Indian Ocean Supplement 2011 FEB

all about

the Indian Ocean March 2011

Your ur one stop guide to all the latest news and developments in the Indian Ocean

Produced by

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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All About

the Indian Ocean starts here...

I

T’S ALL happening in the Indian Ocean this year. A stroll around the stands at last year’s World Travel Market was just an indicator of how active the tourist boards for Mauritius, the Maldives, the Seychelles and Sri Lanka are planning to be in 2011.

The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority has set up a new micro website specifically for the trade and increasing its activity with agents, while the Seychelles has kick-started the new year with a campaign to target niche markets such as golf and spa. The Maldives is set to make a big splash with a rebranding strategy and the future looks bright for Sri Lanka.

Upmarket operators, such as Carrier, have introduced the country for the first time and the tourist board is hopeful that it will achieve a target of 700,000 visitors this year. Operators, such as Hayes and Jarvis, are reporting a 50% increase in forward bookings for this summer and the destination has been rated as best value in the Post Office Long-Haul Holiday Costs Barometer.

The tourist board is also planning two fam trips this year – one in April and one in August – which is an indication of how keen they are to work with the trade to help put Sri Lanka back on the tourist map.

Operators are keen to get in on the act with expanded programmes, new resorts and tours.

On the hotel front, Raffles is opening its first property in the Seychelles, while existing hotels are looking to the family market and adding new types of accommodation, such as villas, and introducing all-inclusive options.

With all this activity going on, make sure you don’t miss out on all the action by reading our All About the Indian Ocean guide. Your new-found knowledge of the destination will impress your clients and help you secure that booking.

Angela Cronin Supplements editor Travel Bulletin

Contents 4

Map and factfile

6

A round-up of what’s new

11

Family-friendly resorts

14

The best spa hotels

17

Diving and other activities

Published by

Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661 Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Genaro Santos Cover Picture: Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives ISSN: 0956-2419

3 All about the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

Get the facts SEYCHELLES

Who flies there?

Air Seychelles operates non-stop scheduled flights from Heathrow every Friday and Sunday. Qatar Airways and Emirates provide flights through their hubs in Dubai and Doha.

Other airlines flying to Seychelles include Kenya Airways and Air Austral.

Flying times to the Seychelles is 10 hours from London.

When is the best time to go?

Seychelles has a warm, tropical climate all year round, although your preference for certain activities can determine what time of year you go.

Sailing can be done all year round and so can scuba diving although April, May, October and November have the highest visibility and calmest seas – water temperature sometimes reaches 29C and visibility is often 30 metres plus. October to April is the best time for anglers to go to the Seychelles and April is good for birdwatchers. May to September is good for hiking and windsurfing.

Time difference: GMT +4 hours Currency: Rufiyaa rupee Language: Creole, English and French Getting around: buses are the primary means of public transport on the islands of Mahé and Praslin, while car hire from local and international companies is readily available.

Domestic flights are operated by Air Seychelles, Helicopter Seychelles, Islands Development Company and Zil Air, while Cat Cocos and InterIsland Ferry Services operate catamaran services between islands.

MA

Ind Oce

MAURITIUS Who flies there?

Air Mauritius and British Airways fly direct, while Emirates flies to Mauritius via Dubai.

When is the best time to go?

The summer months are from November to April when temperatures can soar to 33.

Time difference: GMT +4 hours

Currency: the rupee.

Language: English, but French and Creole are commonly used.

Getting around: Air Mauritius operates daily flights connecting Plaisance Airport and Rodrigues, while helicopters are available for transfers and sightseeing tours.

There are a number of car-hire companies and the roads are good with driving on the left. There are a number of bus services around the island and are the most costeffective way of travelling. Taxis are regulated and metered and are a great way of getting around.

4 All about the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

Get the facts SRI LANKA

Who flies there?

SriLankan Airlines offers the only scheduled daily direct services from London; Qatar Airways flies from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester via Doha; Emirates Airways from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow via Dubai; Etihad Airways from Heathrow and Manchester via Abu Dhabi; Jet Airways from Heathrow; and Gulf Air from Heathrow via Bahrain.

When is the best time to go?

The average temperature is 27C on the coast all year, with the hill country being 14C and even cooler at night. April is the hottest month, December and January are the coolest, but temperatures only vary by a few degrees.

Languages: Sinhala is the official language but English is widely spoken.

Time difference: GMT+ 5 hours, 30 mins.

Getting around: there are various ways to travel around Sri Lanka: tuk-tuks are great through heavy traffic; public buses run from major towns and cities on a regular basis, with private buses running non-stop. There are no fixed schedules and a 100-mile journey will cost less than £3. Holders of an international driving licence can get a hire car from the airport. However, a chauffeur-driven car usually works out cheaper at £5 a day. Taxis are ideal for short trips. Trains run from Colombo to a number of tourist areas including Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and along the west and east coasts. Fares cost less than £3 for any journey.

Helicopters are available for charter from Deccan Helicopters.

ALDIVES

dian ean MALDIVES

Who flies there?

British Airways, SriLankan Airlines and Thomson Airways.

When is the best time to go?

The islands enjoy a tropical climate all year round with temperatures between 25C and 32C.

The best time to go is between December and April when the weather is most calm and has the least rainfall.

Time difference: GMT +5 hours.

Currency: Rufiyaa Language: Dhivehi is the official language although English is widely spoken.

Getting around: on Malé, the capital island of the Maldives, taxis are easily available.

