Mauritius Paradise Found: Villa Arexa Vanille Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving HEADFIRST into the vibrant, sun-drenched world of Mauritius Paradise Found: Villa Arexa Vanille Awaits! Honestly, just the NAME gets me dreaming of sipping rum, toes in the sand, and… well, a whole lot of nothing. So, let's see if this place lives up to the hype, shall we?
First Impressions & Accessibility - The Big Picture (and My Big Worry)
Look, I'm not going to lie, before I go anywhere, especially a far-flung paradise like Mauritius, my anxiety levels are THROUGH THE ROOF. I'm a walking disaster zone, and the idea of navigating a new country… well, it's usually a recipe for some serious internal screaming. So, accessibility? HUGE DEAL.
Accessibility: My initial worry? Okay, it’s there. The listing promises ‘Facilities for disabled guests’, which is… vague. I need specifics! Are there ramps? Elevators? Accessible bathrooms? (I’ll get into those in the individual room reviews later). It’s a start, but I need MORE info, and I suggest reaching out IN ADVANCE to confirm all of this. This is where they can score a HUGE win--make your website and email answers extremely clear. Also- if you have no specific offerings, tell the guest, don't make them guess
Check-in/out [Express/Private]: Express sounds great in theory… but I am a massive over-thinker. I need the private option so I can ask a million questions without feeling like I'm holding up the line.
Elevator: YES! Crucial if you’re not on the ground floor and have mobility concerns. Major thumbs up if it's smooth and reliable.
Hitting the Ground Running (or Trying To) – The Nitty Gritty of Getting Around
- Airport Transfer: Absolutely a must for me. After a long flight, the last thing I want is to haggle with a taxi driver. Let them arrange it, and then you can sit back and try to… you know… relax.
- Car Park [Free of Charge/On-site]: This is a win for anyone renting a car. I love having the option, even if I don't necessarily use it every day. Convenience is beautiful, especially when exhausted.
- Taxi Service: Good to have if you don't drive. It is essential from my perspective if you're drinking those rum cocktails.
- Bicycle Parking: Not a huge deal for me, but a nice touch for those who love exploring on two wheels.
The Room: My Sanctuary (Or My Potential Prison?)
Here’s where the details REALLY matter. Let’s break down the room features and see if they can deliver:
Available in All Rooms:
- Additional Toilet: Always a bonus, especially when traveling with a friend or family.
- Air Conditioning: Essential in Mauritius. I melt.
- Alarm Clock: Standard, but useful.
- Bathrobes, Bathtub, Bathroom Phone: These are the little touches that elevate a place from “hotel” to “oasis.” Bathrobes = comfort. Bathtub = chill time. Bathroom phone = in-room emergencies… or just a chat while you soak?
- Blackout Curtains: Needed to sleep, also to not be burned by the sun.
- Closet; Coffee/tea maker;Free bottled water: The essentials – storage space is a must! Coffee/tea = morning fuel. Free water = hydration hero.
- Complimentary tea: Nice, even if I'm a coffee person
- Daily housekeeping: Important, if I am going to ever leave the room.
- Desk: I like to think I might work, but the desk is probably to gather my laundry and sunglasses.
- Extra long bed: I am a tall person, I hope it's true.
- Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available - Yes, yes, and good if traveling with family.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace: Okay, for those moments when I actually do work. And ironing facilities for when you need to appear somewhat "professional."
- Linens, Mini bar, Mirror: More essentials.
- Non-smoking: Vital.
- On-demand movies: Yes! Because sometimes you just want to veg out on the couch after a day of sun.
- Private bathroom: Yes, please!
- Reading light: A nice touch for late-night reading.
- Refrigerator: Useful for drinks, snacks, and leftovers.
- Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area - Good to know, the last one will be interesting, if I take the scale with me.
- Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed - Good setup
- Sofa: I love to relax!
- Soundproofing: Great, because I’m a light sleeper.
- Telephone: Nice to be able to receive the important calls.
- Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service: All of the good things, more so if they are high-quality.
- Wi-Fi [free] - Excellent!
- Window that opens: Can't do the closed-off feeling, natural light and air are essential.
Room Decorations: This is where a place can really shine or fall flat. I'm hoping for stylish, tasteful, and not… aggressively themed. (No seashells everywhere, please, unless they’re subtle and tasteful.)
Couple's room: Sigh. Perfect for a romantic getaway… or a solo adventure where you pretend you are in a couple.
Soundproof rooms: Bless you, hotel! This is essential for sanity, especially if you're near a busy area.
Non-smoking rooms: YES! No one wants to breathe second-hand smoke.
