Each of us has his own idea of luxury hotels. For some it is the marble and gold of the bathroom, others in the discretion of the service and choice of pillows. I must admit that my criteria vary depending on location (it does not apprehend the luxury of the Seychelles in the same way ... or Botswana) and above depending on my mood:
- I need quiet? ... I appreciate it does not come to renew my towels in the middle of my nap.
- I want refinement? ... Give me the Earl Grey tea that suits my mornings.
- I tend to get pampered? ... I thrive under the sincere smiles of the staff.
My luxury was a bath of copper in a tent in Botswana. Or the attentions of a charming server Mauritius. Or the ability to work (yes!) In a scented room overlooking the lagoon, but in such a manner that I could happily surf the web, to conduct research while posting on my blog and chatting via MSN with Australia.
What I fear mostly when I get to do a story in a high class hotel, it is the empty promises: the website you are listing a web connection in every room. Often, once there, you realize you need the cable that you do not win or he is (very) low speed. Of course you will say, what crazy idea to want to use the Internet freely from his room when residing in a luxury hotel and a dream destination? Yes ... but now, much of the clientele of these hotels is business customers, temporary residents who will just flower petals strewn on the bed but will be very sensitive to all the services offered. As direct access to the Internet or room service menu they use to be able to work together!
I tested both the Prince Maurice , on the island of the same name. While I had spent ten days in a 4 * L a few miles away by being obliged to go every night at the hotel bar which had a free wifi while he had been unable to connect my PC in my room (although the care of local official), I could finally put my computer on the desk of the chamber and publish my articles without having to seek a seat is available every evening to 11:00 p.m. while half of clients Men encouraged "warmly" such as football team or tennis player on the big screen in the bar ... That just appreciate the service of room service!
Depends on the computer and the Internet when I work, discovering my room at Prince Maurice I check immediate access to the precious flow. The young clerk who is with me testing the desk lamp and apologize profusely noting that the bulb burns out, which makes me smile sweetly. By cons I take this opportunity to request an extension of multi-catch since all my accessories need to be recharged every night and the only available outlet (apart from that used by the lamp) will be insufficient. Able to Mauritius, I think I have before me a good hour before my request is satisfied and I want to take some pictures of the room before my luggage and my nomadic lifestyle did strike the elegance. Yet no sooner have I time to frame some elements that the young Mauritian is already back with a set of bulbs and a ream of new multi-taken! A good point for the speed of service to Prince Maurice ! ...
Reassured on my internet connection and broadband, I take a few appointments to build my story and I look at the map room service. For us photographers it is often difficult to photograph the dishes offered by restaurants of these hotels. A little snobbery prevented from playing for tourists photographing each dish hastily filed before us, knowing that the result will not match unless taking his time and thus assuming the risk of eating the cold dishes, the willingness to do not use flash so as not to disturb other guests and thus the obligation to work with sensitive settings and use a tripod, all this leads me often to ask a few adjustments: get permission to photograph a buffet or dining room a few minutes before the arrival of hungry customers, and ask to photograph in a corner of the restaurant dishes that I will taste colder and therefore with impaired judgment. But often, I selected the option to use room service for me to deliver a full meal in the room and thus have complete freedom to work without interfering with either customers or staff. A very practical solution if the map offered by the hotel's room service is at the level of service at the restaurant. And this is not always the case ...
In Prince Maurice that evening I look closely at the map to select dishes colorful picture, and if possible to satisfy my appetite tasty and needs of my story. Point of salad or mixed-grill International, I need the local cuisine, spices, singing and the sun on my plate! Very quickly reassured by a colorful map, I put aside the prawns with spices to stop my choice on a Indian dish and a dessert delicately scented. I order, I prepare my camera gear and wait ...
Again I do not have patience for very long, less than thirty minutes later, hour, two servers discreetly arrange a small table, with taste and sophistication: a heavy white cloth, silverware, spices and a cast of berries for decoration, a candle holder for the atmosphere. Then they lift the covers to let me enjoy the aroma and harmony of my selection. A basket of bread accompanied by various well-stocked parts which prove that my spicy Indian dish as it should be enough for me to translate in Bombay, not too much not to panic my taste buds a European. Chicken cut into thin bite, creamy and tasty sauce, the spinach (or were they bredes, spinach Mauritius?) Freshly cooked, and flat bread, Indian, crunchy to perfection.
With a forward sharpened by greed alone, I m'affère few minutes around the flat, correcting an adjustment, moving a lamp to spread a golden light on the whole. The seat cushions invites to rest and paprika to taste. I closed the shutters of my room to avoid attracting the attention of shoppers on the prowl at the beach a few yards away but I open them again a few minutes later to enjoy the terrace in the moonlight and enjoy my dessert.
In the afternoon I met the head of the restaurants of Prince Maurice , a young Australian who works with big over the destinies of Barachois and Archipelago. Only hotel of the island affiliated with Relais & Chateaux, the Prince Maurice prides itself, rightly, a map highlighting the products of the Indian Ocean and respecting the Multi-cropping of Mauritius while developing creativity The surprise guest demanding. Having had the scoop of a dessert at the forefront of architecture, I chose tonight lychee mousse topped with kiwi and decorated with meringue. A delight to the taste of too little!
A little later, taking notes quietly lying on thick mattresses of a deck chair on my deck, I will provide an update on the room service of Hotel Prince Maurice :
- a short but clever card meets all the requirements and all diets,
- speed of service is disconcerting on an island in the sun!
- quality of food delivered is up to the reputation of the hotel and Relais & Chateaux .
Finally, although I regret not having anyone with whom to share this private banquet in style, I enjoyed the intimacy of the moment that you could relax completely without worrying about her dress or good education. Would I dare to dip the bread grain in the sauce if I had been indoors? ...
| Address |  Prince Maurice Choisy Road Poste de Flacq, Mauritius | |
| Access | Located in the east of the island, 40 minutes from Plaisance airport. | |
| Environment | On a private peninsula of 60 hectares of land completely preserved, protected from the wind that often blows in the East. | |
| Rooms | 76 junior suites, including 8 on stilts (70 m²), 12 Senior Suites (130 m²), a suite Princely (350 m²). | |
| Gastronomy | Both elegant and delicious, fragrant, developed from local products or from neighboring destinations (beef from Australia, ...). | |
| Read | Travel to the Ile de France, Bernardin de Saint-Pierre | |
| I | The home fragrance derived from natural essences, the beach sheltered from the wind, the excellence of the table. | |
| I do not | The price of a bottle of mineral water ... | |
| Rates | In season, see the hotel. | |
| Starting with | Air Mauritius | |
| More |    | |
