This was a gifted unpaid press trip with SALT resorts, but of course all thoughts are my own.
My first time in Mauritius…
A trip away in January feels a little too indulgent after time off over Christmas, but let me start by saying a few days in the heat absolutely saved me this winter! That dose of sun, sea and sand transformed me, and I’d do just about anything to be back on those white sandy beaches…
Earlier this month I was invited to Mauritius for the very first time by SALT resorts, a unique hotel concept that promises more than just a stay at a resort. I had a snoop at their social media before I accepted and I was instantly smitten with the coral-washed walls and vibrant features, not to mention the proximity to the incredible turquoise sea! Ahh, it was unreal.
Fans of the wonderful Camille Walala will definitely recognise her signature style, she helped to design the space and there’s evidence of her beautiful designs throughout the entire hotel! From the bold feature walls to the clashing colours, it was a photo backdrop dream you guys.
I don’t usually stay at resorts because I think the sense of community and culture can get lost – sometimes it feels like you could be anywhere. With Salt, they’ve worked with the locals to create something with heart; they’ve reached out to the local people to help contribute everything from the toiletries in the room to the food served at the restaurant.
They believe in sustainability too, supporting local communities while also ensuring they’re mindful of the environment. There’s no plastic at Salt at all, even the room keys are done through an App on your phone!
What We Did…
We were kept busy everyday in Mauritius – a typical beach holiday for me involves equal parts relaxing and activities, so there was time for lazy fun in the sun as well as exploring.
There’s always something happening at the hotel so we were able to pick and choose which activities we wanted to take part in, so the trip was tailored to each of us.
One day we cycled around Belle Mare with the hotel’s personal trainer, Jonathan, sampling coconut water and stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. The next we visited some of the Salt Shakers, the local people who contribute to the hotel! We went to visit Reotee who weaves baskets for the hotel (there’s one in each room to use as a beach bag!), she was the most adorable little lady and as I’m a basket bag obsessive, I loved the experience of seeing how they’re made.
Another evening we were hosted for dinner and dancing at one of the local’s homes, which was so much fun as a group! We were served homemade flavoured rum (so, so good!), fed a home cooked dinner and then got involved in some Sega dancing and live music well in to the evening. I’m still laughing thinking about the experience, we really got involved…
We were also able to do a lot of water activities like snorkelling and, my personal favourite, paddleboarding in the shallow waters around the hotel.
The wonderful staff organised everything so it was easy peasy, and I never minded leaving my spot on the beach to have some fun!
I love that Salt encourages exploring the island, you can hire bikes or a car to see more and the staff are all locals so you can expect to really get a feel for the Mauritian way of life from their recommendations.
On the final day we took a Mauritian cooking class at the hotel – I try to do a cooking class every time I go somewhere new because I find them so much fun, plus you get to eat the goods at the end so win, win.
The kitchen at Salt is very impressive (we got a little tour) and we cooked up a delicious vegetable curry and a side of roti using local ingredients. I can honestly say that curry was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, it was so tasty!
We also found time to do cocktail class on the rooftop bar overlooking the Indian Ocean. I think I’m already a bit of a mixologist but I actually ended up making a cucumber gin infusion that I had never tried before, so there you have it.
If you don’t mind an early start, definitely find a day to get up early for the beach sunrise walk and meditation – this was such an amazing experience and definitely a highlight of the whole trip for me. I felt so balanced and carefree afterwards, it was wonderful – I also got some BEAUT pics on the beach in the golden light, and some of the local dogs came along with us. A perfect start to the day!
What We Ate…
Ahh the food! Unsurprisingly, the Mauritian food was delicious and so varied, having taken inspiration from so many other cultures. The fresh fruit and veg served at Salt are grown hydroponically, which means they are grown without soil. It’s a more sustainable way of farming, which is what Salt is all about!
I don’t eat a lot of animal products so I was keen to see what I could eat on the menu – the answer was A LOT! I’m always so pleased when a restaurant offers a range of veggie and vegan meals, especially in foreign countries – it can be tricky when travelling but I was pleasantly surprised.
There was a good mix of dishes on the menu, and believe me when I say we sampled the lot! The breakfast acai bowls, the daily bread and pastries each morning, and the amazing vegan noodle salad were highlights for me. So much good food!
The perfect vaycay!
This was one of those trips that I went on without Jordan and immediately knew I wanted to come back with him in tow. It’s the kind of place you really need to see for yourself to understand how magical it is. From the view of the beach from the rooms, to the incredibly helpful staff who feel like family, and the way that local life finds its way in to every moment of the trip!
I wish we had discovered somewhere like Salt for our honeymoon, I loved how homegrown it felt – we were totally immersed in the culture. I loved that you could completely customise the trip to make it your own, and while you could spend the entire trip at the hotel without running out of things to do, there was also the option to explore quite easily too.
If you’re looking for a dream vacation any time soon, you’ll find that and so much more at Salt!
Have you been lucky enough to visit beautiful Mauritius?