The Maldives consists of 1,190, some 200 of which are inhabited, 97 of which are resorts, so transfers are by dhoni, speedboat or seaplane.

5

All about the Indian Ocean

What’s new...

When Kate and Wills went on a make-or-break holiday back in 2007, they opted for a week at the paradise island of Desroches in the Seychelles.

So while our future king and queen prepare for their big day, operators are expanding their programmes, tourist boards are launching campaigns and new hotels are opening all over the Indian Ocean

…from the operators Cox and Kings has launched a range of luxury, tailor-made holidays for people who want to combine authentic travel experiences with relaxing surroundings. The Relax and Explore brand – relaxandexplore.co.uk – is available in 32 countries including the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar.

In the Seychelles, the Two Islands Tour combines some of the island’s most famous sites include the Valle de Mai, home to the world-renown coco de mer, with a schooner cruise to the island of La Digue. Prices lead in at £3,395 per person for seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the Constance Ephelia.

The Discover the Central Plateau in Mauritius takes in the Curepipe, the centre of the island’s tea industry, and the Black River Gorges National Park and Chamarel.

Prices start at £2,375 per person for seven nights’ B&B at the Oberoi.

Cosmos New properties and an expanded range of twin-centre holidays have been introduced to Cosmos’ Maldives and the Indian Ocean brochure for 2011/12. The programme focuses predominantly on the Maldives due to the introduction of a fully scheduled flight programme with

SriLankan Airlines. Prices lead in at £1,099 for seven nights at Fun Island Village in the Maldives and £599 for three nights at the Ibis City Centre in Dubai.

Elite Vacations Elite has launched a Seychelles brochure for 2011, featuring 40 hotels, the operator’s largest-ever portfolio.

New is the Raffles Hotel on the island of Praslin which opened in February. In addition, La Domaine de L’Orangerie on La Digue is about to fully reopen after a major refurbishment which now makes the hotel a five-star property.

Prices lead in at £899 for five nights’ B&B at the Lazare Picault hotel on Mahe including flights and transfers.

Elite has also launched its 2011 Mauritius brochure, with new properties and a focus on boutique hotels such as the 34-room 20 Degrés Sud and the 50-room Tamarina, which opens this month. Prices lead in at £1,499 for seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Tamarina.

Kuoni Kuoni has launched its 2011 Indian Ocean brochure. New to the UK market and exclusive to Kuoni is the Maldivian island of Maafushivaru in the South Ari Atoll, which boasts an uninhabited sister island.

Prices lead in at £1,599 per person for seven nights’ half-board.

Also featuring for the first time in the Maldives are the five-star Diva resort, Diamonds Thundufushi Beach and Water Villas, a new all-inclusive option at the Sheraton Full Moon Maldives and the Medhufushi resort.

New resorts in Sri Lanka include sister properties the Jetwing Sea and the Jetwing Blue, Tangerine Beach Hotel and Serene Pavilions. New tours in the country are a six-night Taste of Sri Lanka which starts at £965 per person and an extension to the All-inclusive Sri Lanka Tour to the east coast resort of Trincomalee. In Mauritius, the three-star Veranda Paul and Virginie and the Long Beach have been introduced.

Prices lead in at £675 per person for seven nights’ bed and breakfast at Browns Beach resort in Sri Lanka.

Enchanting Holidays The Indian Ocean specialist has launched a dedicated Mauritius brochure for 2011 featuring 39 hotels.

New properties include the St Regis Mauritius, Le Cardinal Exclusive Resort, Villas Valriche and Long Beach, along with a range of special offers such as earlybooking savings, wedding and honeymoon discounts, free nights and deals for families.

6 All about the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean Maldives The Maldives Tourism and Promotion Board is poised to embark on a new destination branding initiative to broaden its appeal to a wider audience and emerging niche markets.

The rebranding strategy will kick off this year with a new logo, ‘a Sunny Side of Life’ slogan, advertising strategy and campaign.

The new campaign will aim to develop the country’s new identity, which will include enhancing the positioning of the nation’s tourism product and presenting the destination as offering a wider array of opportunities for business and investment.

An ocean villa at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa

Prices lead in at £1,429 for seven nights’ half-board at the InterContinental.

In addition, the operator has launched its first Enchanting Seychelles and Maldives brochure, with prices starting at £1,059 for seven nights’ B&B at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort in the Seychelles and £1,749 per person for seven nights’ B&B at the Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi.

The specialist offers a basic commission of 13%, with opportunities to earn higher levels and is also planning to host a number of fam trips next year.

Carrier The upmarket operator has added Sri Lanka to its portfolio with a small taster featured in its Indian Ocean brochure and the full selection in its 2011 Worldwide brochure.

The specialist has also introduced new resorts in the Maldives including the Alila Villas Hadahaa and Baros.

In Mauritius, Carrier has introduced the Long Beach resort, the sister property to Le Touessrok, that is due to open in April.

Sunset Faraway Zanzibar and Reunion have been introduced to Sunset Faraway’s 2011/12 Luxury Worldwide brochure, along with new hotels in Mauritius including St Regis, InterContinental and the new Long Beach.

Anantara Kihavah, Angsana Velavaru InOceans Villas and Six Senses in the Maldives have been added. …from the tourist boards The Seychelles Tourism Board has rolled out a new campaign. The ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ promotion makes connections between the seven wonders of the world and Seychelles’ natural attractions. It is also aimed at showing the diversity of experiences on the islands and the growing number of niche markets such as golf, casinos, eco-holidays and spas.