Extra Long Bed: Oh, please let this be true! My gangly limbs need all the space they can get.
Cleanliness and Safety: My Inner Germaphobe is Happy
Okay, let's be real, especially after gestures vaguely at the world, cleanliness is PARAMOUNT. Here's what I'm looking for:
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Crucial.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: YES.
- Hand sanitizer: Throughout the property, please!
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Necessary for hygiene.
- Hygiene certification: A sign of good faith.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Nice for buffet-style meals.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Important in public areas.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Reassuring.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Respect for privacy.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Excellent.
- Safe dining setup: Essential for peace of mind.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Of course!
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Excellent.
- Sterilizing equipment: Good backup.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: My Biggest Weakness
This is where I reeeeally get excited. Food is life, and I LOVE to eat (and drink… a lot).
- A la carte in restaurant; Alternative meal arrangement: Nice flexible!
- Asian breakfast/cuisine; Bar; Bottle of water; Breakfast [buffet]/service; Coffee/tea in restaurant/coffee shop; Desserts in restaurant; Happy hour; International cuisine in restaurant; Poolside bar; Restaurants; Room service [24-hour]; Salad/Soup in restaurant; Snack bar; Vegetarian restaurant; Western breakfast/cuisine: This place better be a foodie paradise! The sheer volume of options has me stoked. I mean, happy hour?! Sold. Room service 24 hours? Consider me signed up.
- Breakfast [buffet]: YES! I am a buffet fiend! Bring on the waffles, the fruit, the pastries… oh, the pastries!
- Poolside bar: I love to drink cocktails, lying by the pool, perfect match.
Things to Do (Besides Eating and Drinking, Though That’s My Priority)
Now, this is where the "Paradise Found" part really needs to kick in.
- Body scrub/wrap; Fitness center/gym; Foot bath; Massage; Pool with view; Sauna; Spa/sauna; Steamroom; Swimming pool/outdoor: Okay, I’m sold. This is a pampering palace! Especially the "pool with view" – just imagine the Instagram possibilities! The fact that they have this much focused on relaxation is a major win.
- For the kids: Babysitting service, family-friendly, kids facilities, and meals. Great for families.
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's Mauritius itinerary. This is my Mauritius itinerary, the one that promises to be a beautiful disaster filled with sun, sand, and probably me forgetting my sunscreen more times than I'd care to admit. Welcome to Villa Arexa Vanille, Mauritius, and let's just pray I don't end up needing a whole new wardrobe after this.
Day 1: Arrival - Paradise? Maybe. Jet Lag? Absolutely.
Morning (ish) (8:00 AM - ish): Landed at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Oh boy, the humidity hit me like a warm, wet hug. And not the good kind. Got through customs surprisingly fast, considering I had a vague idea of what I was doing. Found my pre-booked car (thank god, I'd be royally screwed without that). The drive to Villa Arexa Vanille was… well, let's just say Mauritian drivers have a style. It's like a real-life Mario Kart, but with less power-ups and more honking.
Afternoon (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM): Arrived at Villa Arexa Vanille. The villa itself? Stunning. Seriously. That damn pool calls my name, immediately. Took a deep breath, unpacked (sort of), and promptly face-planted onto the ridiculously comfortable bed. Jet lag is a beast.
Afternoon (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM): Pool time! And sun! And me, covered in a generous layer of SPF 30 (I remembered!), promptly fell asleep and did a glorious 2 hours of sunbathing. I woke up with the first signs of slight, but absolutely painful, sunburn. Oops.
Evening (7:30 PM): Dinner at the villa. The cook at the villa, an older woman with more than 20 years of working experience in the area, prepared a delicious local curry (she made sure it wouldn't be too spicy for me!). Sat on the veranda, watched the sunset bleed into the ocean, and felt a flicker of "this is… nice."
Day 2: Beach Bliss (and A Near-Death Experience with a Seagull)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Headed to Mont Choisy beach. The sand was like powdered sugar. It's absolutely perfect. I went for a refreshing swim. But then, I got dive-bombed by a seagull! Seriously, the thing practically snatched my hair and I swear, it was all "MINE, MINE, MINE!" I could have fallen. I probably lost my dignity. The water was warm, calm and welcoming. I recovered. (Mostly.)
- Afternoon (1:00 PM): Lunch at a beach shack. Got some grilled fish that was incredible. Also, tried a local beer called Phoenix. Not bad, not bad at all. Watched the ocean, ate a lot, and felt myself getting all the more relaxed.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM): More beach! Built a terrible sandcastle (I'm not good at this). Ended up just enjoying the sun and the sound of the waves. I'm thinking, "Wow, this is the life!"
