Day 7: Koh Phayam Surfing Adventures and Beachside Breakfast

Our morning on Koh Phayam started with a mouth-watering falafel plate at the beachfront. The sight of perfect waves was too tempting to pass up, so I (Wild) decided to try surfing for the first time. Renting a board for 150 Baht per hour, I managed to catch some waves and even stood up a few times. It was thrilling!

Bungalow Quest Along the Beach

In the afternoon, our stroll along the beach turned into a quest for our next stay. We explored various resorts, finding options ranging from budget-friendly to luxury. The search was as much fun as it was challenging.

A Refreshing Pause at the Reggae Bar

Needing a break, we stopped by the Reggae Bar for some incredible smoothies. The mango and pineapple concoctions were just what we needed to recharge before continuing our exploration.

Evening Delight at JJ

Dinner was a beachside treat at JJ, where we enjoyed a scrumptious red snapper. The sound of the waves complemented our meal perfectly, creating a memorable dining experience under the stars.

Day 8: An Amazing Breakfast – The Perfect Start

The next day started with an amazing breakfast at “Bilbo’s”. They have self baked cinamon rolls, great fruit bowls and the best coffee we drank so far on the island (we have to mention, that we didn’t drink much coffee yet ).
So this cafe is definitely worth a visit…

Motorbike Ride to Buffalo Bay

This day brought a new adventure as we rented a motorbike to check out Buffalo Bay. The beach there had a different vibe, less inviting than our current spot but still worth the visit. Our hunt for accommodation led us to a solidly built bungalow at Buffalo Bay Vacation Club, a significant upgrade from our previous stay, especially the toilet!

Google Maps Link to Buffalo Bay Vacation Club: Buffalo Bay Vacation Club

Dinner and Work at Gypsy Bar

Our evening unfolded at the Gypsy Bar, where we combined dinner with a productive work session. The atmosphere was just right for both relaxation and getting things done – a rare find on Koh Phayam.

Summary

Days 7 & 8 were a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation on Koh Phayam. From my first surfing experience to finding the ideal bungalow, every moment added to the charm of this tropical haven. As we continue to explore and uncover the secrets of this island, we’re reminded of the beauty of discovering lesser-known paradises. Join us for more tales and tips as Dana & Wild keep unraveling the wonders of this hidden gem!

#KohPhayamSurfing #HiddenParadise #IslandAdventures

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The Journey to Bamboo Bungalows

On Koh Phayam, our first stop was a cozy shop where we met another Tom, who recommended the Bamboo Bungalows. His suggestion sounded perfect – beach access and a chill vibe were just what we needed. So, we hopped into a tuk-tuk (200 Baht/8€) and headed there.

Google Maps Link to Bamboo Bungalows: Bamboo Bungalows

Settling into Our Bamboo Abode

At the bungalows, we snagged the last available room – a simple, rustic bamboo bungalow for 600 Baht (about 16€) a night. While the room had its charm, the toilet situation was… let’s just say, less than ideal. But hey, that’s island life for you! Despite the smell, the overall ambiance of the place won us over.

Exploring Koh Phayam Paradise

Hungry for more than just scenery, we ventured out to explore the local dining scene. Koh Phayam is lined with cafes and eateries, offering a tempting array of choices right by the roadside. It’s a food lover’s paradise!

A Pizza Redemption at Paolo Italian Pizza

We stumbled upon ‘Paolo Italian Pizza’ and decided to give pizza another shot. We violated our 3 rules for eating in Thailand (see our other post), but we took the risk and it paid off! This time, the wood-fired oven promised a better experience. And it delivered! The pizza was fantastic, coupled with a fresh salad – a meal that definitely made up for our previous pizza misadventures.

Google Maps Link to Paolo Italian Pizza: Paolo Italian Pizza

Evening Beach Walks and Sunset Wonders

Post-dinner, we meandered back to Long Beach, a stretch of sandy shores perfect for leisurely walks. The sand was fine, and the best part? It didn’t stick to our feet – a small but significant joy! As we strolled, we found ourselves captivated by the breathtaking sunset, a perfect end to our first day in this island paradise.