Meanwhile, Leisure and Business has developed a new mobile phone app for the Seychelles, which includes a free guide to the island and offers a platform for local businesses to promote their products.

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka has launched its Visit Sri Lanka 2011 campaign, the objective of which is reflected in its new eight-colour logo Refreshingly Sri Lanka.

The eight colours reflect the island’s different stories which include beaches, wildlife, sports and soft-adventure scenery, heritage, ayurveda, boutiques, ecotourism, culture, the arts, shopping, and festivals.

The campaign also involves a 12-month calendar of events and two fam trips this year – one in April and one in August.

Mauritius The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority has launched an agent fact pact specifically for the UK trade.

The tourist board has also set up a new micro website (mauritiuspromos.co.uk) that will focus on romance, family, spa and wellbeing, adventure and luxury. The MTPA is holding a series of agent roadshows with Air Mauritius in March and April, updating its online training programme and launching a new agent fact pack.

For those who wish to experience the Seychelles at your own pace in an authentic establishment, the Carana Hilltop Villa is the ideal choice.

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7 All about the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean bedroom villa from £4,749 per person, including international flights and interisland seaplane transfers.

Fregate Island will have its own distillery this year

…from the hotels Raffles Hotels and Resorts opened its first property in the Seychelles last month.

Situated on Praslin island, the resort is close to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Vallée de Mai. The hotel has 86 villas with one and two-bedroom villa suite options that have a 24-hour butler service, a private plunge pool and an outdoor sheltered pavillion.

The resort’s spa has 13 treatment pavilions set among natural rock formations, while the dining options include two restaurants. A week at Raffles costs from £2,398 per person including flights and transfers.

Frégate Island Private The resort famous for its celebrity guests will be unveiling its own distillery this year, allowing the hotel to brew its own spirits and liqueurs.

They plan to start with rum made from sugar cane grown organically on the island, before moving on to liqueurs using the tropical fruits growing around the island, such as mangoes and papaya.

Enchanted Round Island Resort The first oceanfront beach villa of Enchanted Round Island Resort in Mahé has been completed, with work on the remaining 10 villas nearly completed.

Enchanted Round will be a private island resort with Creole-Seychelles-inspired

architecture, featuring beach villas with their own private infinity pools. The island will be managed by Dubai-based company Jebel Ali International Hotels and Serena Spa will manage the Serena resort’s spa.

Dhevatara Hotel This 10-suite boutique hotel is poised to open its doors on the Grand Anse Beach on Praslin island at the end of this year.

The hotel, which will offer individually styled properties, will have an à la carte restaurant, lounge bar, pool area and spa.

Desroches Four new one-bedroom beachfront villas are being built at the luxury resort of Desroches in the Seychelles.

The villas, which will open in March, will have their own deck, plunge pool, a spacious lounge area with flat-screen television, DVD player, i-pod connection and mini bar, as well as a large, airconditioned, en-suite bedroom.

Elite Vacations offers seven nights’ all-inclusive in a one-

Sheraton Maldives Twenty new luxury ocean villas have been opened at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa. The new additions to the 176-room property have plunge pools, dining areas, hammocks, outdoor showers and a large garden seating area.

The hotel has introduced a new allinclusive Ocean Plus, which is only available when guests book the ocean villas and includes all premium brands of alcohol, a choice of dining venues and activities.

Sheraton has also spent £8 million renovating 156 rooms and introducing new facilities, such as Feast, an interactive buffet with live cooking sessions, a new kids’ club, the world’s first Shine Spa and a new-look bar area with day beds.

To celebrate the launch of the new villas, Sheraton is offering the ocean villas with the ocean plus board at a rate of £327 per person per night for travel until December 23.

Kuoni offers seven nights’ B&B including flights and transfers for £1,350 per person based on two sharing.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa This five-star hotel in the Maldives has launched an online holiday planner that allows guests to plan their stay prior to arrival and customise their villa according to their preferences.

The planner is available from www.shangrila.com/maldives/ holidayplanner.

A beach club room at the Grand Mauritian

8 All about the Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka

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Prices are based on 2 adults sharing.

ABTA No:V0211

Indian Ocean Diva The Naiade resort in the Maldives has launched a range of new wedding and honeymoon packages.

The new product includes an underwater blessing ceremony that leads in at £5,749 per couple, a castaway wedding on a deserted islet that starts at £6,285 and a traditional Maldivian ceremony from £4,885.

The seven-night wedding packages can be booked through Luxury Holidays Direct with prices based on two sharing a deluxe room on a B&B basis and includes return flights from London and transfers.

Per AQUUM Per AQUUM is opening its first resort concept later this year in Dhaalu Atoll in the Maldives, a 40-minute seaplane flight from Male.

Niyama will feature 86 beach and overwater villas, along with cutting-edge dining experiences and design concepts.

Trou Aux Biches After a two-year reconstruction programme, the Trou aux Biches Resort and Spa in Mauritius has welcomed its first guests.

The Beachcomber property now offers two and three-bedroom villas, along with new facilities that include six restaurants, a number of new swimming pools, a vast range of land and water sports, beachfront suites that all have their own plunge pools and half-board plus.

The Grand Mauritian This luxury resort and spa has now fully relaunched following the completion of extensive upgrades and new product developments.

