Constance Belle Mare Plage

A citadel of serenity, Constance Belle Mare Plage is a sprawling self-contained resort that is at once tropical and stately. The resort's traditional architecture is coupled with contemporary designs, like the abstract fish chandelier and modern white-stone-slab reception desks in the huge open entrance hall, chevron-print wicker chairs in the main dining room, and chic curved seating on floating patios over the lobby pool -- a vast and serene shallow pool encircling reception and mirroring the sparkling turquoise of the lagoon. 

Though it's undoubtedly lavish and sophisticated, the look never treads into ornate or ostentatious territory. The entrance and lobby are grand, but understatedly so, and deeper into the resort, everything relaxes even more. Low-rise stucco buildings with thatch roofs are nestled among garden pools and grounds lush with palms, ferns, flowers, and bamboo. Most of the resort is oriented along a mile-long stretch of beach, with rooms, villas, pools, and terraced bars and restaurants facing the white sand and turquoise water. On the beach, guests relax in hammocks or under palapas with pina coladas and glasses of wine, explore the lagoon using the hotel's free-to-use water crafts, and walk in the surf along the crescentic shoreline. 

Constance Belle Mare attracts many wealthy couples and golfers, thanks to its two championship courses. An air of exclusivity is palpable, but Constance is nonetheless a kid-friendly place, with pools, roomy units with sofas, and a kids' club providing appeal for families. Note that there are no elevators, so those with mobility issues should request ground-floor accommodations.

Constance Belle Mare Plage is located in the quiet coastal village of Belle Mare. Here, the backdrop of vivid green fields and teal water is punctuated by hotels and little else. The tranquil area is renowned for its natural beauty, large luxury resorts, and water-sports-friendly lagoon, perfect for kayaking, snorkeling, diving, and windsurfing. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport is about a 70-minute drive south by car, and the popular tourist town of Grand Baie is about a 50-minute drive to the northwest.

Plush and elegant rooms feature a color palette of cream, tawny, and teal that highlights the resort's beachfront setting. Room amenities are high in quality, from the Apple TVs and free Wi-Fi to the peek-a-boo bathrooms with separate soaking tubs and rainfall showers and furnished terraces or balconies with sea views. All rooms have air-conditioning, hairdryers, sitting areas, minibars, safes, and free coffee and tea.

Room types start with the 484-square foot Prestige Rooms and continue on to the 646-square-foot Junior Suites (at 149 units, the most common room here) and 1,033-square-foot Deluxe Suites, which feature separate living rooms and additional bathrooms. Both suite types were renovated in 2016 (Prestige Rooms were not) and come with espresso machines and double vanities in the bathrooms.

Constance Belle Mare has 18 two- to three-bedroom Villas -- accessible via a separate check-in and located in a separate area -- with outdoor pavilions and private heated pools. Ranging from 4,000 and 5,650 square feet, the bi-level Villas feature outdoor bathrooms, sound systems, free video on demand, and kitchenettes. At the very top of the line is the 9,170-square-foot Presidential Villa. This beachfront unit has a full kitchen, two private heated pools, and five bedrooms, each one with its own bathroom with separate tub and shower.

Constance's extensive and high-end features cater to couples and families to similar degrees. The resort's main pool (one of four) has shallow sections, a swim-up bar, and a wooden bridge leading to a sandy island area with palm trees and sun loungers. Smaller garden pools offer sandy areas shaded by palms and sun loungers in the water. The large pool encircling the lobby building is more of a wading area, with hammocks skimming the water's surface and and overwater wooden patios with circular sectional sofas. 

The resort has two championship golf courses, Legends and Links, where Constance guests get free shuttle access (the courses are located just down the street) and free green fees. Club cars cost a fee, but they are not mandatory on either course. Both 18-hole courses feature their own club houses, driving ranges, pro shops, locker rooms, equipment rentals, and and restaurants (Deer Hunter at Legends, Le Swing at Links). Additionally, Legends has a golf school, where beginners can take part in free weekly group lessons. Individual golf and tennis lessons are available for a fee. Guests have free use of Constance's four flood-lit tennis courts; racquets are free to use, but balls must be purchased. Other free sports facilities include ping pong, petanque, and a nine-hole mini-golf course. 

The hotel's luxurious spa, U Spa by Constance, is located on the road side of the resort, in a lush area away from the beach and pools. The full-service spa offers a full range of treatments -- massages, facials, mani/pedis, hair color, wedding hairstyles -- as well as a sauna, steam room outdoor showers, two hot tubs, and a cold plunge. The adjacent fitness center features modern equipment with individual flat-screen TVs and USB ports, as well as a weekly program with free Pilates, yoga, and pool aerobics. Private lessons with a trainer and rental bikes are available for a fee. 

Constance spares none of its attention to detail on the kids' club, which is free for kids' age 4 to 11. Constance Kids Club has its own dedicated pool for kids, as well as a playground and several play areas. Daily activities might include activities like movies, games, computers, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, and ice-cream-making. Babysitting is available for a fee.

Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort.

Constance offers direct access to an extremely photogenic sweep of white sand and teal, clear water. The beach stretches more than a mile, with palapa-shaded loungers along the way. Beach service is available, and guests also have free use of the boathouse's motorized and non-motorized equipment: water skis, Hobie cats, kayaks, pedal boats, laser boats, wakeboards, and windsurfing and snorkeling gear. Daily glass-bottom boat trips are also free. Private water skiing, sailing, and wind- and kitesurfing lessons are available for fee.

The resort’s main restaurant, La Citronnelle, serves buffet-style breakfast and dinner in an open-air dining room with outdoor seating overlooking the beach. The restaurant has surprisingly chic designs for a buffet, with distinctive black-and-white striped wicker chairs and metal-wire hanging candle holders. Set between one of the pools and the ocean, the restaurant Indigo offers lovely water views from its outdoor tables and cabanas. Indigo is open for lunch, afternoon snacks, and a la carte dinners with rotating menus. Also set on the beach, LAKAZE is open for lunch (with a salad bar, sandwiches and grilled meats and fish, and dessert buffet) and afternoon tea, when cakes, waffles, crepes, and ice cream are offered. The Mediterranean La Spiaggia is located on a wooden deck by the beach by the villas.

Located beneath the lobby, the a la carte Blue Penny Cellar has a vibe that is far more urbane and sultry from what you'd typically expect to find at a beach resort. The gourmet, 50-seat restaurant has wine cellars containing around 15,000 bottles of wines from all over the world. Deer Hunter and Le Swing are both located at the golf courses club houses. Deer Hunter, on the Legend golf course, serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and a la carte dinner, while Le Swing, on the Links course, serves lunch and afternoon tea. 

With the exception of La Citronnelle buffet, all restaurants have their own bars, and the stand-alone The Bar overlooks the lobby pool (seating options include the floating decks with comfy lounge furniture) and has a 200-strong rum selection. Room service is available 24 hours a day.