Google Maps Link to Long Beach: Long Beach

Summary

Arriving on Koh Phayam was like stepping into a postcard, with just a hint of adventure (courtesy of our bungalow’s toilet!). From heartfelt breakfasts to beachside bliss, our day was a blend of island serenity, culinary delights, and those unforgettable sunset moments. As we settle into this slice of paradise, despite its quirky challenges, we’re reminded of why we love traveling so much. Stick around for more stories from Dana & Wild as we continue exploring the enchanting the Koh Phayam!

#KohPhayamParadise #IslandAdventures #TravelDiary

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A Morning of Surprises: The Jet Lag Jive Continues

Our day kicked off with the quirky rhythm of jet lag. After a night of work till the dawn (I worked until 6:00am in the morning), I (Wild) crashed into a brief slumber, while Dana ventured off in search of the hotel’s early morning charms. The clock struck 10:05 AM, and I dashed down to catch the tail end of the Chillax Resort’s breakfast buffet – a symphony of flavors awaiting our taste buds.

A few moments later Dana appeared and we had the chance to get a taste of Chillax’ breakfast. 
The breakfast is ok, you will find pretty everything you want: fresh fruits, Thai food, bread, tea, coffee, eggs in some variations etc. It costs 250 Baht per person – a bit too much in our opinion.

Google Maps Link to Chillax Resort: Chillax Resort

The Breakfast Encore

Joining me at the breakfast table, Dana shared tales of her gym and pool escapades. The resort’s gym, a haven for fitness enthusiasts, had been her morning muse. Together, we indulged in a spread that ranged from sweet pastries to savory Thai dishes, fueling up for another day of urban exploration.

Unexpected Culinary Twists

Our gastronomic journey took a sudden twist.
The aftermath of yesterday’s food garden adventure had us making frequent sprints to the restroom – Bangkok’s culinary surprises coming full circle in the most comical way.

Tech-Savvy in Bangkok: The eSIM Experience Continues

Post-breakfast, we settled back into our room, our laptops becoming our portals to the world.
The eSIM from Maya continued to be our digital lifeline, keeping us connected as we navigated our work amidst Bangkok’s pulsating energy.
Our reliance on this tech gem became a testament to the modern traveler’s needs.

An Evening of Discovery: Exchange Rates and Street Life

Venturing out in the evening, we stumbled upon an exchange office offering an attractive rate: 37.90 Baht for 1€. This discovery led to a spontaneous decision to exchange €200, a move that proved to be financially savvy compared to ATM withdrawals. Such are the small victories in the life of a traveler!

And always remember to have cash of your home currency with you, because the cheapest way of getting a foreign currency is mostly exchanging cash into the foreign currency on location!

If you withdraw money from the ATM in Bangkok, they take 220 Baht network fee. If you withdraw 10.400 Baht, that’s 2%. If you take a smaller amount, that’s a huge fee!

Exploring Thanon Ram Buttri

Our exploration took us to Thanon Ram Buttri, a vibrant street paralleling the famous Khaosan Road. Here, the pulse of Bangkok was tangible, with a myriad of restaurants and street food stalls painting a lively picture of the city’s dining scene.
It’s right next to the Khaosan road, which is well known.

Google Maps Link to Thanon Ram Buttri: Thanon Ram Buttri

A Lesson in Culinary Choices

Our dinner choice, a fusion of curiosity and hunger, led us to a Thai restaurant serving pizza. The experience was a humorous reminder – when in Thailand, stick to Thai cuisine! The frozen pizza, at 290 Baht, was a far cry from the local flavors we had come to adore.

Developing a Dining Strategy For Thailand

From our recent dining experiences, we crafted a simple yet effective dining strategy:

1. follow the inviting aromas and your nose
2. trust your instincts about the ambiance of the location (it should make you feel good)
3. always check Google reviews.

This trifecta became our guide in the culinary labyrinth of Bangkok.

