These two fabulous Indian Ocean destinations are at the top of many people’s travel wish list - with the lure of turquoise seas, white sand and swaying coconut palms. And I often field enquiries from clients who are considering both and need a bit of guidance as to which would be best for their perfect Bucket List holiday.
If you’re dreaming of staying in an Over Water Villa and sipping a cocktail as you watch the sun go down on an uninterrupted view of the ocean, then it has to be the Maldives. There’s only one resort in Mauritius that offers Over Water Villas – and that’s the 5* Constance Prince Maurice which is pretty pricey - whereas practically every resort in the Maldives has this option. And if you’d like to stay in a Beach Villa within touching distance of the sea, then the Maldives is also the better choice, because resorts in Mauritius tend to be set back further from the beach.
For a holiday where you can get out and about and explore, then Mauritius would suit you better. There are plenty of places to visit around the island – and there’s nowhere further than 1½ hours away by car. Roads are good, it’s easy to drive around yourself if you want to hire a car or there are numerous excursions that can be arranged to see different parts of the island – including the spectacular Black Gorges National Park. If that’s not your bag, and you prefer to spend your holiday sunbathing and swimming, snorkelling or diving – then the Maldives will provide all that and more.
What you need to remember (and many first-time visitors don't realize) is that when you’re in the Maldives – the resort IS the island. So, there’s no wandering into the village for a drink in a local bar or visiting a market. That’s why most people choose to stay All Inclusive in the Maldives, as you’ll only be eating and drinking at the resort. That’s not to say that you can’t have the All Inclusive, hedonistic beach holiday of your dreams in Mauritius – there are some fabulous beachfront resorts with wonderful dining and fantastic service.
If you’re trying to keep costs down, then Mauritius is definitely better value than the Maldives. You can broadly expect to spend 20% less on a holiday here. In terms of travelling time and logistics, these are more or less the same for both destinations. You can fly direct to Mauritius from Gatwick with Air Mauritius or BA or indirect from a range of regional airports with Qatar, Etihad or Emirates - and the same is true for the Maldives. Virgin and BA offer direct flights or you can fly indirect via the Middle East. Once you arrive in the Maldives, you’ll transfer to your resort by speedboat or seaplane (or sometimes a domestic flight followed by a speedboat) whereas in Mauritius you’ll be transferring by road.
I spoke to one of my clients who visited the Maldives last January and Mauritius in May for her assessment. "Mauritius is the Maldives with more choices" she said. "I loved the Maldives, but in Mauritius you can do the whole beach relaxation and spa treatments you like and there's much more to do outside the resort. I felt I'd done everything that I could do on my holiday in the Maldives. But I left Mauritius feeling that there was plenty more to do and lots more places to see. Next time I'd definitely hire a car and explore the island in more depth."
I hope that’s been helpful. Please do get in touch to discuss planning your dream holiday to the Indian Ocean – we can even throw the Seychelles and Zanzibar into the mix for consideration!
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