The Grand Mauritian’s renovations include the introduction of a new designer beachfront area, new dining experiences at Season by Stephane, spacious new family suites and the addition of 40 luxurious rooms and suites to the Grand Beach Club category, which will now operate as an exclusive resort within a resort.

Tamarina Golf, Spa and Beach Club The Tamarina estate on the west coast of Mauritius will be launching this new 50room, four-star-plus boutique property incorporating the existing facilities of Les Villas Hotel de Tamarina this month.

The hotel has three restaurants, a wide

The new Raffles Hotel on Praslin island

range of water sports, including dolphin watching, and tennis courts.

Goldi Sands Hotel The Goldi Sands Hotel has undergone a renovation to make it a four-star hotel in time for Visit Sri Lanka 2011.

The property has a new banquet and conference hall and is planning to make the most of its beach location to attract more beach weddings.

Ceylon Tea Trails Relais and Chateaux has added the luxury hotel Ceylon Tea Trails to its portfolio of properties.

In the heart of Ceylon tea country, 4,000ft above sea level, the ‘non-hotel’ has four traditional tea planters’ bungalows, each with a manager, chef butler, authentic period furnishings and gourmet meals cooked from fresh, home-grown vegetables, herbs and teas.

Jetwing SEA This luxury hotel in Sri Lanka’s Negembo resort has reopened following renovation.

The guest areas are all influenced by the sea with restaurants and bars tucked away in coves, two infinite swimming pools that blend with the sea, a spa and a gym.

The hotel now has 28 superior rooms on the south wing, 53 deluxe rooms with two suites on the north wing. from the airlines Air Seychelles has introduced 24 lie-flat beds with 70ins seat pitches in its Pearl Class business cabins on its Boeing 767-300s aircraft that operate on the airline’s European routes from London, Paris, Rome and Milan to Mahé. Air Seychelles serves Mahé from Heathrow twice a week departing on Fridays and Sundays.

Emirates Emirates has increased its services between Dubai and the Seychelles to seven flights a week.

The additional flight operates on Thursdays, leaving Dubai at 2.30am, arriving in the Seychelles at 7am. On the return journey, the service leaves the Seychelles at 8.30am, getting to Dubai at 1pm.

SriLankan Airlines SriLankan Airlines has relaunch its domestic floatplane service, SriLankan Air Taxi. The new aircraft are likely to operate from Colombo’s Beira Lake, the Negombo Lagoon, Castlereagh, Tissamaharama and Arugam Bay. Cruiselines Fred Olsen Cruise Line‘s ship Black Watch will be visiting the Indian Ocean on its world cruise that leaves Southampton on 11 January 2012.

The 106-day cruise ship, Black Watch, will be visiting the Andaman Islands, in the Indian Ocean, on its world cruise in 2012, on the cruise line’s first visit to these islands.

Prices for the full cruise currently start at £12,074 per person. However, the sector that includes the Andaman Islands, can be booked as a shorter, 32-night voyage from Southampton to Singapore with prices leading in at £3,994 per person.

Compagnie du Ponant The French cruise line’s ship Le Ponant is operating four Atolls in the Maldives: Natural Aquariums and Blue Lagoons cruises next year.

The yacht will cruise seven-night round trips from Mahe to Mahe taking in Felidhe Atoll; Thaa Atoll; Dhaalu Atoll; Faafu Atoll; South Ari Atoll; North Ari Atoll; and South Male Atoll. Prices start at £2,150 per person.

10 All about the Indian Ocean

Family first Blue skies, turquoise seas, white sandy beaches, scores of kids shell hunting and scavenging for treasure… even hotels in the Indian Ocean are waking up to the powerful potential of the family market

W

HILE LUXURY resorts have carved out a respectable reputation when it comes to catering for couples of all ages, many of the hotels in the Indian Ocean are turning their attention to the family market.

From treasure hunts to shark whale-watching, activity coordinators at kids’ clubs have many tricks up their sleeves to ensure the children are kept entertained from dusk ‘til dawn. With the choice of hotels offering family-friendly so vast, Travel Bulletin asked some operators to come up with their suggestions for resorts that make keeping the kids busy look like child’s play.

Sovereign Sovereign managing director Steph Pritchard says the Constance Halaveli Resort resort in the Maldives caters brilliantly for families as it has a complimentary kids’ club for children aged four to 12, baby-sitting services, a playground, children’s menu and a range of activities for teenagers. In Mauritius, Pritchard recommends the InterContinental because it has family suites and interconnecting rooms, a children’s pool and a kids’ club that offers a range of activities including painting, drawing, kayaking, scavenger hunts, kite making and mini yoga.

Indian Ocean sailing, snorkelling, kayaking, scavenger hunts, marine centre exploration, yoga, tennis and pizza making.

The Majaa Maizan centre is the perfect place for teenagers to hang out, play on the PlayStations, access the internet, take part in a game of pool or table tennis.

Teens can also have diving lessons, go snorkelling, kayaking, sailing, enjoy marine life presentations, windsurfing and movie and pizza nights to name just a few.

Sample product: Carrier features seven nights’ B&B from £3,550 per adult and £1,990 per child.

A gated deluxe family water villa at the Centara Grand Resort and Spa in the Maldives

Sample product: Sovereign offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at Constance Halaveli Resort Hotel from £6,839 for a family of three. Seven nights’ halfboard at the InterContinental starts at £3,649 for a family of three.

Carrier Sarah Findlow, Indian Ocean product manager for luxury operator Carrier, recommends the villa-only One&Only Reethi Rah because the spacious accommodation is perfect for families who don’t want to be crammed into one room.