Conclusion in Exploring Bangkok

Day 3 of ‘Exploring Bangkok’ was a blend of work, whimsical culinary experiences, and urban discoveries. Each moment, from the humorous to the enlightening, added depth to our Bangkok story. Join us, Dana & Wild, as we continue to navigate the vibrant streets, uncovering the city’s hidden gems and embracing its endless surprises. Stay tuned for more tales of laughter, learning, and artistic adventures in the heart of Thailand!

#ExploringBangkok #BangkokCulinaryAdventures #UrbanExploration

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Diesmal verschlug es uns auf die kanarischen Inseln bzw. die Kanaren. Genauergesagt machten wir eine Kreuzfahrt auf Mein Schiff 3 und blieben anschließend noch eine Woche in Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).

[English]

Overview of our tour in november 2014 to the canaries including Gran Canaria, Madeira, La Palma, Teneriffa and Fuerteventura (click on an entry for details).

This time we decided to do our tour report in german as people who want to do the same tour with Mein Schiff 3 are mostly german based.

But we added a link in each report to the Google translated version of each report.

• Mein Schiff 3 (german / deutsch)
• Madeira (german / deutsch)
• Teneriffa (german / deutsch)
• La Palma (german / deutsch)
• Fuerteventura (german / deutsch)
• Gran Canaria (german / deutsch)

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Gesamtbewertung (von 5 Sternen): ****

Preisklasse: $$$$$ (€ 198 pro Person / Tag)

Zimmer und Verpflegung: Außenkabine mit Balkon, All-inclusive Verpflegung (inkl. gängiger Cocktails wie Mojito, Caipirinha, etc.)

Die kanarischen Inseln und Madeira mit Tui Cruises Mein Schiff 3

Anlässlich der goldenen Hochzeit (= 50 Jahre verheiratet!) von Dana’s Eltern gingen wir im November 2014 auf Kreuzfahrt. Unser Ziel: die Kanarischen Inseln + Madeira.  Schon voriges Jahr cruisten wir mit der Equinox von Celebrity Cruises in der Karibik. Dieses Mal fuhren wir mit der nagelneuen und sehr schönen “Mein Schiff 3” von TUI Cruises. So hatten wir einen guten Vergleich und wollen wollen euch hier unsere Eindrücke und Tipps vermitteln.

Alles inklusive

Auf der Mein Schiff 3 wird das all-inclusive-Konzept verfolgt. Das bedeutet, viele anti-alkoholische und alkohlische Getränke sowie Speisen an Bord sind inkludiert. Es gibt auch Zusatzlokale, restaurants oder -bars, deren Angebot extra kostet.

Wir haben uns durchgerechnet, dass man in etwa für 75 Euro täglich konsumieren muss, damit sich das all-inclusive Konzept rechnet (verglichen mit dem Angebot, das wir auf der Equinox hatten). Insofern rechnet sich all-inclusive für uns nicht (unser Tagesbedarf war etwa 30 Euro).

Wir haben euch auch hier die Getränkekarte hochgeladen, die bei uns an Bord gültig war

Nähere Infos zum all-inclusive-Angebot gibts direkt bei TUI Cruises

Die Zimmer

Wir hatten uns für eine Außenkabine mit Balkon entschieden. Die Zimmer sind groß und sehr schön in hellem, maritimem Design. Es gibt genügend Stauraum, das Bad ist großzügig bemessen. Eine Nespressomaschine und eine Wasserkaraffe (die man sich bei den Wasserspendern am Gang jederzeit auffüllen kann) sind ebenso vorhanden wie ein ordentlicher Haarfön (wichtig für die Ladies) und ein großer LED Bildschirm.

Am Balkon kann man (wenn man gerade Lust dazu hat) gemütlich sitzen, Musik machen oder hören, lesen oder einfach nur aufs Meer hinausschauen.

