Why is it that everything on a beach looks, smells, tastes and IS better? At LE MERIDIEN ILE MAURICE on Mauritius, for instance, sommelier Kenny arranged a magnificent personalised wine tasting on the beach by Zoli Manzel restaurant. As the sun set Girlahead’s spirits, or at least her alcoholic interest soared. Kenny was so knowlegeable and enthusiastic (memo to travel advisors, do suggest any visitors to this lovely resort in the northwest of the island nation book a wine-tasting, and then walk a few steps for a Zoli Manzel dinner, say Roast pimpkin root followed by a pair of large Veal and foie gras-filled ravioli with herb sauce, plus the hotel’s own Le Meridien Western Cape Cuvée Red Walker Bay 2020).
In Dubai a couple of decades ago, even ten years ago, there was no beach culture. Now, come Saturdays and Sundays those who are not shopping yet again head for a beach club. BURJ AL ARAB’s is actually a floating pontoon painstaking towed from Finland. CAESARS PALACE BLUEWATERS has the most It-person beach clubs, with good music. The real A-listers also head for BULGARI DUBAI or ONE&ONLY LE ROYAL MIRAGE clubs.
In Cannes, everything beach-set fits the bill, even the public beach areas. But, from west to east, head for MAJESTIC BEACH CLUB for food, and CARLTON CANNES REGENT or LE MARTINEZ clubs for ambience, boardwalk catwalks and food – and, at Le Martinez, don’t miss the current Damien Hirst show, though you have to go inside, to the Qatar-owned Hyatt Unbound hotel.
