Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
owners Geneviève and Gérard offer travellers a welcome retreat among fruit and coffee
trees and thick jungle trunks.
Chalets en Champagne
OFFLINE MAP
( 483 6610;
www.acoeurbois.com
;
110 Rte Champagne, Chamarel; d incl half board €115-190; )
These
beautiful log cabins are tucked into the mountainside amid gnarled tropical trees. The de-
cor stays true to the wooded theme (think thatch roofs and stone-lined bath tubs) while
gently incorporating modern touches (air-con, DVD players etc). Hikers will appreciate
the surrounding network of marked trails that weave across the tree-lined terrain.
CABINS
€€
Lakaz Chamarel
OFFLINE MAP
LODGE
€€€
( 483 5240;
www.lakazchamarel.com
;
Piton Canot; s/d incl half board from €118/185; )
This 'ex-
clusive lodge' in the countryside around Chamarel is a wonderfully conceived collection
of rustic (yet oh-so-elegant) cabins offering a blissful getaway amid gorgeous forests, gar-
dens and streams. Rooms are tastefully decorated with chic safari-style trimmings. Not to
be missed is the serene spa and the charming swimming pool adorned with stone goddess
statues.
Eating
Over the last few years, Chamarel has gained an island-wide reputation for its clutch of
charming
tables d'hôtes
sprinkled around the hilltops. Lately, unscrupulous taxi drivers
are capitalising on the area's newfound notoriety among foodies by overcharging tourists
and demanding hefty commissions from the local restaurants. We recommend navigating
the area with a private vehicle and choosing a dining option at your leisure. And remem-
ber: if a place is in this topic and it's empty, its doesn't mean that it's no good, but rather
the owner has most likely refused to pay the taxi drivers' commissions!
Palais de Barbizon
OFFLINE MAP
( 495 1690; lebarbizon@yahoo.fr; Ste-Anne Rd; meals Rs 350; noon-4pm)
It may not look like much
from the outside but Barbizon has made quite the name for itself in the area, namely due
to the lively and smiley owners. Marie-Ange helms the pots and pans whipping up tradi-
MAURITIAN
€