Leben an Bord und Unterhaltung

Oder man gibt sich dem umfangreichen Programmangebot hin, das es an Bord gibt. Wer jetzt denkt, dass dort permanent Animateure herumlaufen, die versuchen, einen zu animieren, der irrt.
Denn es gibt nur ein Infoblatt mit dem Tagesprogramm.
Dieses kommt jeden Tag am Abend im Rahmen des abendlichen Housekeeping (morgens und abends) aufs Zimmer und man kann sich dann seine Aktivitäten für den nächsten Tag aussuchen.

Es gibt Restaurants, Bars, Swimming Pools, Lounges und der große Spa- und Fitness-Bereich an Bord.

Wem das nicht reicht, der kann im Rahmen des Tagesprogrammes von diversen Workshops über Verkostungen und Sportaktivitäten bis hin zu Theateraufführungen im bordeigenen Theater alles ausnutzen.

Leider gab es in dieser Woche nur 4 Abendvorstellungen im Theater. Es gibt lediglich nur eine Show am Abend und leider  (wie bei anderen Schiffen üblich) keine weitere Vorstellung.  Wer 5 Minuten vor Vorstellung kommt hat einfach Pech, muss stehen oder gehen (was auch viele am ersten Abend gleich gemacht haben und somit auch nicht mehr gekommen sind). Wir haben uns alle drei Shows angesehen.  Eine fiel aufgrund des starken Seegangs leider aus.

Bei den Shows ist starker Optimierungsbedarf, wenn wir dieses Angebot mit der Equinox vergleichen. Dort gab es sogar täglich 2 Vorstellungen (immer die gleichen). Einmal für die “Früh-” und einmal für die “Spätesser”. Auf der Mein Schiff 3 ist mit einer  Show im Theater einfach zu wenig Platzangebot. Die Shows  sowie die Künstler sind im Vergleich zur Equniox von geringer Qualität und weniger spektakulär, aber durchaus ok.

Essen und Genuss

Es gibt zahlreiche Restaurants und Bars und jederzeit die Möglichkeit, etwas zu essen und zu trinken. Etwa zur Mittagszeit im Hauptbuffet oder nachmittags im Tag & Nacht Bistro.
Die Speisenauswahl an den Buffets ist vielfältig, die Qualität varriiert. Brot und Gebäck hat uns zum Beispiel nicht so geschmeckt, Brötchen waren immer bröselig (zu hart).

Sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig war für uns die Organisation des Abendessens. Auch hier waren wir von der Equinox verwöhnt. Dort hatten wir unseren Zeitslot (ca. 2 Std.), in dem wir essen gingen. Wir wurden von unserem persönlichen Kellner auf unserem fixen Sitzplatz empfangen und auch sehr persönlich bedient.
Auf der Mein Schiff 3 gibt es keine fixen Sitzplätze und keine “persönlichen” Kellner. Man geht in eines der 3 Restaurants (Klassik, Mediteran oder Eurasia) und wenn man zwischen 18:30 und 20:00 essen möchte, kann man davon ausgehen, zwischen 15 und 45 Minuten zu warten, bis ein Platz frei wird.

Das Warten funktioniert so: man bekommt ein Nummernkärtchen und setzt sich in eine Bar. Dort kommt dann jemand, sobald ein Tisch frei wird und holt einen ab. Die Getränke, die man sich an der Bar bestellt hat, darf man dann natürlich zum Tisch mitnehmen. Hier ist zu raten, gleich einen Wein mitzunehmen, denn der beim Abendessen ist die Ganze Woche (für alle 3 Restaurants) der selbe Wein – wieder ein Nachteil des All Inclusive Konzepts.
Die Bedienung im Restaurant hat auf uns sehr hektisch und unpersönlich gewirkt. Auch war der Rhythmus zwischen den Gängen zu variabel: mal kam alle 5 Minuten ein Gericht, mal warteten wir 20 Minuten zwischen den Gerichten.

Die Qualität und Zusammensetzung der Speisen / Zutaten war für uns persönlich folgendermaßen:

• Eurasia – sehr gut
• Mediteran – sehr gut
• Klassik – gut

Wer keine Bedienung oder sich nicht mit viel Wartezeit herumschlagen möchte, kann auch zum Buffet gehen, das ebenfalls sehr vielfältig ist.