One&Only’s signature KidsOnly programme caters for children aged four to 11 with activities also available for teenagers. Children have their own section of the resort with separate dining facilities, a clubhouse and a swimming pool. Activities include treasure hunts, pirate games, beach volleyball and football. Teenagers have an extensive programme of sports, nature trails and excursions.

For the grown-ups, there is a spa, swimming pool, tennis, volleyball and indoor games, with excursions including deep-sea fishing, dolphin watching, sunset dhoni fishing or desert island picnics.

Sample product: Carrier offers seven nights’ halfboard for £2,325 per adult and £740 per child.

With a scenic seaplane flight from Malé to whet their appetite before they even arrive at this resort, Carrier says the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru paradise-lost type feel, contemporary spacious accommodation and action-packed kids’ club provide the perfect environment for children to enjoy themselves.

The Kuda Velaa Club welcomes kids aged four to 12, with action-packed days of activities including nature walks, lizard safaris, hermit crab hunts, swimming,

Travel 2 Indian Ocean product and purchasing manager Hayley Wall says Mauritius is an ideal destination for families.

“A great choice is Naiade’s four-star Tamassa hotel which has excellent facilities as well as 64 interconnecting rooms and a fantastic children’s club,” she says.

“Similarly, the five-star Mövenpick in Mauritius caters well for families, credited for its family rooms with separate bunk beds for the children and brilliant children’s activity programme.”

Sample product: prices lead in at £3,429 for two adults and two children staying seven nights’ allinclusive at the Tamassa. Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Mövenpick leads in at £5,033 per family.

Premier Holidays Nikki Hain, product manager for Middle East, Indochina and Indian Ocean, believes Sri Lanka’s Tangerine Beach Hotel on the west coast of the island just 25 miles from the capital Colombo is a great destination for children. Set in 12 acres of gardens dotted and fronted by the golden sandy beach of Kalutara, with various children’s activities to keep the kids busy, along with a separate pool for children, a games room and TV room.

Sample product: Premier offers eight nights’ halfboard in a deluxe sea-facing room starting at £799 per adult and £499 per child.

Thomson Gemma Rowley, product manager for long-haul east and Aruba, says its emphasis on safety makes the Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa in the South Arii Atoll in the Maldives the most obvious choice for families keen to holiday in the Indian Ocean. The overwater villas are gated so families can stay in this style of accommodation without any safety concerns.

The resort has two kids’ clubs: one called Camp Safari for children aged four through to nine; and E-Zone for 10 to 17-year-olds. Camp Safari kids are given a card with a number of adventures to experience. E-Zone members have lots of games to take part in but there are also PlayStations and Wiis for them to play on. Other facilities for children include a kids’ pool, water sports facilities that include snorkelling and fishing and tennis courts.

12 All about the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean Sample product: First Choice offers seven nights’ allinclusive from £2,520 per adult with first child £2,219 and second £2,495.

And the best of the rest...

Mauritius Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers Staying true to the Club Med ethos, this resort in Mauritius strives hard to keep the children well and truly entertained. There are kids’ clubs for children as young as four months all the way through to 18 years old with activities all day long including golf, tennis, water-skiing and wake boarding, Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers also has a sailing and scuba diving academy with free tuition thrown in.

Sample product: seven nights’ all-inclusive lead in at £1,600 per person.

Maldives Lily Beach Resort A 25-minute seaplane flight from Male, Lily Beach reopened last year in Huvahendoo. The resort offers a new all-inclusive Platinum Plan product so families know exactly how much their holiday is going to cost before they go. The plan includes all food, drink, day trip to another island, fishing, entertainment, access to the hotel’s sports centre, gyms, snorkelling equipment and internet access.

Families can stay in self-contained lagoon villas or opt for interconnecting beach family villas. Lily Beach also has a Turtles kids’ club where qualified attendants keep children entertained all day with treasure hunts, water sports and wildlife safaris.

Sample product: Kuoni offers seven nights’ all-inclusives for £8,148 for a family of four.

Villas Valriche A new luxury villa resort that launched in September last year, Villas Valriche resort is on the less-developed, southwest coast of Mauritius.

The resort has a number of three and four-bedroom villas, making it a suitable choice for families looking to avoid the restrictions often experienced by hotel accommodation. The Timomo kids’ club caters for children aged two to 11 with creative workshops and beach trails.

For teens, there is the Bel Ombre Beach Club which has a large swimming pool, chill-out area, beach sports, parties and two restaurants.

Sample product: Sunset Faraway Holidays offers seven nights’ B&B for £10,635 for a family of four staying in a three-bedroom villa.

Beau Rivage The Neptune Wing at the Beau Rivage in Mauritius is designed specifically for families with interconnecting rooms and easy access to the Little Mermaid kids’ club and the teenagers’ club.

The kids’ club, for three to 12-year-olds, has a large room for activities and a fenced, grass play-area outside. Activities include: glass-bottom boat trips; learning the local dance, the Sega; gathering crabs on the beach by torchlight; drawing and painting; learning to play a traditional musical instrument; table tennis; volley-ball; mini-golf; and learning how to snorkel or water-ski.

The activities at the teens club include: water-skiing; beach volleyball; games in the swimming pool or in the games room; and excursions. Teens can dine with their parents or with the teens’ club staff team.

New to Beau Rivage is the baby and toddler kit, which includes swim nappies, sterilisers and baby food to special toddler menus, high chairs and buckets and spades.

