Booked this holiday at the last minute and should have been going to Coin de Mire Hotel but was told it was full and this was an upgrade. We were welcomed with a cold drink and a wet flannel to freshen up whilst the porter took our luggage to the room....a really good start to our all inclusive dream holiday. The room looked really basic and we felt a bit disappointed at first especially when we'd booked a'superior room' at the original place. Anyway the bed was massive and so comfortable. The room was clean and spacious and when we opened our patio doors we looked straight onto the beach! We had a well stocked mini bar which was replenished every day, a TV and tea/coffee making facilities. The weather was windy, at the backend of a cyclone and heading towards the winter. We had rain first thing every morning but it was very welcome and kept everything fresh. The rest of the day was fine but sometimes cloudy.The staff were always very friendly and happy. There was always plenty of food available. Breakfasts were great. Evening meals were based on a different theme each night but if you arrived late in the evening the food wasn't too hot and some things were no longer available. There was always lots of fish to choose from and often quite oily but we adapted in order to try out different food. As usual with all inclusive deals the food is often recycled the next day and the puddings are all different types of angel delight , although the banana crumble was delicious. We had some tummy problems though and we believe it was when we drank the hot drinks or had ice in cold drinks because they used the tap water which was supposed to be drinkable. We only used bottled water for hot drinks in our room. The water sports are included except for the sunset cruise which was 300RS per person because you get a little snack and as much local (hotel made) rum as you can drink. The scuba diving is based at the hotel but not connected financially so you have to pay their normal advertised rates. We used all the water sports facilities and the staff will give brief sailing or wind surfing lessons without charge.
The scuba diving was fantastic and really made our holiday. The instructors were diligent in sticking to dive plans and didn't take any risks. We were extremely impressed and they put their British counterparts to shame. They made sure that the coral reefs and gardens were protected as we descended on them. They knew the dive sites well and showed us all the spectacular creatures we would have missed without their local knowledge. We felt very safe and had a wonderful time.
The entertainment was a bit like the Yellow coats style of Butlins but it seemed to please most guests. The entertainers were usually the same people in different outfits but they did introduce us to Sega, Indian and African music and dancing which was a new experience. The beaches are small but adequate and there was no seaweed. Its important to wear shoes in the water as there are lots of small rocks and they're very sharp. The sand is coarse with crushed shells and coral but very beautiful.
There is a spa in the hotel which you have to pay extra for. We booked a block of 10 massages which worked out a bit cheaper. We found the treatments very different to massage in the UK because they are based on many different methods. We found them to be extremely relaxing. They use loads of oil. When we wanted to go in to Grand Baie or Port Louis we found that there were problems choosing a taxi. The hotel taxis hada monopoly and would charge 500Rs for a return trip to Grand Baie whereas other firms would charge only 100RS and the bus at the bottom of the drive on the main road was only 10RS. We got involved in some arguments over this and one driver who said he'd been booked for us was going to charge 2500RS for a trip we had agreed 1500RS. He took us to all the places where his friends were selling items and it was the worst experience of the trip. Whatever you do DON'T go to Port Louis Market. We got chased around the market because we had shown interest in a T shirt. The traders badger you if you even give eye contact. Even the nice shops are the same. We were advised to offer half of whatever they asked. You can have suits and clothes made within 24 hrs but the quality of the sewing isn't always brilliant so don't feel you have to pay if the finished article isn't up to scratch as they will sell it 'off the peg' anyway. We were treated well and had a good holiday but we wouldn't stay at the resort again because it was out in the middle of nowhere and very exposed to the weather/wind. We would visit the dive centre. if we went again we wouldn't let local taxi drivers provide itinery for a trip. We compared our holiday cost with other guests and we paid almost a £1000 more between us then our French friends so it may be worth booking through a French travel agency or even fly from Paris. We used Letsgo2.com and weren't particularly impressed when they didn't have us on their list and didn't meet us at the hotel. Apparantly part of Connections and the Thos Cook group.
- Marina Resort All Inclusive
- Marina Hotel Anse La Raie