Zu den Bars ist anzumerken, dass es, abseits der Disco, nur in einer Bar (Live-)Tanzmusik gab, nämlich in der Schaubar. Diese Bar war entsprechend immer voll (sodass man auch hier auf einen Platz warten muss). Hier hätten wir uns gewünscht, dass es zumindest eine Ausweichmöglichkeit gibt.

Gesamteindruck / Fazit Mein Schiff 3

Alles in allem ist Mein Schiff 3 ein sehr schönes Schiff mit vielfältigem Angebot. Die Bars und die Qualität der Speisen sind gut, die Qualität der Getränke sehr gut.

Optimierungsbedarf besteht in der Organisation des Abendessens, der Theateraufführungen und des Platzangebotes in den Bars (bzw. Ausweichmöglichkeiten bei Bars mit Live Musik).

Der Altersdurchschnitt beim Publikum war ca. 40-45 Jahre. Es waren relativ wenige Familien bzw. Kinder an Bord.

Angelaufene Häfen – die Kanaren & Madeira

Die Berichte zu den einzelnen Häfen und Inseln findest du HIER

Pro und Contra

+ Neues Schiff mit Top Ausstattung
+ Zimmer (Balkonkabine) sehr schön, geräumig und hell
+ Im All-Inclusive-Paket ist wirklich alles dabei. Auch Markengetränke+ Kaffeequalität
+ Zimmer und Schiff sind sehr schön
+ Wiener Schnitzl statt vom Schwein vom Kalb
+ Nachdem wir auf harten Kuchen aufmerksam machten, wurde er sofort getauscht
+ Fitnessbereich sehr gut ausgestattet
+ Wellnessbereich sehr schön
+ Frühstücksangebot
+ Qualität der Spa Anwendungen

– Kuchen im Tag & Nacht Bistro aussen hart, Mehlspeisen wirken generell so als wären sie “von gestern”
– Vortrag über Entstehung kanarische Inseln zu fachspezifisch
– Waren in den Shops zu teuer
– Qualität der Speisen generell nur mäßig
– Brötchen sind immer zu hart, Brot pappt teilweise im Mund zusammen. Wieso gibt es die Brötchen, die bei den Sandwiches verarbeitet werden nicht gesondert? Deren Qualität war i.O.
– Theatervorstellungen überfüllt und zu wenige Vorstellungen
– Restaurant Vorreservierung nicht möglich, Wartezeiten von ca. 30 Minuten. Das muss anders organisiert werden.
– Es knarzt und knarrt an etlichen Stellen (z.B. bei Fotoausarbeitung oder im Theater 5. Stock hinten)
– Rhythmus des Servierens inkonsistent: mal warten wir 20 Minuten zwischen den Gängen, mal 10 und dann nur ein paar, obwohl wir immer alle Gänge bestellten
– Platz in den Bars zu knapp bemessen bzw. zu wenige Bars mit Unterhaltungsprogramm. Schaubar als einzige (Inklusiv-)Bar mit Band und brechend voll. Tui Bar ohne Unterhaltung.
– Nachdem wir an der Schaubar zum Warten auf den Abendessenplatz platziert wurden, bekamen wir 20 Minuten lang keine Getränke
– Es wurde eine akrobatische Show geplant während der Überfahrt von Madeira nach La Palma und musste aufgrund des Wellengangs abgesagt werden. Wieso plant man so eine Show nicht, wenn das Schiff vor Anker oder am Kai liegt (z.B. Madeira)?
– Zum Abendessen immer den gleichen Wein
– Weder Fisch- noch Steakmesser in den Restaurants verfügbar
– Tischtuch muss in Restaurants immer auf die Tische, damit bei Seegang die Gläser nicht so leicht rutschen
– Wer auf seichte Unterhaltung im Theater

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Price Range: $$$ (94€ per room/night exkl. board)

Rating (out of 5 stars): ****

Before our tour with Mein Schiff 3 we’ve spent a night at the NH Imperial Playa hotel in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which is located directly on the beach “Las Canteras”.

