Kitchen (a restaurant, not a real kitchen), as rain was sprinkling outside and Abalone is an outdoor restaurant. The staff are so attentive that Carl and I were positive they thought we were celebrity superstars. Dinner, like all food at the Lux was delicious, and although tipping is not necessary at the Lux, the staff were ecstatic with their 300 rupee tip.

Day 5: 4th July (written by Carl)

On awakening, we were both slightly regretting our pact from the night before of starting the new day with a gym session. Nevertheless, we downed a few glasses of water and hit the gym in order to minimise some of the guilt that was lingering after the debortious amount we ate and drank on day 4. After the gym and the usual buffet breakfast we hired out the paddle boards to make the most of the flat and seemingly windless conditions, well so we thought. We paddled beyond the boundaries of the resort until we were met by the wind that would become a strong headwind for us to paddle back into. Finally, we made it back to the beach and decided to reward our exhausted bodies with a relax in our sun beds followed by a siesta in one of the hammocks within the resort.

After our rest we went over to collect a picnic lunch that we had arranged with the hotel they day before. Carrying the overwhelmingly heavy basket was a two person job but a small price to pay considering what was waiting for us inside. After trekking the whole way out of the resort to the nearest fishing village and by the looming possibility of being hassled by hungry stray dogs, we decided that resort grounds were more appropriate for our lunch. There was so much food that we nearly had no more space on the picnic rug for ourselves after we unpacked the basket. We strategically placed the wine, beer, salads, sushi, pasta, creole style chicken and cakes around us as we immersed ourselves in the the banquet for the next hour or so. After a lazy stroll back to the hotel and a bit more down time, we decided it was time for some a little more activity. We played bat and ball on the beach and then moved over the other side of the resort where we could enjoy a the sunset and a swim at the secluded Banyan pool. The pool bar was a hard one to come by and the service came with an awkward wait, like we weren't meant to be there. Nevertheless it was the perfect combination made complete by a cold drink in hand and not another person/couple in site.

That night there was a special beach party that included an amazing buffet dinner as well as cocktails and live music. The candlelit tables were arranged on the beach and as usual we made the most of the the lovely food and dessert.