It’s always sunny in Mauritius

Howdy from Mauritius! It’s been another great trip (so far), having flown Emirates First Class from Toronto to Dubai, spending some time there, and then flying to Mauritius. In Dubai, I did high tea at the Burj Khalifa, which was neat. I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Financial Centre, which while well-located and comfortable, was worn-out and a little dirty.

It’s incredibly lush here, but the heat (40C!) is killer… can’t complain too much though, as I got word from my family that there’s been two snow days in Ottawa with frigid temperatures and record snowfall. Hearing this, I snorted while drinking some Dom Perignon on the beach (the purser gave me a bottle as take-away).

Mauritius is a cool place. It’s a mix of African, Indian, French, and English culture, while having a Caribbean feel to it. The ecological sights are fantastic, including the Seven Coloured Earths, sand dunes that change colour throughout the day. Oh, and the highlight of the trip: two really old turtles doing it 🙂

Currently staying at the Westin on points, and while the resort is only OK (note that I’m not a “resort guy”, spending most of my days trekking), the SPG Gold status recognition is out of this world. I was upgraded from the most basic room to the Junior Suite (with two terraces!), and free club access with full breakfast and unlimited complimentary cocktails. The food sucks though, and the staff are painfully slow. I’ll be moving to the Intercontinental (on a BPG) for their Presidential Suite soon, then flying home on SAA Business Class.

Mauritius is great, though if you’re looking for a beach vacation, I’d suggest just going to the Caribbean. Mauritius is very far, and the beaches aren’t well-suited to swimming. However, if you’re in the area, certainly pay it a visit, especially considering Emirates First availability is excellent.