Treating Mauritius as South Africa’s 10th province does a great disservice to the magnificent island paradise – and Club Med’s revamped La Pointe aux Canonniers property showcases just how magical a place the country is.

There’s something endearingly old-school about the evening theatre entertainment at Club Med Villages (resorts, in the language of the brand) – particularly at La Pointe aux Canonniers on the North West coast of Mauritius. Each night, the G.O.’s (Gentils Organisateurs) perform themed shows to entertain guests after dinner. Some don cheesy wigs and mime to obscure 80’s synth-pop, others show off some remarkably dextrous dancing and several others just embrace whichever role is assigned to them with the brand’s trademark vigour.

Family Fun

One night each week on stage at ‘La Pointe’, the cooing of parents and firing of cellphone camera flashes heralds possibly the sweetest performance of the week – where the G.O.’s team up with guest children to perform the most charming choreography, in full costume and make-up. It’s hard to know who’s more thrilled – the children or the parents – but the guarantee is the formation of a magical memory. 30 minutes after the curtain falls on the stage show, many of the G.O.’s will be throwing some far less PG shapes on the dancefloor to get the party started – and that’s part of the diverse charm of the Club Med experience.

There’s an authenticity to the type of holiday that the brand’s Villages deliver – a mix of incredibly enthusiastic G.O.’s and their astonishing energy levels, wonderful entertainment options, themed evening parties that often carry on a little longer than officially advertised and a thoroughly slick, modern feel to the accommodation and activities.

Radical Revamp

La Pointe aux Canonniers underwent a near half-Billion Rand refurbishment in 2018 that added 108 new rooms and saw existing ones revamped in a vibrant, contemporary style. Also added were a Spa, Zen Area, Family Zone and revised restaurant offerings. The diversity of the offering means it’s not ‘just’ a family resort and those without offspring could comfortably enjoy a stay without ’experiencing’ smaller humans outside of meal times. Family rooms are grouped around the Family Zone, with its child-friendly pool, while Deluxe rooms encircle the Zen Area which does exactly what it says on the box – and other guests aren’t shy about letting you know if the volume of your conversation rises above ‘acceptable’ levels.

True ‘All-Inclusive’

Claiming to have introduced the ‘all-inclusive’ concept to the travel world decades ago, it’s hard to fault the Club Med offering – which is often where other brands trip guests up with Terms & Conditions. Once you’ve made your accommodation booking, added optional flights and transfers, you could literally leave your wallet at home, unless you’re looking to indulge in some of the more top-shelf drinks, visit the boutique, spa or book an excursion outside the Village. Every meal, every drink and every activity from archery to snorkelling, skiing and stand-up paddleboarding to kayaking, is part of the package. It’s a great ‘peace of mind’ offering, particularly for families travelling on a budget and not wanting to ruin a perfectly good holiday by being forced to wander around with a calculator.

Included, as well, are the Mini Club Med and Junior Club Med for kids aged 4 through 17 – with paid options for children aged from just 4 months. It’s hard to imagine the children having a better holiday than when you see them charging around with the G.O.’s on a treasure hunt, trying their hand at archery and singing songs as they march through the Village, en route to their next adventure. With Club Med a favourite vacation brand amongst Europeans – particularly the French – don’t be surprised when your child returns from their holiday with some very swish new ‘foreign’ vocabulary.

Beyond the Village

As comfortable – and easy – as it would be to stay within the Village’s walls for a week, getting out and about is an important part of any holiday. Within easy reach are the vibrant town of Grand-Baie and a bucket list Blue Safari Submarine or Sea Scooter experience. The former opens up the underwater world off Trou aux Biches as the modern sub dives 35 metres to explore the bustling underwater life around a scuttled Japanese freighter that is slowly forming a reef, while the latter allows guests to zip around underwater – perfectly dry, from the shoulders, up – while the support divers pantomime points of interest. The on-site Excursions Office at the Village has loads of surprises in store, and can also tailor specific trips, depending on your needs.

Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers offers a great opportunity to set the speed of your holiday, yourself and create some magnificent memories in a truly stylish setting – whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, a group or a family.

Club Med Lingo

• Club Med resorts are called ‘Villages’ because of the variety of options available on-site. The General Manager, then, is known as the ‘Chef du Village’ – the Chief of the Village.

• All Club Med staff are called ‘G.O.s’, or ‘Gentils Organisateurs’ – a translated from French as ‘Gracious’ or ‘Nice’ Organisers. They’re skilled at performing their roles – from tennis pro to bar staff – and are high energy, passionate, and go to any length to ensure that guests always have a wonderful time.

• Club Med guests are called ‘G.M.’s’ – ‘Gentils Membres’ along the same lines as G.O.’s.

*A version of this article appeared in Lowveld Living.