In terms of relaxation and really getting away from the world, you can’t beat a beach holiday. There’s something about sun, sea, and sand that drives our cares from the world and lets us truly unwind from work and the day-to-day turmoil of life.
I am an islander, born and bred on the jewel of the Indian Ocean. I know the feeling of being at the beach by heart- the real feeling I mean. Not the fake atmosphere Singapore attempts to create with its artificial beaches or the designed-to-perfection Jumeira Beach of Dubai.
I have been to Phuket, Thailand for 4 days and there's much that I can say about Phuket as a destination in contrast to Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia and with some faint light, India.
However, before we get there, let's give Phuket the credit of being able to amass a huge number of tourist per year.
Phuket has long been misunderstood. Firstly, the ‘h’ is silent. And secondly, Phuket doesn’t feel like an island at all. A place is not an island solely because it is surrounded by water, a place is an island also because it breathes the island culture. Unfortunately, as compared to the Seychelles, Rodrigues, and the Maldives, you don't exactly feel so in Phuket. This is probably why also they dropped the word 'Ko' (which means 'island' in Thai) from its name.
Unless you are to immerse yourself into the City of Men's Sin that Phuket can be with its nightlife and lecherous touristic lifestyle, there is not much to do in Phuket. And if you've already ticked off Elephant Trekking, Tiger Watching, Buddhist Temples and other activities while on other tours, a mere 3 days is more than enough for Phuket.
We rated Phuket as being slightly over 5 but still not touching the 7th bar on 10.
This not only because as Mauritians we tend to see every other destinations' waters as being merely a larval version of oceanic view, but also because Mauritius is second-to-none in its fantastic hospitality ethos that includes big smiles and highly trained staff that do not hover even over your shadow's last breath for tips no matter what.
There is a reason as to why Mauritius is Number One in its touristic hospitability and despite being only a local in Mauritius and not a tourist, when I visit other countries, the coldness and lack of warmth are the first things that strike us hard. Irrespective of being a 3 star or 5-star hotel, the customer actually feels like King on our island. In other corners of the world, the menu card is thrown on your table, the food simply presented in front of you, the drinks left standing on the table without being served, your luggage left in the taxi booth for you to carry to the nth floor of the hotel and the boxer-faced receptionist left for you to feel angry towards due to their unapologetic slow pace of work.
Mauritius is the perfect family beach holiday destination for families with kids. Sunny, safe, smooth-running and with an apparently never-ending list of activities, it really does cater for every member of the family. Moreover, most of its hotels and resorts offer professional kids' clubs to take care of and entertain children of all ages so parents can have a holiday, too.
Aside from the idyllic beaches, Mauritius offers a huge variety of natural wonders: from local wildlife in their natural habitats, national parks, beautiful waterfalls and botanical gardens to the incredible ‘Coloured Earth’ at Chamarel. An absolute haven for birdwatchers, and with many excursions on offer to see giant turtles, dolphins, and sharks, you certainly won’t get bored here.
The only reason Phuket is more popular among tourists than Mauritius is because of how cheap the airfare is to get there. In terms of currency, the Thai Baht is approximately equal to the Mauritian Rupee. And then, Mauritian Tours are often more luxury-inclined.
I would say there is more nightlife in Phuket than Mauritius though, it seemed very laid back in Mauritius, whereas you do have the livelier bars and shops in the likes of Patong Beach and Bangla Street. But as International Students in Singapore, we didn't lust for any night life. There's no better than Singapore when it comes to nightlife. Phuket beaches are quite crowded and Thai girls offering 'additional' services are omnipresent. If you are looking for a quiet place or are offended by westerners looking for cheap entertainment then avoid Phuket.
For a backpacker even, Mauritius is better. At least the backpacker would not have the hassle of having to decode the ingredient in food packets written in Thai, or road directions still written in Thai.
In a lot of sense, Mauritius would be more about peace of mind and get away from the stress of work, while Phuket stands strongly with its nightlife and vibrancy which on my trip we didn't bother to have a glance at.
And then the population density: for exclusivity and privacy, for goodness sake, head to Mauritius, even the public beaches ensure you have that better than the ones in Phuket.
And then the population density: for exclusivity and privacy, for goodness sake, head to Mauritius, even the public beaches ensure you have that better than the ones in Phuket.
Perhaps, if you are looking for a budget, not-too-focused on the quality destination with the beach and clubbing, Phuket wins it as far as you don't stay at Patong Beach. Karon Beach and Kata Beach are the best treats. Choose those.
Briefly, Mauritius is a glorious place to visit. Though a little heavy on the pocket, this island nation has splendid natural beauty and there is no dearth of outdoor activities for couples here; ranging from water sports to other fun-filled adventures. On the other hand, Thailand being more affordable is usually a bit overcrowded. This place is a perfect choice for couples who love shopping and night parties. It's a much cheaper destination than Mauritius with beach bars and cheap places to eat - Mauritius caters more for upmarket clientele and is much more expensive than Thailand.
And as a Mauritian, I'm glad it is that way. Having a select few pool of tourists on the island just helps preserve the authenticity of things. :)