Daily Times

In a part of the world where every hotel chain wants to be the biggest, blingiest or most opulent, it’s a surprise to find that the Indian Ocean’s largest and most luxurious villa is almost completely hidden.

The Grand Beachfront Villa at the JW Marriott Mauritius Resort is discretely positioned on a secluded section of white sandy beach against the backdrop of the majestic, unspoilt Le Morne Brabant mountain.

It’s spread over an impressive 17,870 square feet and comes complete with its own butler and around-the-clock chef.

And it’s so discreet that most guests enjoying the five-star luxury in the other 171 suites wouldn’t even be aware it’s there.

The villa has its own entrance, leading to an indoor living area and dining room, TV and games room, office, bar and a host of al fresco dining options, including an outdoor lounge, perfect for a drink or two as you marvel at those magnificent Mauritian sunsets.

There’s also a private fitness centre, steam room, hot tub, infinity pool and three plunge pools, plus a sun-soaked deck with loungers.

We were given a tour of the villa and could only conclude that it’s fit for a king. But then every guest at this little corner of paradise – sitting on the south-western side of Mauritius – is treated like royalty.

As we discovered.

The personal service was astounding, yet not overbearing. Same for the wonderful food, pristine modern facilities and beautiful grounds and scenery.

With five exquisite gourmet restaurants, the serene Pure Spa, the Kite Flyer’s kid’s club, and a fully equipped water sports centre, there is something for all ages to enjoy.

We didn’t want anything too energetic after a hectic year back home. So an amazing morning trip to swim with dolphins – and opening a bottle of bubbly at sunset with an actual sabre – was as exciting as we got.

The Pure Spa was all we could ask for, offering amazing signature treatments and luxurious spa packages in a tranquil setting. It includes two couples’ rooms, a ladies’ hair and nail salon, dedicated men’s grooming salon, a sauna, steam room, hot tub and a relaxation terrace for unwinding in paradise.

The resort is home to five distinctive fine-dining restaurants. Guests can journey through the exotic tastes of Southeast Asia, experience the fresh flavours of a beach grill, enjoy perfectly spiced Indian food and savour the finest in French-Mauritian cuisine.

But the highlight for us was the teppanyaki night, as the chef dazzled us – and everyone else in the restaurant – theatrically preparing his Japanese meat and seafood dishes.

All suites offer premium amenities and colonial-inspired décor with a choice of suite categories to suit all tastes. The resort is proud of the island’s colonial history and fittingly we enjoyed wonderful local specialities just hours after arriving on Mauritius Independence Day.

And nearly all the staff we spoke to were from Mauritius, generous with their time and so keen to boast about what the island had to offer first-time tourists like us.

We enjoyed so many amazing one-off experiences during this relaxing break in a sun-soaked heaven including a private breakfast on the jetty, wine-tasting with entertaining, passionate sommeliers and those cocktails on the beach during a stunning sunset.