Mauritius, Madagascar & Seychelles

[Scarlett]

@kpc unless you’re set on visiting SEZ and Mahe island in general, consider the short hop flight, or the ferry, over to Praslin or La Digue islands to experience that part of the Seychelles.
We stayed 4 nights on Praslin and then 3 on the main island: caught the Air Seychelles Twotter over to Praslin, after arrival at SEZ, because we were already at the airport. On return trip we caught the ferry.
Praslin is spectacular.

 

[kpc]

@kpc unless you’re set on visiting SEZ and Mahe island in general, consider the short hop flight, or the ferry, over to Praslin or La Digue islands to experience that part of the Seychelles.
We stayed 4 nights on Praslin and then 3 on the main island: caught the Air Seychelles Twotter over to Praslin, after arrival at SEZ, because we were already at the airport. On return trip we caught the ferry.
Praslin is spectacular.

I'm all ears...i wish I could have allocated more days for Seychelles...i need to research more about this place (just needed to lock the international flights in first) and will take yours and others suggestions gratefully!

 

[luxury-lizard]

Gee that's some itinerary @kpc - we're off to South Africa (Kruger) for a safari (2 lodges 4 nights each) then onto Mauritius for 2 weeks in Sept/early Oct. Would have liked to add the Seychelles but it would have made the whole trip a bit too long - we max out at about 4-6 weeks.

Flights as follows:- SYD-SIN-JNB (SQ J using KF points), JNB-MRU (paid J on MK - no award seats for our travel date), MRU-PER (MK J award - 60K Aeroplan points pp), PER-SYD 2 days later (QF J - 20K AA points pp, one of AA's sweet spots).

 

[kpc]

Gee that's some itinerary @kpc - we're off to South Africa (Kruger) for a safari (2 lodges 4 nights each) then onto Mauritius for 2 weeks in Sept/early Oct. Would have liked to add the Seychelles but it would have made the whole trip a bit too long - we max out at about 4-6 weeks.

Flights as follows:- SYD-SIN-JNB (SQ J using KF points), JNB-MRU (paid J on MK - no award seats for our travel date), MRU-PER (MK J award - 60K Aeroplan points pp), PER-SYD 2 days later (QF J - 20K AA points pp, one of AA's sweet spots).

Sounds like a great trip too...given you have 2 weeks in Mauritius, consider a few days in Reunion Island....i didn't even think about it until @RooFlyer pointed it out. It is only a 50 min flight from Mru...it is expensive for the short flight but you can use Aeroplan miles

The very quick research I did so far made me add Reunion to my itinerary

 

[kpc]

A Complete, Updated List of Fifth-Freedom Routes

EK's new SIN-PNH route is interesting: Didn’t they propose this pre Covid but it never took off?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Thank you so much for this critical bit of info! Before EK started this 4 x per week flight, the only way to get from Sez to Tnr was an indirect flight via mainland Africa. With EK, the direct flight is only 2 hrs 45 mins but cost a hefty USD$351 per person in Y...but it can be booked with Aeroplan miles!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Here's a post that's maybe controversial and perhaps moderator worthy.

Why would anyone want to go to less pristine beaches overseas than we have here in Australia? OK, I get the Bali thing, but???

I can understand the cultural, historical, family, and other interesting reasons why people might want to travel overseas, but beaches that aren't as nice as ours?

Colour me stupid...

Because they’re resort hotels where you can completely chill, or not! In the case of mausritius, most of the beachfront hotels also offer half board, and nightly entertainment, And you can actually swim in the ocean!

A beach might be a beach. But overseas you can’t just pop to Woolies, or Chemist warehouse, or do whatever other chores you’ve been putting off. You have to disengage. That’s the beauty!

 

[Scarlett]

I'm all ears...i wish I could have allocated more days for Seychelles...i need to research more about this place (just needed to lock the international flights in first) and will take yours and others suggestions gratefully!

Praslin was the more tourist and resort oriented area in the Seychelles islands. We stayed in a B&B villa on Grand Anse beach just along from the airstrip. As Mstr Scarlett was still small the calm water was perfect along here. We had a hire car to drive around the island and visit other places.
If you’re after luxury: defiantly consider the Constance Lemuria resort. I went up there to play golf and then we had dinner around the resort pool area. 5* resort and did look lovely, but it could be any such resort anywhere in the world so we tend not to stay at places like that. Some stunning walks and viewpoints down that end of the island.

I’m sure Mahe island has some nice spots too, but it was more industrialised. Lots more eating options though.

The 20 minute flights over to Praslin were probably overly expensive but they were convenient. I think FR24 still lists SEZ-PRI as my shortest flight ever. The ferry for the return journey was maybe a 1.5 hour trip and was calm and easy. Might have been the Cat Cocos ferry.

Can’t remember who we organised a hire car through but were met by staff at PRI airport on arrival and signed for the car there, then dropped it off at the ferry terminal where staff were waiting for us in the carpark.

 

[AIRwin]

Thank you so much for this critical bit of info! Before EK started this 4 x per week flight, the only way to get from Sez to Tnr was an indirect flight via mainland Africa. With EK, the direct flight is only 2 hrs 45 mins but cost a hefty USD$351 per person in Y...but it can be booked with Aeroplan miles!!

You must be the first on AFF to book this?