Sample product: If Only features seven nights’ half-board in a junior suite for a family of four starting at £4,596.

A children’s pirate cruise at the One&Only Reethi Rah

Diva The Nest kids’ club at Diva, for three to 12-year-olds, offers a range of activities including traditional Maldivian arts and crafts, shell necklace making, palm weaving, Bodu Beru dancing and Henna painting.

There is also a young environmentalist programme that gives children the chance to explore the island. Kids can also learn to dive at the resort’s fully PADI-certified dive centre, which offers beginner Bubble Maker and Discover Scuba introductory lessons.

For 13-17-year-olds, the Place is styled on a sports cafe and has Playstations, Wiis, table football and table tennis.

Sunset cruises and Maldivian fishing trips are also available for teenagers.

Sample product: Kuoni offers seven nights’ B&B from £8,405, based on two adults and two children sharing a water villa.

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All about the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

Healing hands Want to find out about all the luxury spa resorts in the Indian Ocean but haven’t got the time? Make the most of our guide to some of the best hotels in the region that offer to send you home feeling brand new with the help of a massage, a body scrub – oh, and maybe a bit of detoxing too

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O YOU have arrived in paradise, spent a few days taking in the breathtaking scenery and making the most of the fine cuisine available, now it is time to start tucking into the spa treatment menu that the majority of luxury resorts in the Indian Ocean offer. Here are few recommendations from the experts on what to expect and where to find the best place to revive your body and soul.

Sri Lanka The Wallawwa Just 15 minutes from the airport and 40 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Colombo, The Wallawwa is an intimate, luxury private hideaway with an impressive spa that specialises in treatments inspired by ayurveda, the natural healing system that

origniates from India that aims to balance people’s body, mind and soul.

The menu of treatments include massages - even a children’s one - reflexology, body scrubs, wraps and facials.

Sample product: Premier Holidays offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast from £1,199 per person including flights and transfers.

Reef Villa Virgin Holidays product manager for the Indian Ocean Nikki Mortimer says the extensive menu at the Reefresh Spa at Reef Villa makes it a hit with many of the operator’s clients.

Located in the seaside town of Wadduwa on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, Reef Villa resort is a Sri Lankan manor house with bags of colonial atmosphere that make it achingly stylish,

Indian Ocean beach retreat. It is an all-suite hotel with just seven rooms, each one is named after a Sri Lankan water flower.

The extensive menu at Reefresh spa include massages, such as the deep-tissue massage, hot-stones therapy, body wraps and scrubs and pedicures and manicures.

Sample product: Virgin Holidays offers seven nights’ B&B including flights and transfers for £1,519 per person based on two adults sharing.

with anti-aging, deep hydration, mental clarity and relaxation.

Hydrotherapy treatments are also available as part of the spa’s wellbeing body rituals, which involve 30 minutes of steam, sauna, cool plunge and Jacuzzi.

Sample product: Sovereign offers seven nights’ B&B for £1,779 per person based on two sharing, departing on 5 May. The price includes flights from Gatwick and all internal transfers.

Maldives Diva Kuoni market manager Sheena Paton recommends Diva as the perfect option for spa lovers.

“Located in the South Ari Atoll, the spa retreat Infinity, managed by Coconut Spa, is surrounded by lush vegetation and natural botanicals. It has 15 treatment villas and spa experiences tailored to meet the needs of the customer,” says Paton.

Therapists can tailor-make a spa package for each guest and for couples who want to enjoy the spa together, guests can choose to relax in the dedicated relaxation and thermal suite, where they can benefit from the therapeutic effects of experiencing the steam room followed by the ice room and the sauna before relaxing in the pool.

The treatment rooms have glass-bottom floors so guests can watch the fish swimming in and out of the coral beneath.

Sample product: Kuoni offers seven nights’ B&B in a deluxe room, including flights and transfers for £1,773 per person based on two sharing.

Taj Exotica Resort and Spa Another recommendation from Kuoni’s Sheena Paton, the Taj Exotica in South Male Atoll has a Jiva Grande Spa that specialises in Indian rejuvenation therapies, which involve a combination of therapies, yoga and ayurveda treatments, ranging from Indian aromatherapy massages to body scrubs and wraps.

Other facilities at the spa include steam bath, Finnish sauna and hot and cold water treatments such as hydrotherapy jets, warm tropical rain showers and cold bucket showers.

Sample product: Kuoni offers seven nights’ B&B in a lagoon villa, including flights and transfers for £1,848 per person based on two sharing.

The Beach House Maldives Part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection, the Modun Spa at the Beach House Maldives at Manafaru invites guests to “meander the labyrinth-style pathways of the resort’s tranquil garden spa and embrace the healing energies of aromatherapy, yoga, meditation, indigenous herbal healing traditions or the therapeutic wonders of ayurveda.”

Consultants at the spa can work with guests to come up with a menu of treatments that help to improve guests’ general wellbeing both mentally and physically.

The spa has teamed up with Aromatherapy Associates to create a collection of treatments that are designed to deal

The Spa Suite at Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa in the Seychelles

Huvafen Fushi, North Male Atoll, Maldives Described as the ultimate barefoot paradise, Huvafen Fushi has been developed by Per AQUUM to sustain the island’s unique ecosystems.

And when it comes to catering for the mind, body and soul, the resort’s spa LIME certainly packs a punch.

The spa has underwater treatment rooms where a team of therapists work with the guests to devise a tailor-made package of treatments “that aim to heighten the connection between body and soul”.

