Constance Prince Maurice

After a half-hour ride passing nearly nothing but trees and bushes, guests arrive at the stone and iron gates of Constance Le Prince Maurice. It feels like it's in the middle of nowhere -- and that's the point. Built far enough away from any distractions (aside from two nearby 18-hole golf courses), this contemporary luxury resort caters to couples, families, and golf-lovers. Designed with the ancient principles of Feng Shui in mind, decor at Le Prince is serene, and uses natural elements like stone and water. At the heart of the resort is its large, open-air lobby, a gorgeous space with soaring ceilings held in place by stone and wood pillars and beams. Meanwhile, elegant furniture with classical silhouettes is set about the dark granite floors. Also in this central area is the hotel's business center, a few restaurants, the boutiques, wine cellar, and the main swimming pool. Le Prince's beachfront rooms trace the shore on the northern edge of the property, while stilted rooms and suites surround the calm lagoon in the northwest section. The large size of the property and relatively low number of rooms gives guests here plenty of space to breathe, even at full capacity. Despite the hotel's family-friendly offerings like a kids' pool, the vast majority of guests here are couples, which isn't surprising given the romantic nature of the resort's remote setting.

Constance Le Prince Maurice's secluded location is ideal for travelers seeking an escape. Located at the tip of a peninsula near the Bras D'Eau National Park in the Poste de Flacq area, this remote hotel is only about a five-minute drive off the main highway, but, aside from two golf courses, it's about 30 minutes away from any points of interests by car. Both Legends Golf Course and Links Golf Course at the hotel's sister property, Constance Belle Mare Plage resort, are about a 15-minute drive away, where guests will also find the dive center. Mauritius' tourist hub of Grand Baie is a 40-minute drive. SSR International Airport is about 60 to 90 minutes by car. 

Each of Constance Le Prince Maurice's suites and villas are stylish and feature classic decor with beach colors accented by tasteful pops of oranges and teals, and contemporary Indo-Asian-style wooden furniture. The look is a bit old world and a bit island, but all chic, with paddle fans spinning lazily underneath pitched wood-beam ceilings. Hardwood floors add additional elegant polish while ocean-inspired art hangs on the cream walls. All units have private outdoor space, as well as minibars, tech-savvy Apple Mac minis (with pre-loaded movies on demand), flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, comfy beds, pillow menus, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have dual vanity sinks, handsome granite countertops, Constance branded toiletry kits, tubs, and rainfall showers. Junior Suites on Stilts get offer a bit more privacy that includes a furnished wooden deck and a beautiful view of the lagoon; and the Beachfront Junior Suites face east toward the ocean. Villas add more space, with separate living rooms and added perks like Nespresso machines. Beach Villas have separate living rooms and dining rooms, a heated pool overlooking the beach, jetted bathtubs, and iPod docking stations, as well as direct access to the beach. Princely Villas combine two Junior Suites and a Beach Villa, offering three separate terraces -- one with its own outdoor dining deck -- and a personal villa master. Family Suites are beachfront and have a separate, slightly smaller room with its own bathroom for the kids -- right off the main bedroom. There's also a large personal terrace with two sunbeds and an umbrella-shaded table and chairs. Most of these units are garden-set with beach views.

Constance Le Prince's main beach is on the northern section of the property, facing the Indian Ocean. Here, guests will find padded wooden lounge chairs, umbrellas, and open outdoor showers, complete with shampoo, body wash, and conditioner. The sand is soft and beige and gradually fades under the clear water of the ocean. Thatched umbrellas provide much-needed shade, ledges to set drinks on, and racks with rolled towels. The beach area is dotted with palm trees and lined at the back with thick bushes of sea cabbage. Over by the lagoon, there is more vegetation and significantly less setups, sand, (and as a result) people. The views of the lagoon are much more nature-filled and the water here is visibly deeper in color. 

Archipel is an elegant fine-dining spot where international dishes come with a local tweak, wine pairings, and views over the pool and out toward the beach. Open for all three meals, this restaurant has a smart casual to elegant chic dress code; no swimwear, shorts, or sandals allowed. Le Barachois, the hotel's luxe floating restaurant, also adheres to an elegant dress code, but is open for dinner only. Tables, dressed with silverware and crystal glasses, are set up on top of five separate docks floating over the lagoon, and the menu features seafood. Asian, Le Prince's east-Asian themed restaurant, is open for lunch and dinner and serves up Chinese and Japanese dishes like sushi and dim sum with side views of the lagoon. 

Laguna Bar is located between the main pool and beach area, making it the prime spot for drink service during the day or at sunset. Decor features solid, curvy modern furniture and bright pops of orange on the poolside deck plus orange-cushioned contemporary wicker chairs on the sands of the beach. The bartender slings cocktails while live music ranging from jazz to sitar enhances the atmosphere in the evenings. There's also a juice bar by the pool that's open for most of the day. Most evenings start or end at the Lotus Lounge Bar, where guests often stop for before- or after-dinner drinks. Drinks here can be expensive, but free bar snacks are a small perk.Like Le Barachois, the Fly Fishing Lounge Bar is a unique and romantic experience. Open only in the evenings, this small, stylish bar floats above the calm lagoon. There's also a dedicated wine bar called Wine Cellar, located next to Archipel, that has bar space for a handful of wine lovers, and access to over 25,000 bottles of wine. 

While many of the guests at Constance Le Prince may feel they are secluded, golfers are right by the action. Both Links Golf Course and Legends Golf Course are located at the resort's sister property, Constance Belle Mare Plage (about a 15-minute drive away), and have free green fees for guests. There's also free use of equipment. Both championship courses are built to USPGA standards, are located in the middle of a forest and along a stretch of beautiful beach, and feature Tif Dwarf grasses. If you haven't mastered your game, you can also check out the resort's golf school, which has smaller putting greens and lessons. 

While this property may have under 100 rooms, its large size and variety of activities and features could entertain a village. Beautiful beaches, golf courses, and restaurants aside, the standout feature here is the spa. The U Spa by Constance uses Sisley Paris products, and offers hydrothermal pools (for those with appointments only) and Asian-centered techniques and treatments. There's also a modern fitness center full of LifeFitness equipment and large flat-screen TVs, plus various classes like yoga. Outside the spa and fitness area, there are well-maintained tennis courts as well. Those who prefer to swin for exercise will find the lap pool located beachside. The hotel's two other pools include the large, centrally located main pool and the smaller kids' pool over at the Le Prince's kids' club. The main pool has well-built Indo-Asian style wooden lounge chairs with thick cream cushions, huge pool towels, contemporary umbrellas, and a couple of canopy cabana beds. An unusual find, the pool deck is made of medium-size tiles, which adds to a more stylish look than typical concrete or wood. The pool itself overlooks the beachfront and is an infinity-style fountain pool with tile base. From the right angle, the slick waters blend seamlessly with the calm ocean in the distance. Other water activities include a wide selection of free water sports, from kayaking and windsurfing to waterskiing and snorkeling. Plus, Le Prince has a PADI-certified dive center (though located at sister property Constance Belle Mare) that offers lessons. Diving excursions to shark pits, shipwrecks, and safaris are also available.Family-friendly features include babysitting services, a free kids' club, and kids' menus. The kids' club offers both indoor an outdoor space, and dedicated activities and games geared toward kids ages four to 11. Activities include a swimming pool, themed events, movies and games, a playground, and group activities. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi throughout, parking, a fully-loaded business center with services and meeting rooms, library with board games, and a collection of shops selling jewelry, souvenirs, and spa products.