Family Traveler

96MAURITIUSofresponsiblysourcedbuildingmaterialsinthekids’club,improvedairquality,increasednaturallightandmeanderingpathways(therearenostraightlinesinnature,wediscover).Buttherearealsoplentyofactivitiestheywillembrace–thenaturalgardenwheretheycanpicktheherbsthatwillbepartoftheirhealthydietduringthestay,kids’yoga,localactivityguide,excursionsandjournalstocomplete.Thefamilyprogrammecelebrates‘theuniversal``````languageofplay’,wheretherearenobarrierstoformingrelationshipsanddevelopingnewskills–it’sagreatconcept,andonewhichgenuinelyseemstowork,asevidencedbythemanykidsfromdifferentdestinationsanddifferentmothertongueshavingawonderfultimeunderthewatchfuleyeofclubstaff.InMauritius,theoceanisneverfarway,andonegreatwaytoexperiencethisisonahotel-organisedcatamarantripthatoffersthechancetosnorkelalongthereef.Strikeitlucky,likewedid,andyou’llbemetbyalargeturtleassoonasyoudipyourmaskintothewarm,clearwaters.Whenit’stimetogetoutandexploretheisland,someofthebestfamilyactivitieswediscoveredincludedCaselaWorldofAdventures–aneco-parkwithalltheanimalsthatyouwouldseeonanAfricansafari–PamplemoussesGarden,theoldestbotanicalgardenintheSouthernHemisphere,andIleauxCerfs,apopularislandplaygroundwithpirateshipcruisesandwatersports.Whateveryoudo,whetherit’sresort-basedoroutonanadventureofyourownmaking,therearefewplacesbetterequippedthanthisIndianOceanislandnation- theperfectdestinationforadoseof‘wintersun’.nSOMETHINGFOREVERYONEFromtop:splashingonthebeachattheWestinTurtleBay;thewell-equippedkids’club;asoothinglilypondatthebotanicalgardens``````HOWTOGETTHERE:BritishAirways(ba.com)fliesdirectfromGatwickfrom£675return.``````WHERETOSTAY:Deluxefamilyrooms(sleepingtwoadultsandonechildinanicelydesignedcove)attheWestinTurtleBayResort&Spacostfrom£196pernightwithbreakfastorfrom£23 5 pernighthalfboard.westinturtlebaymauritius.com``````BESTTIMETOGO:LowseasonisMaytoSeptember.ThismeansgreatvalueforBritishfamiliesinoursummer.TheweatherisstillperfectlyagreeabletoourNorthernHemispheretastes.Thelowswillbearound 18degreesandthehighs 23degreesandtheseastaysatabalmy 25 degrees,plustheraintendstostayaway.THELOWDOWN:MAURITIUSfeedingagiraffeatcaselaworldofadventures