Other facilities include a fibre-optic-lit infinity pool and the Lonu Veyo outdoor saltwater flotation pool.

Sample product: Carrier offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast in a beach bungalow from £3,550 per person including flights and speedboat transfers.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives If one island is just not enough, then the Conrad Maldives Rangali might just be what you are looking for as this resort spans two islands - Rangalifinolhu and Rangali - which are linked by a bridge.

The resort’s spa is of the over-water variety and can be found on Rangali island. Tge Soa Retreat has 21 spa water villas with their own private couples’ treatment rooms, while the central spa has nine treatment rooms with four private pavillions that house both a sauna and steam room, and either a Jacuzzi or a couples’ soaking tub.

The spa’s treatment philosophy focuses on the five elements of air, earth, fire, water and plant, using two spa care ranges Terrake and Eminence.

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All about the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean Guests have a number of relaxation and detox programmes to choose from ranging from one day to seven days, involving sessions with personal trainers, massages, facials and group exercise.

Traditional beauty treatments - manicures, pedicures, waxing, etc - are available to complement the spa programmes.

The Spa Retreat also houses a spa cuisine restaurant and a fitness centre.

Sample product: If Only features seven nights’ B&B from £2,125 per person including international flights and seaplane transfers.

Mauritius The Oberoi If you are after some sanctuary from the stresses and strains of modern-day life, then the Oberoi in Mauritius is the perfect place to head to.

As well as being based in a stunning location, the hotel’s spa has all the bells and whistles that we have come to expect from five-star hotels There is a beauty parlour, sauna, steam bath, gym and individual spa suites with Jacuzzis, but the spa’s piece de resistance is its traditional Mauritian treatments that use local oil and fruits.

Sample product: Sovereign offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast for £1,555 per person based on two sharing, departing 20 May. Price includes flights from Heathrow and all internal transfers.

Shandrani Resort and Spa The all-inclusive Shandrani hotel is in the south of the island surrounded by the Blue Bay Marine Park.

As part of the all-inclusive package, each guest can enjoy one 45-minute massage at the hotel’s spa.

The resort has two spas, La Source Spa and La Source Wellness, both of which use Clarins products in their treatments.

Facials, massages, exfoliating treatments, hyrotherapy and beauty treatments are available in La Source Spa which has 11 treatment rooms, saunas and hammams.

La Source Wellness is situated in the tropical gardens and has nine treatment rooms, one pool, one hamman and one sauna.

Sample product: Beachcomber Tours features seven nights’ all-inclusive in a superior room including flights and transfers from £1,965 per person.

A yoga class at the Taj Exotica

Seychelles Frégate Island Private When it comes to keeping it local, the Rock Spa at Fregate Island are experts. All the ingredients they use in their spa treatments are used from the island.

In the spa’s own Apothecary, Madame Dibwa (derived from the French for “the fairy woman from the forest”) and her team of qualified therapists blend countless ‘raspay’ - medicinal plants traditionally used by Seychellois healers - into products free from any chemical or artificial ingredients.

The island-wide emphasis on the principle that ‘fresh is best’ ensures ever-changing daily specials on the spa menu, depending on which plants, fruits and herbs are in season.

The wide range of treatments includes the Papiyon body scrub, a full body treatment that combines fresh oranges, sea salt, sandalwood and turmeric; and Bon Voyage Beauty, a massage with warm coconut oil combined with milk, honey and oranges plus a facial cleanse and massage using aloe, breadfruit, crushed cashew nuts, cinnamon and coconut.

Sample product: The Private Travel Company offers seven nights’ full board from £10,050 per person including accommodation in a one-bedroom villa, flights and private helicopter transfers.

Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa A member of the Leading Small Hotels of the World, the Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa on the west coast of the island has teamed up beachwear store Clickini.com to create a designer detox.

The seven-day Clickini Bootcamp has been designed to cleanse the body and soul combining detoxifying beauty rituals, yoga sessions and meditation for a holistic health MOT. Treatments take place in the Maradiva spa and are tailored to each individual’s requirements following a private consultation with spa director Dr Rajneesh Kumar.

Post treatment, guests are invited to visit the Clickini Cabana, Mauritius’ first pop-up shop, and choose from a range of stylish swimwear shipped.

Sample product: Elegant Resorts offers a seven- night Clickini Bootcamp for £2,725 per person on a half-board basis including return flights from Heathrow, private transfers, and a personal shopping service at the Clickini Cabana.

Indian Ocean

Active times

While most people head to the Indian Ocean for some well-deserved R&R, there are plenty of activities for those who want to escape from their sunbed for a hour or two each day

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S WELL as extensive spa facilities, many of the luxury resorts have fitness centres that offer exercise classes, such as pilates and yoga.

However, it goes without saying that water-based sports are a big part of what draws people to the Indian Ocean with snorkelling, scuba diving, windsurfing, fishing and sailing high on the agenda.

The resort of Kandooma in the Maldives is popular with divers due to its proximity to many excellent dive sites, such as the Kandooma Channel and Kandooma Caves, which, with its huge

caverns, provide great hiding places for many types of fish, including blue triggerfish, sweetlips, angelfish and clownfish.

Huvafen Fushi in the Maldvies is also popular with water sports enthusiasts as it has a PADI-certified scuba diving centre called FLOAT as well as canoes, catamarans and sunset fishing trips.

