So, let’s get you packed with zero regrets. Here is our run down of items we suggest you have in your arsenal to really make the most out of your time on the island and not miss out on a thing!

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Sunscreen

Adding an extra layer of SPF should be part of your daily skincare routine – and if it isn’t, we suggest you start - but for a trip to Mauritius it is vital to pack more than a basic factor for your face. The sun is very strong on the island all year round so opt for much higher factors for full coverage. We doubt you’ll be able to resist the crystal clear water of the lagoon, or your tranquil infinity pool, so a sun block that’s water resistant is essential for waterbabies and highly recommended for kids.

1. Face: KIEHLS, Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 PA++++ 30ml, £30.00

2. Body: SHISEIDO, Expert Sun Protector Face and Body Lotion SPF50+ 300ml, £45.00

3. Kids: LA ROCHE POSSAY, Anthelios Invisible Kids Mist SPF50 125ml, £22.00

Language Help

The most prominent languages spoken in Mauritius are Mauritian Creole (a French-based language), French and English. Many locals speak English, the majority are fluent, it is respectful to make the effort where you can. In days gone by we may have thrown a ‘popular phrase’ book into our hand luggage and hoped for the best. However, modern travel and technology much more streamlined and there are some fantastic apps available for download ahead of travel that will help you out if you are feeling a little rusty. Some of our favourites include TripLingo and Google Translate which are both available on Apple and Android devices. 

Reusable Water Bottle

The war on plastic is prominent on this tiny island and carrying around a single-use drinking vessel is frowned upon, not to mention environmentally damaging. What’s more, plastic water bottles trap heat resulting in warm drinks and a risk of softening in the sun. To avoid this annoyance altogether bag yourself a reusable water bottle designed to keep your drinks cool all day long. A Swell Traveler bottle not only keeps drinks cold for 36 hours, but the wide lipped design also makes it easier than other competitors to keep clean and add cubes of ice to your drinks.

4. Waterbottle: SWELL, Traveler 590ml, from £24.50

Sunglasses

UV light can be very harmful on the eyes and your vision isn’t something you should take for granted. Rest assured you can still look good while putting the health of your eyes first by keeping those peepers behind some stylish protective frames. Choosing a simple timeless design for your holiday shades means you won’t have to travel with multiple pairs, and they will be the perfect accessory for every outfit while you are away. The only reason you will need a second pair is for the sporty activities you might be getting up to during your stay, especially water-based pursuits like sailing or kayaking where the sun can cause more damage by reflecting off the water.

5. Men: GUCCI, Aviator sunglasses, £290.00

6. Women: CHLOÉ, Octagon-frame tortoiseshell acetate sunglasses, £225.00 at Net-A-Porter

7. Sport: OAKLEY, Split Shot Prizm Ruby Polarized, £192.00

Beach Bag

If you are going to be making the most out of each day you certainly don’t want to be back and forth to your hotel room or suite, so making sure you have something practical and stylish to carry all your essentials in is, well, essential! We recommend keeping it classic with an island chic straw-inspired beach bag. 

8. Budget: & OTHER STORIES, Large Woven Straw Tote, £55.00

9. Mid-Range: JACQUEMUS, Le panier Soleil Straw and leather basket, £330.00

10. Splash Out: SAINT LAURENT, Panier Small Bag In Raffia, £715.00

11. Wild Card: DIOR, Small Dior Book Tote, £2,300.00

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Water baby or not, on a trip to Mauritius you are going to need a selection of swimwear to rotate between, whether that’s for lounging around the pool and catching some rays or living your best life on a diving trip. To be frank about it, often the skimpiest briefs that are great for a seamless tan are not the most practical for carefree ‘jump in the deep end’ activities. So, make sure you prepare yourself with the best of both.   

1. Men's Resort Wear: ORLEBAR BROWN, SPRINGER Mineral Shortest-Length Swim Shorts, £165.00

2. Men's Sport Option: HUGO BOSS, Quick-drying swim shorts with logo and reflective stripes, £75.00

3. Women's Resort Wear: VIX, Dune ribbed bikini top and briefs, £187.07 at Net-A-Porter

4. Women's Sport Option: STAY WILD SWIM, Round-neck swimsuit, £170.00 

Day Outfits

Think easy breezy. In the daytime opt for light fabric that is comfortable but still looks and feels great. You want to make sure you stay as cool as possible while looking your best. An item is a blessing if it can be thrown on over swim wear and still look chic as you potter around the resort. Be sure to also pack some awesome outfits for a relaxing afternoon doing some world class alfresco dining. 

