We first stayed at Maradiva in December 2015. One of my very few criticisms at the time was that the villas were “showing a bit of wear and tear”. Well, the resort only re-opened in November following a comprehensive refurbishment and renovation, and it is now PERFECT. Every “room” is a villa. They are huge…completely private and secluded in their own garden, through which we could see the Indian Ocean. There is a huge outdoor living space with a large sofa ; tables and chairs ; two very comfortable sun loungers ; and a fabulous plunge pool. Inside, there is an enormous comfortable bed ; a state of the art TV ; a well-stocked mini bar ; a walk-in wardrobe ; a vast bathroom ; and indoor and outdoor showers. Everything is new, and lighter and brighter than before. Just gorgeous. The Wi-Fi is excellent if you feel you need to be in touch with the outside world. The resort grounds are beautiful…immaculately kept with a very pretty array of flowers and colours by the ever-present, hard-working gardeners. The gardens were exquisitely lit in the evenings. The pool is lovely. It is big enough for a proper swim, or just to stand at the infinity edge and stare at the Indian Ocean. Which I did. A lot. The food is superb. The main restaurant has been redesigned and rebranded as Cassine, and the choice is vast, with the fish being particularly enjoyable. They have also added an air-conditioned dining room if the tropical heat becomes too much. The Beach House Grill is a new, relaxed addition right on the beach. Cilantro offered Indian cuisine, where I enjoyed quite simply the best curried lobster I have ever tasted. My wife said that her paneer dish was sublime. There is also Haiku, offering Japanese, Chinese and Thai dishes – superb. The Lantana Bar provided a gloriously comfortable setting to watch the sun drop into the ocean. Good service has always been important to us, and here Maradiva absolutely excels. Olivia, the delightful Resident Manager, made sure everything ran smoothly, whilst Guest Relations, Ishvari, always greeted us with a beautiful smile and warm nature. The restaurant staff couldn’t do enough for us, particularly Asheema, Danesh, Favour, Elodie, Krish and Raj. Danesh even suggested a carrot and ginger juice drink that my wife loved and is trying to replicate at home ! Ranjeeta, Babita and Najila in Housekeeping were exceptional. There were some lovely touches, such as towel sculptures and fresh flowers on the bed each day ; and they made sure they impeccably observed our “Do not Disturb” sign ! Not forgetting the guys on the beach, offering refreshing drinks and cold flannels every time we set foot on the sand. My wife was stung by a huge, angry Mauritian wasp. Word got round and she was presented with a “Get Well” card and some cream to soothe. Lovely people…excellent service. We enjoyed the best holiday we have ever had. The tag line on their website is accurate…A Divine Way of Life.
5 Ulasan