We’ve been very satisfied with this hotel, although our room was smelling like chlorine on our arrival.
The advantage of that: the room was very clean, but we had to got used to the smell. We opened the door to the balcony all the time so the smell was ok after a few hours.

The best thing of this hotel is it’s location directly on the beach.

In the evening we walked on the beach promenade and went for dinner in a tapas bar directly on the beach. The promenade is very nice with lots of restaurants, cafes and shops.

The night in the hotel was calm and good. The beds are also good.

If you like you can have breakfast in the hotel (for 15€ – or 12€ if you book it the day before).
We skipped this one, although it was looking very good (we had a look on it). So if we would stay several nights in this hotel, we definitely would try the breakfast.

Instead we decided to have breakfast in one of the numerous cafes directly on the beach.
We went jogging on the beach promenade before, with lots of other people and Wild entered the atlantic ocean after the workout. The sea temperature was ok (~22 degrees) and refreshing.

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Radda in Chianti

Radda in Chianti is a small town in the Tuscany region in Italy (Siena). It’s nice there, very calm and you can find some small shops and restaurants there, where you can enjoy good wines from the region, salumi, handmade pasta and much more typical food.

The famous wine “Chianti” also has it’s origin here. You can make wine tours, visit some winemakers and have winetastings.
As we have been here with some people from the catering business who have a business relationship with winemakers we were able to visit some exclusive wine tastings at Fonterutoli and Brancaia.

In addition we had our mascot “Pici” with us. He assisted us on making our music video “Dana & Wild – Pici Amore” which we’ll publish soon here…

The “Hotel Radda”

We booked the hotel because of it’s ratings on some web platforms like Tripadvisor and booking.com

Here are our impressions of the hotel in short:

PRO

• Nice view from the hotel and the room
• The hotel looks very nice from outside, also the reception and the bar look very nice and it’s nice sitting there, having a drink and enjoying the evening
• The pool is nice
• The staff was friendly and they tried their best to fit our needs
• The room was calm and can be darkened properly, we slept very well
• Many parking possibilities
• You have a running track starting from the hotel (if you’d like to do some sports)
• Television in the bar, so we were able to watch the football world championship 2014

CONTRA

• The overall impression of the room and the food is less than 4 stars
• Food and drinks are very expensive (Aperol with Prosecco 7 Euro, Gaspacho 10 Euro etc.)
• Breakfast buffet is small and very simple. If you like some fried eggs, you have to pay 4 Euro. Scrumbled eggs are included. The first hot drink is free (e.g. if you like a Cappuccino). The second (and third etc…) hot drink has to be paid (2 Euro for a Cappuccino). The quality of bread is awful.
• TV-programs in the room are of bad quality (some flicker) and are only in Italian language (except one news channel which is in English)
• The shower in the bathroom looks old and has to be renovated (see pictures)
• No fitness room
• Extra one-time-fee (10 Euro), if you’d like to use the spa (we didn’t use it so we can’t tell you anything about the quality of it)

Pictures Hotel Radda in Chianti

More pictures from our trip

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Price range: $$$ (143€ per person, per night)

Room and board: Prestige Cottage Room, half board

For the last days we are staying at Preskil Beach Resort, Mahebourg.  To be serious: we expected more compared to Merville Beach, because Preskil has 5 stars, while Merville only has 4.
In comparison to Merville Beach, the  staff at Preskil isn’t that welcoming, the room is smaller, the beach isn’t that nice,  wheather isn’t that good and also this hotel charges for many services extra.
Although it has some disadvantages we liked Preskil at the end of the day. We liked the hotel complex, the clear water of the sea and the water sport activities.

