LUX* Grand Gaube

Where to start!! We have just wrapped up our stay at the Lux Grande Gaube in Mauritius in March with our 5 year old and 2 year old. We stayed in the LUX villa and from start to finish the trip was out of this world. We were greeted by our butlers Akshay and Rupesh who made a real effort with the kids and made us feel like VIPs the whole holiday. They couldn’t do enough for us to ensure everything was perfect, always on hand with magical touches and were a pleasure to deal with each day! The cleaning staff were so thorough and friendly each morning keeping the villa spotless and as beautiful as it was when we arrived! The waiting staff in the restaurants were all so smiley and pleasant, albeit at times a bit rushed off their feet but nothing felt like an inconvenience. The kids club has been a real highlight, carefully planned activities that you can dip in and out of made it brilliant for the boys to do what they wanted. The staff were super friendly and the kids didn’t want to leave. We also made multiple trips to the onsite spa which was another highlight. Treatments were first class as was the overall experience and facilities! The watersports that are included were a great activity… snorkeling trip, wakeboarding, paddle boarding! I honestly can’t recommend it highly enough if you’re looking for that special holiday, you won’t regret it!!

Where do we start, from the moment we arrived we had nothing but 5 star service. The welcome was nothing we had experienced before and the level of detail was exceptional. The room we had was a junior suite and was on the beach. The view was stunning. All our meals were fantastic, and the choice was amazing at every meal time. All 5 restaurants have outstanding staff and we always felt welcome everywhere we went. Inti was a personal favourite and the head chef Pedo and manager Madhvi made us feel so welcome and the food was delicious. Other staff who made our stay perfect and made our stay wonderful were Adelon, ReNu, Krishna, Kunal, Lucy and Sachin. Would recommend this hotel to everyone.

My wife and I are both in our 80s and when we go on holiday we opt for all-inclusive luxury accommodation to include good food and wine, sunshine and places where we can totally relax. During the last five years, we have had holidays in a number of places, including Turkey, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic and also Mexico, which were all very enjoyable but for us these places have been totally eclipsed by the amazing holiday we have just had in Mauritius. While doing all this travelling we first visited the Lux Grand Gaube a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed our stay so after getting married a few months ago we were looking for somewhere to spend a belated honeymoon. We considered all of the places that we had visited previously, discounted the Caribbean (too American!), and decided that we had been happiest at Mauritius in the Indian Ocean with its beautiful climate and friendly people so it was the right place to return for a belated honeymoon. On our arrival by taxi at the Lux Grand Gaube, we were warmly welcomed back by Nitish (The general manager) and some of his senior staff who, over welcoming drinks, assured us that they would do everything that they could to make our stay enjoyable. On arrival in our room, we found that our bed had been decorated with rose petals and our towels had been transformed into a pair of swans. A welcoming bottle of fizz and some other gifts were also waiting for us. We then spent 10 sunny days beside the beautiful sandy beaches and warm sea whilst enjoying good food and drink. We were very impressed by all the staff who looked after us, both around the hotel and in the restaurants, all of whom wanted to make our stay extra special, which it certainly was. Some of them even remembered us from our previous visit which was quite surprising. We are particularly grateful to Nishi and Joenathan, Vincent, Giani, and Elena, all of whom went the extra mile to help everything run smoothly for us. Providing that we remain in good health and of sound mind, and the world situation has stabilised, we certainly will be returning to the Lux Grand Gaube next year.

It is 10 years since our last visit to Lux Grand Gaube, and as a special birthday surprise to my lovely Lisa, I booked a 10 night stay for her birthday. There is always a degree of trepidation returning somewhere after a lengthy gap, it can often end in disappointment. Not so here! Even before I left I had confirmation that the service was going to be excellent, as I wanted to pre-book a special birthday dinner, the night after our arrival, at their Peruvian restaurant, INTI, with a birthday cake. All sorted with extreme efficiency by Stephanie from the Celebration Team. On arrival, imagine our surprise and delight that we were greeted by Elena, again! 10 years on, and with the same smile and enthusiasm to ensure we were welcomed like old friends. At a 5 star resort, you would expect the facilities to be very good, eg air conditioning that actually works, exceptionally clean well appointed rooms, excellent restaurants with first class tasty food and this is of course true of Lux Grand Gaube. But, for me, what sets any establishment apart is the people. Every member of staff at the Lux Grand Gaube greets you with a smile as they place their hand on their hearts. In some places this feels nothing more than a gratuitous robotic action. As you get to know the individuals concerned, and we do like to engage with all members of staff at every level, you appreciate that it is truly heartfelt and important. I am afraid there are far too many people to mention in person, but here are just a few that we probably had more contact with during our stay. Deeya and Ashwan at the Smoke House (and Palm Court), Rishi, Fredy and Steeven at the Palm Court, Sun at the Lux Me Spa, Bobo at the Gym. As for the management team, we had the opportunity to speak at some length to Nitish, Ansley and Giany who were all keenly interested in us and anything we had to say about our stay. Perhaps even looking for tips or even minute details of how it might be improved? Have no fear gentlemen, you and your team are doing a magnificent job. Just maybe it is something to do with the attitude of Mauritian people? Our stay had to be extended due the outbreak of hostilities between Iran against the US and Israel. The extra 5 nights was carried out seamlessly, even being assigned the same room, avoiding the need to move. Needless to say our levels of anxiety were raised considerably as a result of uncertainty regarding the safety of our return flights. Other than being at home, I don’t think there is anywhere else we would have wanted to be other than Lux Grand Gaube, under these circumstances. As a footnote to this, our return flights with Emirates, including a brief stopover in Dubai was without any sign of trouble. Dubai airport and all of the staff there went about their business without fuss or apparent concern. We have sent Giany a WhatsApp message, as requested, that we have returned safely.

LUX* Grand Gaube is a truly delightful resort, set in a beautiful environment with stunning grounds, excellent dining options, and a team of staff who are consistently warm, welcoming, and happy to help. Sandeep met us on arrival for check-in and remained incredibly helpful throughout our stay. Our Superior Room overlooking the main beach was of a very high standard, offering plenty of space and a private terrace to relax on. Our room attendant, Tolotra, added a wonderful personal touch with artistic room decorations and towel art that regularly appeared during our stay. Of course, there were many others in the housekeeping team who worked hard behind the scenes to keep everything spotless and well maintained. We spent most of our time at the adults-only beach and pool area, which always had plenty of sunbeds, cabanas, and sunshades available regardless of the time of day—no need to wake up early to secure a spot. The service here was excellent, with Ansh, Saif, and Veer ensuring we were well supplied with cold drinks each day (the red cool boxes are a great idea) and lunches from BB’s served directly to our sunbed. Alternatively, it was just a few steps to the Creole Smokehouse for a very tempting lunch or dinner under the beautiful banyan tree. Evening meals at Beach Rouge and Bodrum Blue for à la carte dining were superb. The Palm Court also offers an impressive variety at breakfast and lunch, and the evening selections are excellent as well. If you enjoy a good curry, the options here are irresistible. Standout service came from Yasser, Rishi, and Ashwan, along with many other members of the team. We also took advantage of a LUX car with driver, Vickram, for a day tour of the island. He was a wonderful guide—friendly, knowledgeable, and thoughtful. Vickram discussed in advance what we wanted to see and created an itinerary that suited us perfectly. While the LUX team members mentioned above made our stay particularly special, there are so many people working hard to make the resort what it is. Our thanks extend to everyone, especially the many unsung heroes working behind the scenes who help make LUX* Grand Gaube such an exceptional place to stay.