5. Women's Beach Wear: MELISSA ODABASH, Alesha white long shirt dress, £196.00

6. Men's Beach Wear: GANT, Regular Fit Linen Shirt, £110.00

7. Women's Day Wear: SELF-PORTRAIT, Cotton maxi dress, £340.00 at My Theresa

8. Headscarf: ASPINAL OF LONDON, Botanical 'A' Silk Scarf in Chalkhill Blue Pure Silk Twill, £125.00

9. Women’s Shoes: VALENTINO, Go Logo raffia slides, £490.00 at Net-A-Porter

10. Men's Day Wear: SANDRO, Bloom floral-print woven shirt, £179.00 at Selfridges

11. Men’s Shoes: TIMBERLAND, Cedar Bay Boat Shoe For Men In Beige, £ 110.00

Evening Outfits

For evening dining in resort, keep fashion effortlessly stylish but turned up a gear with fun accessories and stand-out shoes. Most restaurants within the resorts will expect smart casual attire, but some may require trousers, collared shirts and a closed toe shoes, so it is worth checking with your personal travel manager ahead of departure or bringing some more formal options as a just in case. 

12. Women's Evening Wear: RHODE, Ella belted floral-print cotton-voile mini dress, £360.00 at Net-A-Porter

13. Women’s Shoes: BOTTEGA VENETA, Stretch intrecciato raffia heeled mules, £780.00 at Selfridges

14. Earrings: LUISAVIAROMA, Assembly Ceramic Multi Hoop Earrings, £215.00

15. Men's Evening Wear: JACQUEMUS, Le Polo Blé short-sleeved polo, £265.00 at My Theresa 

16. Men's Evening Wear: GIVENCHY, Wool sweatpants, £450.00 at My Theresa

17. Men’s Shoes: GABRIEL, Polo Suede Classic Tassel Loafer. Price on request

Note 1: In the evening, it is amazing how quickly you can catch goose pimples after a day in the heat of the sun. Be sure to pack a light jacket or something to throw over your shoulders to keep the chill at bay.

Note 2: Long clothing that covers your arms and legs is handy to have to hand, not only if you wish to cover up from the sun, but also if you head off to explore the island and visit a religious site, like a Hindu Temple. 

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Camera

While most of us these days choose our phones based on the calibre of camera quality, have you considered while you’re away you might just want to leave your phone behind and enjoy exploring the island? Think about a separate camera just for holiday snaps or a waterproof device that you can capture your snorkelling or hanging out by the pool. If you are travelling with the kids, don’t neglect them, it is always great fun to let them run wild with their own device and capture memories. Or, if it is just the two of you and you want to capture every moment from the best angles, contemplate a drone. While it may seem excessive to some, you will collect imagery that simply cannot be rivalled by anything else! 

1. Compact Digital Camera:  FUJIFILM, X100V Digital Compact Camera, £1,299.00 at John Lewis

2. Sporty Camera: GO PRO, HERO9 Bundle, £379.98 

3. Kids Camera: NIKON, COOLPIX W150, £149.00

4. Drone: GO PRO, Karma Drone Black, £629.99

Kindle

While there are lists of activities and excursions as tall as a palm tree, sometimes your break needs to be purely about relaxation. With busy lives at home, we don’t often afford the luxury of just sitting in one place and finishing a book. So, spoil yourself, that’s what holidays are for. Many novels these days are a heavy sacrifice when it comes to baggage allowance, so this is an easy alternative to cut down your kilograms. Plus, if you start a book that isn’t really filling you with enthusiasm you can simply try something else with just a few clicks.

5. AMAZON, Kindle Paperwhite | Waterproof, 6" High-Resolution Display, £119.99

Headphones

Everything about holiday demands headphones, from keeping you entertained on the journey, to solo walks on the beach to evenings in a shared suite with the whole family. Find true inner peace with some chilled-out tunes, your favourite podcast or even a guided meditation or two. Quality counts when it comes to superior sounds so a good pair of noise cancelling headphones will have you feeling like you are on a private jet, even if you are travelling economy. 

