Sometimes a destination becomes so well-travelled and popular that its magic is unfairly tarnished, so if the honeymoon hotspot of Mauritius gets your inner eyeballs rolling backwards, have a look at Baystone Boutique Hotel and Spa and be prepared to re-evaluate.
Developed it may be, but the island deep in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa is still an eye-popper on the looks front, especially on the coast where white sand meets turquoise waters. Baystone takes full advantage of those knockout features, but also offers a pleasingly non-standard interior courtesy of New York-based architect Albert Angel. Spending his formative years in DR Congo, Belgium and South Africa gave Angel a varied source of inspiration, brought to bear beautifully at Baystone.
The whole place is at once understated and unfussy without stripping the resort of a sense of luxury, and clever use of lighting gives subtle colour to an otherwise pale palette seen in the pebble-like cushions and sofas – we particularly like the softly neon jellyfish-like overhead arrangements in the dining room. Curves, representing the waves outside, continue to lap up the beachside steps and up inside the guest rooms in calming fashion. True, if you think that hell is other (newly-married) people, Mauritius might not be an ideal holiday destination, but if you can put up with all the lovestruck eye-gazing, Baystone is a lovely shore on which to wash up.
