Planning a Mauritius family holiday? Discover top family holiday resorts, fun activities for kids, and essential tips for a stress-free tropical break from the UK.
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When I told my friends I wanted to bring my spirited toddler on her first long-haul holiday, some of them thought it was mad. Why fly overnight to the Indian Ocean when the many beautiful destinations of Europe are just a short hop, jump, and flight away? Well, it is my goal in life to visit as many countries as possible, and I made a vow to myself that having a child would not get in the way of that.
Turns out, Mauritius was the perfect place to take our almost-three-year-old, and thanks to the amazing facilities and service at the LUX* Belle Mare hotel, I can safely say it was a chance (and a thirteen-hour-flight) worth taking!
Should You Consider a Mauritius family holiday?
Mauritius might not be the first destination that comes to mind when planning family holidays with a toddler, but it absolutely should be. With year-round sun, calm turquoise sandy beaches, and some of the most family-friendly resorts in the world, this Indian Ocean gem offers a rare combination of adventure and calm that suited both my daughter’s endless energy, and her parent’s urgent need of a relaxing holiday.
Travel Tips for UK Families
Now, my husband is a teacher, so we are very limited to when we can go on good-value breaks; but I just look at this as getting used to travelling in the school holidays before our child even starts full-time education. In light of this, I always try to get organised and book eleven months ahead to get the best deals, so the whole family can have a great time.
As we travelled in the Easter holidays, I booked in May 2024 and got an excellent deal on flights and hotel through Flight Centre, giving us almost a full year to look forward to the trip of a lifetime.
Once that was sorted, I started thinking about the logistics of keeping a toddler happy on a thirteen-hour flight; where to even begin? Many of my parent friends told me they’d prefer a night-flight as their child would sleep, however I know my little girl won’t sleep anywhere unless she’s in her cot, in the pitch-black, with no one around to distract her - basically, as far from the environment of a plane as you can get!
Despite my preference for a day flight, most of the flights from the UK to Mauritius are indeed overnight, so knowing I couldn’t rely on my daughter being asleep, I created a toolkit to save her, us (and anyone sitting near us…) a painful night flight.
The Toolkit
- Booking smart seats: I reserved a bulkhead seat early on. Yes, at three, our daughter is too big to use the bassinets, but they are available for those two and under. In our case, having the extra leg room of a bulkseat meant my daughter had room to play with her toys at my feet, wriggle about, and just generally be a toddler with a little extra room. But make sure you reserve the bulkhead row early – they’re usually the first seats to get taken!
- Pack like a pro: this included a full change of clothes just in case (in our case, needed before we even boarded the plane due to a full-on juice spill in Wagamama), snacks galore – think raisins, breadsticks, yogurt pouches. We also packed some small toys she’d never seen before for example a new colouring book to keep her busy, as well as our own fully-charged iPad, which we pre-filled with approximately eighty hours of Bluey. I also bought a flight-approved toddler blow-up bed, the novelty of which kept my daughter happy for half the flight (and then the snacks came in).
- Prep prep prep: we told our daughter in the days leading up to the flight what to expect, where we were going, and all about her new blow-up bed, which she loved trying out on a chair at home.
- Think in segments: When my daughter got a little whiny in the first half of the flight, I reminded myself the lights would be off soon and she might actually do a little sleeping – which she did! By the time she woke up, we only had four hours to go, which sounds a lot friendlier than thirteen.
- Don’t stress: Yes our daughter arrived into Mauritius a very tired, ratty and hot little girl. As we approached the hotel and she screamed her head off I thought..oh dear…what have I done? But after a good night’s sleep and her wide eyes on seeing the pool, all was quickly forgotten and we had the most brilliant two weeks.
Which leads me on to the hotel…
Best Family-Friendly Resorts in Mauritius
We chose the LUX* Belle Mare, based on the East coast of the island, after researching resorts that balance luxury with genuine family friendliness. From the moment we arrived, we knew we’d made the right choice.
Set on one of the most beautiful beaches in Mauritius, Belle Mare is known for its calm, swimmable lagoon and pristine white sands. The hotel itself feels like a tropical village; I genuinely said, out loud “wow!” as we first entered the hotel. Think thatched roofs, lush gardens, and elegant, airy interiors. The design is stunning, but never pretentious, every corner is relaxed and inviting, even with a toddler in tow.
We stayed in a Junior Suite with Beach View, which was perfect for our needs. There was enough space for a cot (provided by the hotel), a separate lounge area for early morning suncream battles, and a private terrace overlooking the gardens – perfect for having a drink on after our daughter went to bed.