 

[Flashback]

Thank you so much for this critical bit of info! Before EK started this 4 x per week flight, the only way to get from Sez to Tnr was an indirect flight via mainland Africa. With EK, the direct flight is only 2 hrs 45 mins but cost a hefty USD$351 per person in Y...but it can be booked with Aeroplan miles!!

In a few months time, EK is extending the SEZ flight to tag on to/from TNR as well.

RUN I have found to be slightly more expensive to visit than MRU, so use hotel points where you can or cash up (inlcuding for MRU too).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hotels ain’t cheap in mauritius! A resort will set you back around $400-500 a night. There are some small boutique hotels that you can get for a bit less. But you really need to ‘know’ mauritius. Bel Ombre for example has a couple of cheap resorts, but the location isn’t good, hence the prices.

The good thing is that car hire is cheap, around $50 a day. So you can stay at a smaller boutique hotel and drive around.

 

[Flashback]

Hotels ain’t cheap in mauritius! A resort will set you back around $400-500 a night. There are some small boutique hotels that you can get for a bit less. But you really need to ‘know’ mauritius. Bel Ombre for example has a couple of cheap resorts, but the location isn’t good, hence the prices.

The good thing is that car hire is cheap, around $50 a day. So you can stay at a smaller boutique hotel and drive around.

Balaclava is a decent enough spot, can often get the IC for sub $250 USD ($370 AUD). Car hire is worth doing, for sure.

The south coast is a little more wild, I've stayed in Bel Ombre too (Kaz'alala Hosted B&B). Cheaper, for sure, but there's also not too much around the area in terms of restaurants etc.

 

[Flashback]

From a cost perspective, I've checked my booking and I paid $220 AUD / night down in Bel Ombre.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From a cost perspective, I've checked my booking and I paid $220 AUD / night down in Bel Ombre.

For sure, some relatively cheaper properties. For me a lot of Mauritius is about the beach, and a therefore a good beach for swimming. Some resorts have previously cleared their beaches so you can swim without the need for sea shoes - probably frowned upon now! I like Blue Bay and Pereybere for those reasons. Flic en Flac is ok too.

Many hotels carefully shoot their promo shots to make it look like they have an amazing beach… but if clear blue waters are important, good to do research to match the promo shots with reality

 

[kpc]

For sure, some relatively cheaper properties. For me a lot of Mauritius is about the beach, and a therefore a good beach for swimming. Some resorts have previously cleared their beaches so you can swim without the need for sea shoes - probably frowned upon now! I like Blue Bay and Pereybere for those reasons. Flic en Flac is ok too.

Many hotels carefully shoot their promo shots to make it look like they have an amazing beach… but if clear blue waters are important, good to do research to match the promo shots with reality

Don't forget we would have been in Seychelles prior ...can't imagine the beaches in Mauritius will be much better...anyway it is a part of the world I thought I would never visit and now an opportunity has arisen, and I have grabbed it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Don't forget we would have been in Seychelles prior ...can't imagine the beaches in Mauritius will be much better...anyway it is a part of the world I thought I would never visit and now an opportunity has arisen, and I have grabbed it.

Agree!

I was partly leaving some information for others who might come to this thread over the coming years and wanting to know about where to stay etc (and some of the ‘traps’)

 

[OZDUCK]

My brother is going to spend a few weeks in Reunion next year. His son is married to a Réunionese and is taking 12 months unpaid leave to have a long stay there. Their 4 year old son will have his first year of school in Reunion. At that age the school classes will be 100% French but apparently he is already pretty much bi-lingual. My nephew is a W.A Police Officer and has just finished a 4 year posting in Port Hedland so this will be a huge change for them.

 

[Flashback]

For sure, some relatively cheaper properties. For me a lot of Mauritius is about the beach, and a therefore a good beach for swimming. Some resorts have previously cleared their beaches so you can swim without the need for sea shoes - probably frowned upon now! I like Blue Bay and Pereybere for those reasons. Flic en Flac is ok too.

Many hotels carefully shoot their promo shots to make it look like they have an amazing beach… but if clear blue waters are important, good to do research to match the promo shots with reality

Yes, Blue Bay is a good option and if you stay somewhere like Le Peninsula Bay Beach Resort & Spa then you get some great airplane spotting, as well as having some nice beaches within walking distance (head further east) e.g., Access to the public beach · HP9G+6G9, Coastal Rd, Pointe d'Esny, Mauritius.

 

[kpc]

....don't forget tiny Reunion, a Department of France, to the immediate SW of Mauritius...

I have allocated 12 days for both Mauritius and Reunion...+1 and 1 were watching YouTube videos last night on both places and both were beautiful places...Reunion is stunning (Thanks for bringing it to my attention @RooFlyer) ...no wonder the French are hanging on to this island...we will probably spend 6 days on each..

@kpc unless you’re set on visiting SEZ and Mahe island in general, consider the short hop flight, or the ferry, over to Praslin or La Digue islands to experience that part of the Seychelles.
We stayed 4 nights on Praslin and then 3 on the main island: caught the Air Seychelles Twotter over to Praslin, after arrival at SEZ, because we were already at the airport. On return trip we caught the ferry.
Praslin is spectacular.

Watched a video on Seychelles last night...you are right about Praslin...stunning!

A bit excited about this trip even though nearly a year away!

Now to look at Madagascar.

 

[RooFlyer]

Now to look at Madagascar.

 

[Flashback]

View attachment 398319

I'm just on the plane on my way down there right now ....... anything in particular you want me to check out?