Labonte, Dinarobin Hotel Golf And Spa

My then fiancée and now wife thoroughly researched our destination wedding and we were drawn in by the Dinarobin on the South West corner of Mauritius, on the Le Morne Peninsula. Wow! What a resort and what a location. A jewel on the Indian Ocean, with the coral reef protecting the beaches from the pounding of the waves even when the wind blew stronger. A World class resort that made our wedding and honeymoon a trip to treasure!

Arrival / Check In: We transferred from the airport by helicopter (Air Mauritius) and were met on the Paradis helipad by a well-dressed porter, who took care of all our hand luggage. Your checked baggage will travel by road, so take a pair of smart beach wear in your hand luggage). The transfer to the Dinarobin reception was in a stretch golf buggy and these are used for all trips around the resorts. Even between restaurants, reception and your suite!

The entrance to the resort is beautiful and sets the scene for the whole of the resort. Well-kept gardens and water features are in abundance, with staff on hand to keep them clean and tidy. We were met at the front entrance by the reception staff, who passed us cold face towels to cool down. We were then taken to the Club, which is the members’ only area of the resort, where are check in was taken care of. This was done with a very nice rum punch in hand! Mr Clifford, the Club manager ran through all the hotel details, such as where to eat, what time, how the Club works, bookings required, etc. He knows his stuff! Audrey, the resort assistant manager then took us through all the other bits and pieces and the whole thing was so well done.

We were then taken to our suite, where our luggage was already waiting, having arrived safely from the airport!

Accommodation: We were so very lucky that the resort management offered (and we immediately accepted) an upgrade to Senior Beachfront Club Suite! And wow, what a suite that was. A massive terrace (we were on the upper floor and the privacy that allows is welcome), an equally massive living/dining room, an enormous bedroom that had a bed the size of a small country, and a dressing room/bathroom.

The terrace had an area on which to dine, capable of seating four people. We were served our 1st breakfast as a married couple up there. A word of warning on that score: keep all the breads and pastries covered, as you will have lots of feathered guests to your table, but they do stay at a fairly respectful distance! Also on the terrace were a large, 3-seater sofa and a comfortable lounger. Lots of space to chill out and prepare to relax on the beach or by the pool!

The living room had another dining area, although this was set up for two people. There was also a large sofa and 2 armchairs, along with a massive LCD TV. Ideal for relaxing in the evening or even entertaining in your suite!

The bedroom was probably larger than most ground floors in a 3 bedroom house! Pride of place went to the enormous bed – probably 2 Queen-sized beds pushed together. Well dressed and so very comfortable! Large French windows led directly onto the terrace. Bedside tables, a writing desk and another large wall-mounted LCD TV competed the room. Beautifully appointed!

The dressing room combined with the bathroom was almost as large as the bedroom. Plenty of room to store 3 weeks’ worth of clothes, both hung up and in drawers. The bathroom consisted of a large, deep bath, a walk-in shower and his and hers wash basins. Towels everywhere, too! the WC was separate.

Overall, the accommodation was magnificent. Very clean and tidy and serviced twice a day – valeted in the morning, when the towels and bedding were changed and the bed dressed and again in the evening, while at dinner, when the beach towels were replaced, curtains closed, bed turned down, etc. The mini bar and complimentary bottles of water were also replenished daily, usually the daytime services completed by noon!

Pools & Beach: All of the pools were infinity pools and extremely well maintained. None more than 1.2 metres deep and the water was crystal clear and very inviting. The main pool was, like most things in resort, huge. Again, only 1.2 metres deep and this was cleaned every morning.

The beach is just as you will see in the brochures. The sand is soft nearer the resort, but as there is a coral reef, the sand does become harsher underfoot nearer the sea. We read reviews that recommended rubber beach shoes and these were ideal to protect your feet. The water is fairly calm, as the waves break farther out on the reef. When the wind picks up, the waves can become a little higher, but as the depth remains at waist height (for average-height adult), then this isn’t a problem.

Restaurants & Food: There is a choice of 4 restaurants in the Dinarobin and a further 4 in the Paradis, all of which can be used by residents, although in busier times, booking in the a la carte restaurants is recommended! We ate in 3 of the Dinarobin restaurants:

L’Harmonie is the buffet restaurant, with a very impressive selection of food. I am sure that the content would appeal to any palate and whether you eat light or like a good blow out, you will be easily catered for. The evening meals are themed, so never a dull moment and plenty of selection. The breakfasts cover just about any type of breakfast you could dream of and the only thing I would say would be to make sure you get in fairly early, as it can get quite busy.

Il Gusto is the resort’s Italian restaurant. You help yourself to the anti-pasti buffet, but then are served soup, main and dessert at your table. The ambience is intimate and sophisticated, without being pretentious or stuffy! The food is out of this World and the presentation is fabulous. There is a half-board menu, with no supplement due, but there is also an a la carte menu, too.

Le Morne Plage is the beach restaurant, as the name suggests. We only took lunch there, but I don’t think cheese and ham toasties and fries have ever been served in such an idyllic location. Again, watch for the birds, who may even be cheeky enough to hop on your table and try to pinch a chip! Evening meals are also available, but there is a supplement payable for half board residents.

The fourth restaurant, Saveurs des Isles, is the resort’s flagship restaurant and there is no half board menu. I can't comment on that one, as we didn’t eat there.

Staff: The whole resort’s staff, from the gardeners and maintenance personnel to the front of house staff are all so very courteous and professional. They all will say hello to you and smile as you go about your business. The porters and waiters, who were always so well turned out, will try to remember your name (formally, of course – no Christian names!) and will always be discreet. The Concierge, Criss, was ever-helpful, as one expects from a Concierge! He was always there to point us in the right direction or help make a booking for an excursion. The reception staff spoke excellent English and were always polite and helpful. A special mention to Mr Clifford and his staff in the Club, who just seemed to go that extra mile to make sure the stay is complete!

We will also never forget Veronique, who was our wedding planner on site. Nothing was too much trouble for her and she organised our special day in the most professional manner. Once again, the attention to detail was world class. Having said that, we weren’t forgotten about after the wedding and she often popped along at dinner to make sure all was well.

Spa: There is a Clarin’s Spa on site, too, which we used once, as the hotel gave us a massage and steam bath as a wedding gift. Wow! So calming in there, it’s a wonder the staff can stay awake! It is tucked away at the base of the mountain, away from what little hustle and bustle there is in the resort. The massage was brilliant and I think if we hadn’t left it to the last day to have it, we would have returned. Amazing!

Overall we would recommend the Dinarobin Golf and Spa resort to anyone looking for a high-end, luxury resort to while away the hours. You can do as much or as little as you wish in an unhurried paradise. You can be pampered and looked after in a way that befits a jewel on the island of Mauritius. Oh, and we’re already saving to return!

A massive thank you to Gilbert (hotel manager), Audrey, Mr Clifford, Alain, Criss, Veronique and all the other staff who made the stay one we will always remember.