The hotel

The good
+ generelly the hotel complex is very nice and in the evening it’s romantic
+ the sea is very clear
+ buffet: food is fresh, excellent and a lot of choice; we like the variety of the breakfast buffet
+ A huge variety of watersport activities like water skiing, sailing, snorkeling, diving, etc. Best of all: nearly everything is free
+2 tennis courts (hard pitch) and rackets for free
+ excellent band in the evening
+ there is a bus station infront the hotel. The bus goes to Mahebourg (approx. 15 minutes)
+ On monday there is a market in Mahebourg (cheap cloth)

The not so good
– Preskil charges  extra for many services:
– exra charge for the internet (WLAN is just for free in the bar)
– extra charge for water (75 rupees per bottle)
– extra charge for tennis balls, better bring your own tennis balls! (4 tennis balls cost  510 rupees (12,50 EUR)) in the hotel
– when you want barbecue instead evening buffet it  costs extra 950 rupees (25 EUR)
– when you want to book the steakhouse instead of evening buffet it costs 750 rupees
– Compared to the west, the weather here in the east  isn’t that nice. In the  afternoon it’s always cloudy. Temperatures are approx.5 degrees lower
– room (prestige cottage) : as we entered in the first time , the room was smelling badly and it seemed very small. It  should be 42m2.  But we measured  (with a cord and a page in A4) only 32 m2. When you add the terrace you get 42 m2.
– service isn’t that friendly
– the evening buffet is somehow strange. When they have for example chinese buffet they also serve pizza.
– service is not so welcoming.

And again, here are some of our impressions:

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Price range: $$$$ (135€ per person, per night)

Room and board: 1 deluxe room, sea view, kingsize bed, half board

The hotel

The good:

• Nice welcome package: when we approached the room, we found a t-shirt on the bed, a bottle of champagne and a basket with fresh fruits on the table.
• Great view from our room: the sea in front of us and every day a beautiful sunset (see picture slideshow below)
• Sun in the afternoon / in the evening
• A huge variety of watersport activities like water skiing, sailing, snorkeling, diving, etc. Best of all: nearly everything is free
• Beautiful beach, clear water
• The staff was very friendly and helpful.
• One evening we booked dinner on the beach (additional fee around 700MUR / 17 EUR). When we were sitting on the beach, the manager of the hotel stopped by to ask us if we enjoy our stay.
• Very good service. One day our A/C didn’t work. We reported it before we went to dinner, after we came back into our room a few hours later, it was fixed.
• Daily bottle of water for free
• Wi-fi is free and available everywhere in the hotel
• The hotel has 3 stars, in our opinion that’s underrated, they deserve 4
• Our room was very bright, nice and clean, although there were some small damages (see pictures) on mirrors etc.
• The have a tennis court available for free use with floodlight. It’s a hard court in good condition. Tennis rackets and balls are free

The not so good:

• When we arrived at the beach at 11am, all beach loungers were taken. We just stayed there eitherway. If nobody was coming within 1 hour, we moved their towels and took the beach lounger. That’s conforming the hotel rules which say you have to free the lounger, if you leave it and don’t come back within 1 hour
• Food was ok, but nothing special. We booked half-board so we had a buffet each evening
• Our room was not 100% quiet: sometimes we heard our neighboors with their little children through the wall
• In general you can see that the hotel is not the newest one. Everything is clean and well maintained. For example the edges of mirror in the bathroom were broken (see pictures below)

Tipp

For an additional fee (700 MUR / 17 EUR) you can have dinner with service included directly on the beach. So you don’t eat from the buffet and the meals are served.

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Duration: Although the tour operator presents this sailing tour for 4 days/3 nights, it was just 2 ½ full days! The reason: we started our first day at 1pm and finished it on the fourth day at 8am.

Cost: 700 EUR in total per person (incl. all fees), fullboard. Drinks included only during meals.

Yesterday it was our last day at Lataniers Bleus. It rained the whole day! We’have been afraid, that this weather continues and we will get wet on our katamaran trip.

We had luck…

1st day – Port Louis, Pereybere

Today in the morning we went with our taxi driver to Port Louis – Caudal Waterfront, where the catamaran “Chaka” and it’s crew Janik & Christoph were waiting for us.
Another couple from Germany was also on board, so we have been 4 people in total (there is a maximum of 8 people possible on board beside the skippers). The manager of the agency welcomed us and gave us a small briefing for the trip. The journey will lead us to the northern part of Mauritius.