For families with older kids or more than one child, the Family Suites offer even more space and privacy.
One of the unexpected highlights of our stay was how enjoyable mealtimes were; even with a fussy toddler.
The hotel offers several restaurants, each with highchairs, kids' menus, and friendly staff who went out of their way to help. The main buffet restaurant had plenty of toddler-friendly options at every meal, and all child-friendly food was set on low serving tables so kids could serve themselves. Our daughter loved the independence of putting her own pasta and vegetables on her plate, and was furious when she got home to realise the buffet hadn’t flown home with us.
The hotel also had three other restaurants and a coffee house:
- Beach Rouge: For an idyllic lunch by the sea, often with the hotel DJ soundtracking the meal
- Café LUX*: Their iced house-blend coffee got us going in the mornings, and they always had a stash of babycinos and pastries for our daughter
- Amari by Vineet: a contemporary Indian restaurant which served the best butter chicken I’ve ever tasted
- Duck Laundry: A delicious Chinese restaurant that rivalled the excellent ones we have back in London.
When it came to having an hour to myself to read a book and remember what life was like pre-kids…the childcare is second to none.
The PLAY kids’ club (ages 3-11) and Studio 17 for teens are major selling points for older children, but even though our toddler was too young to join, the staff welcomed us into the shaded outdoor play area to use the toys and space, and we were able to pay extra for a babysitter to take her to the kid’s club so we got a few hours to ourselves each day.
For parents hoping for a spa treatment or romantic dinner, babysitting is available on request. All carers are trained and experienced, and we felt completely at ease leaving our child in their care for a short break. We were given the same babysitter for our two-week stay; this consistency meant our daughter got to know her and was very comfortable, happy to go off and play while we had a few relaxing hours by the pool or bar. The babysitter sent us regular updates and photos, and towards the end of the holiday we even felt comfortable enough to have a child-free dinner date, something we initially weren’t sure we’d want to do.
There’s also a toddler-friendly splash area by the main pool, and the beach’s shallow, warm water is perfect for paddling.
Top Things to Do in Mauritius with Kids
While we could have easily spent the entire fourteen nights just hanging around the beautiful hotel and paddling in the pool, I wanted to explore. Luckily, there were lots of family-friendly options, including visits to the national park.
La Vallée de Ferney
About an hour away, this lush nature reserve offers buggy-friendly trails, shaded paths, and a chance to spot giant tortoises. It’s a great low-key outing for toddlers who enjoy being outdoors. We also took the opportunity to do a 1.5km zipline, while our daughter did the lowest-level zipline above a waterfall (carried by me of course). She loved it, and we are now truly on our way to raising an adrenaline junkie.
Glass Bottom Boat Ride
LUX* offers a gentle glass-bottom boat ride from the hotel beach; it was short enough to avoid meltdowns, but magical enough for even the youngest travellers. Spotting colourful fish without having to snorkel is a win-win for parents and kids.
Visit a Local Market
If your toddler tolerates the buzz, visit the nearby Flacq Market for a bit of culture. It’s noisy, colourful, and full of smells and sights that are sure to delight. Go early, bring a carrier instead of a buggy (narrow spaces), and let your little one choose some fresh tropical fruit to try back at the hotel. I was cheeky and chose to go on my own, leaving the toddler with my husband – an hour spent walking around alone and soaking in the culture was beautiful.
Ile aux Cerfs (Deer Island)
Just a short drive and boat ride away, Ile aux Cerfs is one of Mauritius’s most famous day trips. While older kids might enjoy parasailing or snorkeling, toddlers will love the boat ride and a splash in the clear water. There are loungers, restaurants, and shaded areas to make this doable with small children.
Is a Mauritius Family Holiday Worth It?
Would I recommend Mauritius as a toddler-friendly destination? Absolutely. Mauritius combines comfort, safety, and beauty in a way that made me feel truly comfortable in committing to the thirteen-hour flight. The people are warm and welcoming to children, the food is mild, varied, and inclusive, and the landscape is truly beautiful. Despite being away for a full sixteen days, with fourteen days in the hotel, it still didn’t feel long enough, and we had a few toddler tears when we had to say goodbye to all the lovely people we’d met at the LUX* Belle Mare.
The hotel really did offer that perfect balance of grown-up luxury and child-friendly service. We came back to London feeling rested, connected, and already planning our next trip to LUX* South Ari Atoll in the Maldives – we’re now truly LUX* addicted.
If you're considering a long-haul adventures with a toddler (especially in family resorts) and wondering whether it's worth the effort, I urge you to make the jump!
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