- Evening (6:00 PM): Back to the villa. Prepped and went for the sunset, again, and spent an hour just staring out at the sea and wondering what the heck my life is.
Day 3: The Botanical Garden and a Culinary Adventure (or, Maybe, Disaster)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Visited the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden. The water lilies are huge and impressive. Took a million photos. Got lost. Found my way back. All in all, I'm happy.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM): Cooking class at the villa. I've cooked previously in the past, so I'm confident. (Famous last words, I know.) We were making… something. It involved a lot of spices, a lot of chopping, and a whole lotta sweat. I burned my hand (again). Taste-tested. The food was… edible. Let's just say the cook at the villa saved the day (again).
- Afternoon (4:00 PM): The spa! Time for a massage. Bliss. Pure, utter bliss. The masseuse worked her magic – I'm pretty sure I floated out of there.
- Evening (7:30 PM): Another home-cooked meal (thank god for the cook!).
Day 4: A Day Trip to Ile aux Cerfs (and the High Stakes of Snorkelling)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Boat trip to Ile aux Cerfs. The water is the most insane shade of turquoise you've ever seen. It's like a postcard. Pictures don't do it justice.
- Morning (10:00 AM): Snorkelling! So far, I have a very small amount of experience, but I'm a strong swimmer… I figured, how hard could it be? Cue my entrance, I jumped off the boat, and immediately swallowed half the ocean. Then, I panicked. Then, I accidentally bumped into a fish. Then, I got the hang of it. The coral reefs were amazing, I saw some colourful fish I can't even name, and I didn't drown. Victory!
- Afternoon (1:00 PM): Barbecue on the beach at Ile aux Cerfs. The food was good, but I was still buzzing from my snorkel adventure. The sun was hot! I felt hot.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM): Lazy time on the beach. The perfect way to end the day. I have to get up too, because I don't want to spend too little time.
- Evening (7:00 PM): Early dinner while enjoying the breeze. I had a great day, but I feel like I'm getting tired out.
Day 5: Exploring the South… and My Sanity
- Morning (9:00 AM): Driving towards the South! Driving through the volcanic landscapes of Mauritius is wild. We stopped at the Chamarel Seven Coloured Earths. They're cool, alright?
- Afternoon (1:00 PM): Lunch at a restaurant, enjoying the beautiful ocean view. I ordered a seafood dish (I'm getting bolder with the food, apparently!). The restaurant was crowded, food was delicious, and the service was a little slow.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM): The Black River Gorges National Park! Hiking through the forest was a beautiful way to get some exercise. The sun was intense. I had to go back to my sunscreen.
- Evening (7:00 PM): Dinner at the villa. Relax, re-energise. Have some fun.
Day 6: Relaxation & a Farewell Feast (and a Little Bit of Panic)
- Morning (9:00 AM): Lazy morning. Sat on the veranda, sipped coffee, and watched the world go by.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM): Last lunch at a great restaurant.
- Afternoon (3:00 PM): Packing! This is where the panic sets in. Did I buy enough souvenirs? Did I get enough photos? Did I remember to tip the cook? Did I use up all my sunscreen?
- Evening (7:30 PM): Farewell dinner at the villa. One last amazing meal. And, for a brief moment, I felt a pang of sadness. I wasn't ready to leave.
Day 7: Departure - Until Next Time, Mauritius!
- Morning(ish) (9:00 AM - ish): Final breakfast. Last-minute packing freak-out. Said goodbye to the amazing staff at the villa, and I will definitely come back to Mauritius.
- Morning (10:00 AM): Headed to the airport. Traffic was a nightmare. Barely made my flight!
- Afternoon (ish): Said goodbye to Mauritius. I'm already dreaming of my return.
- Evening (somewhere-ish): Back home (after a lot of flights). Exhausted, sun-kissed, slightly burnt, and totally in love with Mauritius. Already planning my next adventure.
Final Thoughts:
Mauritius, you were a whirlwind of beauty, adventure, and near-disasters. Thanks for the memories (and the tan lines). I'll be back!
Luxury Redefined: Hefei's Best Western Premier Awaits!
So, is Mauritius REALLY paradise? Like, *actually*?
Is Villa Arexa Vanille as good as it looks in the pictures? I'm always skeptical...
What's the deal with the staff? Are they intrusive?
What are the best things to do in Mauritius, besides lounging by the pool (which let's be honest, is *the* main event)?
What are the challenges? What should I be prepared for? Be brutally honest!
Would you go back to Villa Arexa Vanille? Seriously?