At 2pm we departed to our first goal Pereybere. For me it seems like a sleeping tiny village,  like the dogs kuddling on the beach  you can see on the picture.

After we had enjoyed swimming in the bay of Pereybere we went to the supermarket there.
TIP: this supermarket is big and has good prices.
We bought some cocos liqueur to make some cocktails on our journey. Just mix the “Chamarel cocos liqueur” with some pineapple juice and ice – voilà.
See also our tips for shopping.

In the evening we had a delicious dinner. Homemade and served by our two skippers. EXCELLENT!
Janik and Christoph are not only good skippers but also excellent cooks. The food is very delicious and one of the best during our stay on Mauritius so far.
We are talking into the night with our new friends from Germany while the sea is calm,  we watch the stars and have some of our self made cocktails.

2nd day – Cap Malheureux, Ilot Gabriel

I got up at 8am this morning. I didn’t sleep so well because of the loud noise of the boat engine. Everybody was waking up at a different time and we were curious how the breakfast will be. Again: it was delicious: fresh fruits, jam, toasted bread, eggs – whatever you need. Mmmmmh…
And here it was…the SUN, yeah! No rain any more. We had really luck to have this weather now after the rainy day before.

Then we moved on to our next destination: Cap Malheureux, famous for its beautiful church. I jumped in the sea and swam to the beach, while Wildcafe was working on our Mauritius song.

Next stop: Ilot Gabriel.
Although the waves were really rough there, our two skippers succeeded to get into the bay of Ilot Gabriel late in the afternoon after we’ve been sailing around 2 hours. They told us they’re going in later, because there are many tourists on the island during the day. So we had the island and the beach for us alone.

I was really curious about this island, because it should be one of the nicest spots here on Mauritius.. It’s awesome here, nice beach with nearly white sand and clear water as you can see on the pictures below.

We also went sknorkeling – but there weren’t so many fishes, it was somehow boring.

This was another beautiful day. It was amazing – outside of the bay the rough sea, and our ship wiggling in front of Ilot Gabriel. And the only people there: our sailing group –  it was calm and very relaxed. After we had a delicious dinner (again) and excellent wine we fell asleep very soon.

3rd day – Coin de Mire, Mont Choisy, Grand Baie

Today we went to Coin the Mire, were we did some snorkeling in the cristal clear water. There was a strong current and we had to be careful not to come very near to the cliffs. We stayed there about 1 ½ hours. You can see nothing special here. Wildcafe was diving on 9m depth and he found a big sea shell.

After that we went to Mont Choisy. The turquoise sea here was spectacular and we had really fun with our paddel boat. We also booked a speed ride.

WOW that was really great ride! We booked a second session, because it was so much fun. The price is 600 MUR (14 Euro) per person for the small round and if you would make it twice as long (what we did), it costs you 800 MUR (19 Euro) per person.

In the evening we went to our final destination Grand Baie.

You can read in travel guides, that Grand Baie is one of the the most lively spots of Mauritius. We expected discos, nightlife and much more…
Hmmm, now here is the truth – well there are some shops, a big entertainment- and shopping-center. The shops close at 6.30 and then it’s really quiet.
We stayed there overnight with a delicious dinner (did I mention that?) on board. On the next day we got up very early at 8am to hence to our next accomodation on Mauritius.

Here some final impressions of Grand Baie and our sailing crew:

The catamaran trip is really worth it. Although we have to mention that the offer is not clear enough, telling you that you get 4 days while it’s in total just 2 ½ full days! The trip starts in the mid of the first day and stops early in the morning of the last day. Although the delicious food and the nice crew compensated that a little bit.

A great service by the way: our next stay was the Merville Beach Resort. Our skippers just dropped us there directly on the hotel’s beach with our lugagge.  Can you imagine. This is really funny. The hotel crew was completely stunned, that we arrived directly on the beach.

Read more about this story in our article about the Mervile Beach Resort…

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