Canonnier: The place to unwind when the honeymoon is over

Face it, you need a break. You need to escape the rigours of everyday life and unwind somewhere peaceful, where the crystal-clear blue waters tickle your toes as you lounge on the white sand and sip on something colourful and cold.
As you struggle to get your inbox under control and get a handle on your scheduling, you fondly remember how not so long ago you and your significant other could throw together a few essentials and head for places unexplored.
Travel light to wherever it was you were going.
Like your Indian Ocean island honeymoon . . . oh, what bliss that was!
Those lovely, long, carefree days seem like a hazy memory now as you stand at the kitchen counter at 4am, waiting for the baby bottle steriliser to do its thing and taking your frustrations out on the boiled carrots as you mash them some more.
It’s days like these when you just feel like escaping.
Well, you can.
And in the same idyllic island destination you spent a few years ago frolicking around (in the waves) on your honeymoon.
Just this time you’ll be lugging the pram, the bottles, and the entire Dr. Seuss collection for bedtime reading as you board the plane for the four-hour flip to . . . Canonnier Beachcomber Resort & Spa in Mauritius.
This magnificent family friendly resort set in a 17-acre tropical garden is the perfect place to unplug from the daily grind – it is geared to creating magical, memorable holidays for the whole family.
Built around baby
And best of all there’s a baby food preparation area with exclusive facilities that are reserved for parents with children younger than three years.
This area forms part of the ever popular Kids Club Beachcomber that has put the Beachcomber resort chain on the map as far as affordable family island getaways go.
At the Cannonier the Kids Club is housed in an 18th-century lighthouse. It’s free for kids aged 3 to 12 years and a qualified team of supervisors will keep an eye on the little one if you want to enjoy some me-time and savour that cocktail.
From play-and-learn activities to experiencing nature, culture and gastronomy through organised discovery workshops and drawing, painting and collage, the kids will have a ball and make amazing memories of their own.
The babysitting service (24 hours notice required and for an additional charge) will also give you and your significant other a chance to enjoy that quiet, romantic dinner you’ve been planning on for ages but just haven’t got around to doing.
Roomy rooms
There is a range of accommodation options to choose from the 284 rooms on offer. Sea-facing or garden-facing rooms can all accommodate two adults and a child under six years of age, while the larger superior options provide more space.
All the rooms come standard with wifi, individually controlled air conditioning, a safe, hairdryer, phone, satellite TV and a mini bar with complimentary tea and coffee.
There are also large family duplexes which can accommodate two adults and three children under 18 but these are not recommended for children under five years of age due to staircases in the unit.
There’s a vast array of land and water sports you can try this time around, safe in the knowledge that your little one is being taken care of. From wakeboarding to windsurfing and snorkelling to sailing or volleyball and bocciball.
And when you’re tired from all the activity, a chilled out session in one of the six massage cabins built at the heart of an age-old banyan tree will revive those tired muscles.
With a short 25km drive from the Mauritian capital Port Louis, a family excursion will make for a great morning out to stroll around the markets and visit the historical sites.
The honeymoon may be over, but here’s to starting a new chapter in your life. One of fun-filled family holidays and memories to cherish.