Alila Villas Hadahaa resort is situated at the North Huvadhoo Atoll, which is one of the world’s largest and deepest natural atolls. The resort has a Blue Journeys Dive Centre, which offers the PADI Discover Scuba Diving course. However, it can also customise guests own diving programme, or if they fancy Diva resort in the Maldives

Indian Ocean something a bit more sedate, taking out a canoe for an hour or two is also an option.

Two diving sessions are organised every day at the resort of Diva in the Maldives, with divers of all abilities catered for Swimming with whale sharks is also on the activity agenda with tours providing adults and children alike the rare opportunity to snorkel with a team of guides and enjoy the whale sharks.

Like the Maldives, Mauritius is popular with beach and water sports lovers, however, the island is also a hit with golfers – in 2008, the destination won IAGTO’s golf destination of the year in Africa. The island has eight world-class courses and many of the hotels offer free green fees.

Domaine de Bel Ombre in the south of the island has just been launched as a new tourist destination. This part of the island is less developed than the north with a mountainous, rural landscape. Heritage Resorts has just launched the Villas Valriche Experience – a luxury villa resort and relaunched Le Telfair Golf and Spa Resort.

This area of Mauritius will appeal to lovers of the great outdoors as the the Frederica Nature Reserve is located here with more than 1,300 hectares and the islands tallest waterfall, visitors can see a number of different wildlife species including deer, mongooses, monkeys and rare Mauritian Parakeets.

The Seychelles prides itself on its diversity of activities including all types of water sports, sailing, fishing golf, horse-riding and guided nature tours. The island is hoping to grow a number of new, niche markets, such as eco holidays and spas.

While Sri Lanka has its fair share of beaches and activities that are based on sun, sea and sand to offer visitors, the island known as ‘the Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, attracts an

Snorkelling at the resort of Kandooma in the Maldives

increasing number of Brits for a number of other reasons.

The destination – rated as best-value destination in the Post Office Long Haul Holiday Costs Barometer 2010 – has eight UNESCO World Heritage sites including the second largest man-made structures erected in the world (after the pyramids), Sigiriya Rock Fortress, as well as Dambulla Cave Temples, the ancient cities of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, the Temple of the Tooth at Kandy, Galle Fort and Sinharaja Rain Forest.

Wildlife is also a big pulling factor for Sri Lanka, which boasts the world’s highest density of leopards.

Adventure is also top of Sri Lanka’s agenda white water rafting near the filming site of the Oscar winning Bridge on the River Kwai, as well as snorkelling and diving, hot-air ballooning, trekking and cycling.

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya Rock Fortress in Sri Lanka

18 All about the Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean

A Q&A with Glen McCool, Indian Ocean regional product and contracts manager, Hayes and Jarvis How is the UK market fairing for Mauritius and is it set to grow?

“Mauritius continues to be among some of the best-selling destinations for Hayes and Jarvis. It may not compete with the cheapest long-haul destination but the market is very resilient because of the added value that the island offers to holidaymakers looking for a luxurious experience. In our last trend report, we noted a positive early-booking trend for winter sun trips, with a year-on-year growth of 20% on the back of some lucrative price incentives.”

What tips do you have for agents selling Mauritius over other similar destinations?

What makes it different and who does the island appeal to?

“The high standard of service in resorts, attention to detail and the overall value for money at luxury level are strong selling points and differentiate Mauritius from many of its competitors. That is why we are always keen to add more five-star resorts when new ones, such as Long Beach, which is opening this spring, become available.

“Unlike some long haul destinations, the low season in summer still provides very reasonable weather conditions at a time when prices are lower. This is the time to sell to the family market. In the past Mauritius was traditionally a couples’ destination but it is now equally good for families.”

adjusted our programme to take account of this demand for holidays where customers know their outlay before they fly out.”

What is the best time to go?

Are there any new activities for people to experience?

“The summer months – their winter – offer great value and the weather is still very pleasant. Our newest introduction offers an alternative experience to the traditional half board hotel resort offer on Mauritius with the more independent option of luxury serviced apartments. At Paradise Beach, the experience is more akin to that of a private villa, making a private residence available to customers who would not previously have considered this.

With the wealth of good restaurants available nearby, a deluxe apartment holiday provides the greatest possible flexibility for people to combine eating in and out on holiday.”

Sample product: Hayes & Jarvis is offering seven nights room-only at the new Paradise Beach Apartments at Pointe D’esny for £1,295 per person. The operator is also featuring the new Long Beach Resort with prices starting at £1,545 per person.

Are there any great value deals available at the moment?

“There is intense competition between hotels and this means there are plenty of good incentives with free nights, board and room upgrades available. Mauritius will never be a bargain basement destination but it offers good value in high-quality accommodation from three to five star.”

What types of holiday are people taking to Mauritius?

“We have seen a steady increase in the number of customers looking for value for money three and four star half board or all inclusive accommodation and have

Mauritius’ beaches are a key selling point for the destination

19 All about the Indian Ocean

COLONIAL SPLENDOUR • ISLAND BLISS

Romance doesn't get much more romantic than this. Picture an island in the Indian Ocean, with white sand beaches and crystal blue water, and colonial style whitewashed timber buildings with meandering boardwalks. By day, lazy games on the beach; by night a choice of fine restaurants and a lively nightspot.

All-inclusive stays available from most fine Indian Ocean holiday operators.

Visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com/ukoperators for details on all our current industry partner promotions or www.chr.co.th our trade only site for the latest staff travel offers.