6. BOSE, Quiet Comfort Earbuds Noise Cancelling True Wireless Sweat & Weather-Resistant, £229.00 at John Lewis

Tablet

All work no play, certainly isn’t fun for anyone, but not everyone has the luxury of putting an ‘out of office’ on for the duration of a holiday. A tablet is an easy and convenient way to read emails and view documents without having to pack a bulky laptop. Plus, it can also double up as a fun way to entertain the children with their favourite games or videos during a long flight, or while you are getting ready for dinner. 

7. APPLE, IPad Air, from £579.00

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Having all the gear and no idea, isn’t actually a bad situation to be in. You would rather be prepared, right? If you are after an active or sport fuelled holiday, think ahead and make sure you and your family are going to have everything they need to ensure nothing stops the fun. 

Rash Vests

This is a great idea if you think you might let time run away with you when you are out splashing or snorkelling in the sea. There is nothing worse than leaving it too long between SPF applications and catching too many of the sun’s rays. UV swimwear for kids also is a good way to rest your mind that you are doing all you can to protect their skin while you are away.

1. Womens: HEIDI KLEIN, Core Nautical Textured Rash Vest, £145.00  

2. Mens: O’NEILL, Premium Skins Long Sleeve Rash Guard Men, £34.95

3. Kids: O’NEILL, Shortsleeve Skin, £24.99

Water Shoes

Look, we understand, they’re not glamourous but if you are a little bit uneasy about marine life getting close to your toes, it’s worth the small investment… and fashion faux pas. Plus, Mauritius has a wealth of coral which is beautiful to behold but dangerous underfoot, so health and safety first!

4. SPEEDO, Zanpa AM, £21.00

Trainers

I know you’re thinking Mauritius requires flip flops and sandals only. But, you are forgetting the tropical jungle and local villages that are waiting to be explored. Something sturdier is required to protect your feet but also stay comfortable as you investigate what lies outside of your resort. Also, don’t forget the other sporting activities available in many of the resorts including tennis, cycling and even golf. You may just end up wearing your trainers more than your sandals!

5. Womens: NIKE, Nike Air Max 2X, £90.00

6. Mens: ADIDAS, Ozweego Shoes, ZWEEGO SHOES, £90

Dry Bag 

Is your family thoroughly excited to dive into the crystal-clear Indian Ocean and try every water-based activity under the sun? If so, you need to grab yourself a dry bag. When spending hours out on the waves this is the most practical way to keep the important stuff all in one place, like phones, cameras, room key, wallets… all without it getting wet or smothered in sand. 

7. FILSON, Large Dry Bag, £110.00

Sports Wear

Do you love to start your day with a 5K or lifting something that’s double your body weight? Well you’re in luck as all five-star Mauritius resorts have an abundance of high-tech gym and sports equipment that you should certainly take advantage of… so be sure to pack something appropriate. Think yoga leggings, sports bras, running shorts and your favourite tennis and golf outfits. If you feel your best then you’ll certainly play your best.

8. Women’s Tennis Outfit: LACOSTE, LIVE Stretch Cotton Piqué Polo Dress, £105.00

9. Women’s Cap: TOMMY JEANS, Logo Brim Visor, £30.00

10. Men’s Golf Shorts: UNDER ARMOUR, Showdown Golf Shorts, £60.00

11. Men’s Golf Glove: Titleist Players Glove 2020, £23.00

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Mauritius is remembered, quite rightly, for its glittering azure waters that border long powder white beaches. It’s a heavenly destination, but that isn’t the only reason to select a holiday in this destination. Mauritius is equipped with virtually every water sport for guests to pick between, it boasts many pristine golf courses and tennis courts as well as carrying large areas of wild tropical terrain ready to be rambled through. There are unforgettable boat trips and cultural excursions on offer and that is before we mention the array of wildlife that make this place home. If you are looking to learn more about Mauritius, speak to one of the experts on our Winged Boots team, call 0203 816 0985 or click here to enquire today.