8 Tips for Balancing Work and Leisure on a Business Trip to Mauritius

Mauritius might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of deadlines and meetings, but maybe it should be. If you spend a day working here, you'll quickly be overwhelmed by the beauty of the island and the light, relaxed atmosphere. For business travellers, the island offers something rare: a chance to stay productive without feeling boxed in. Here’s how to make it work without missing out on what the island has to offer.

 

1. Structure Your Day: Morning Work, Afternoon Play

The time difference between Mauritius and the UK gives you a quiet head start, making it easy to stay productive in the morning and fully switch off later.

• Morning
  
  
  • Take advantage of the quiet hours with fewer notifications and distractions
  • Use your sharpest focus to tackle important tasks early
  • Enjoy soft morning light, a good coffee and a peaceful setup
  • Set a clear cut-off time before midday to protect your afternoon
    
    
• Afternoon
  
  
  • Treat yourself to grilled fish by the sea or a quick swim to reset
  • Spend time outdoors with a cold drink and no screens
  • Try simple pleasures like a beach walk, hammock break or scenic drive
  • Embrace the pause, real balance comes from knowing when to stop

2. Choose Work-Friendly Hotel

Where you stay can either support your workflow or slowly wear it down. If you’re opening your laptop on a wobbly table with patchy Wi-Fi, you’re setting yourself up for a frustrating day before it even starts. Voila Hotel was built with working travellers in mind. Located in Moka, it puts you close to the island’s business core. No long commutes, no scrambling for a stable connection. The rooms are functional in the best way: clean, quiet, with proper work desks and Wi-Fi that holds up to video calls and file sharing without lag. Need a break between meetings? Head down to Voilà restaurant, where you can grab a proper lunch or just reset with something fresh and local. Once work wraps, there are a handful of relaxed places just around the corner to grab a drink or meet someone for a quick catch-up. When you stay somewhere that respects your working rhythm, it frees up space for everything else.

 

3. Use Reliable Mobile Hotspots for Flexibility

Even in a place like Mauritius, where pace slows and views distract, work still follows you around. And that’s not a bad thing, unless you’re stuck waiting on a weak connection in the middle of a deadline. That’s where having your own mobile hotspot changes the game. Local SIM cards from MyT or Emtel are easy to pick up, inexpensive and surprisingly reliable. Pair one with a portable Wi-Fi device and you’re no longer chained to your hotel room or anyone’s schedule. Want to take your 1-on-1 call from a quiet beach car park? Go for it. Need to finish a report with fresh air instead of four walls? Set up at a picnic table under a flame tree and get it done. This isn’t about working everywhere, all the time. It’s about knowing you can, if the moment calls for it. And sometimes, just that bit of freedom is what keeps your focus sharp.

4. Quick Morning Escapes and After-Work Excursions

Breaks don’t have to be big to make a difference. Try adding one or two of these into your day:

• In the morning:
  
  
  • Take a quiet walk along Flic en Flac before the beach gets busy
  • No phone, no emails, just fresh air and a slow start to the day
  • Watch the sunrise, stretch your legs and clear your head
    
    
• After work:
  
  
  • Go for a short hike in Black River Gorges before sunset
  • Swim at Tamarin Beach to shake off the day
  • Catch a movie or go bowling at Bagatelle Mall if you want something easy
  • Head to a local bar in Ebène for a casual drink and relaxed conversation

None of these take much planning, but they’re the kind of small moments that help you feel like you’re here. Not just working somewhere else with better weather.

5. Experience Local Culture in the Evenings

Evenings are a great time to experience everyday life in Mauritius. If you’re staying at Voilà Hotel, Bagatelle Mall is just around the corner and makes things easy. It’s where locals gather after work to eat, chat and unwind. You can grab a quick bite from the food court — fried noodles or grilled meat — and enjoy the open-air atmosphere without any rush. If you’d rather stay in, Voilà Restaurant also offers a relaxed and convenient dinner option right at the hotel. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a balanced meal without having to go out. If you’re up for a short drive, Port Louis is worth visiting in the evening. Head down to the waterfront. It’s calm, but full of life in a quiet way. The lights from the buildings reflect off the water and, on some nights, it feels like you’re standing inside a painting. It’s hard not to think of Vincent Van Gogh’s painting, Starry Night, when you see the colours moving across the surface. There might be a bit of music in the background. People walking, eating, talking. Nothing staged. Just real life happening and you’re part of it without needing to try too hard.

 

 

6. Plan Weekend Getaways for Nature and Adventure

 

 

Weekends are your chance to see another side of Mauritius. After a week of work, it’s worth stepping away from your laptop and heading out to places that feel far removed from every day. From Voilà Hotel, it’s easy to plan day trips that give you that change of scene. Yes, some spots are over an hour away, but that’s part of the experience. The drive takes you through wide open views that remind you why you came in the first place.

Where to go:

• Bel Ombre Nature Reserve
  
  
  • Take a guided 4x4 tour or hike through untouched forest trails
  • Quiet, green and full of space to breathe
    
    
• Heritage Golf Club
  
  
  • A good pick if you enjoy golf or just want open views and fresh air
    
    
• Chamarel and the Seven Coloured Earth
  
  
  • One of the island’s most unique landscapes
  • Worth visiting just to stand still and take it all in
  • On the way, you’ll pass rum distilleries, fruit stands and family-run restaurants
    
    

7. Set Clear Boundaries Between Work and Leisure

Working remotely in Mauritius is a rare opportunity, but to make the most of it, you need to be intentional with your time. It’s easy to let work stretch into the evening without meaning to. A quick email here, a last-minute call there and suddenly the day’s gone. Instead, try setting clear work hours and stick to them. Start when you’re focused, wrap up on time and then fully step away. Let your team know your schedule so everyone’s on the same page. This isn’t about being rigid. It’s about giving yourself the freedom to enjoy your surroundings without guilt. When you draw that line, you protect the best part of being here, the space to breathe, explore and feel present.

 

 

8. Leverage Time Zones and Scheduling Tools

One of the hidden advantages of working from Mauritius is the time difference. Depending on who you're working with, you might have a few quiet hours in the morning before messages start coming in. That’s prime time for deep work. Use it. Block out those hours for focused tasks, then schedule calls and check-ins for later in the day when others are online. Tools like Google Calendar, Calendly or even simple status updates on Slack help keep everything smooth, without needing to explain yourself every time. When you plan your day around the time zone, work feels less rushed. You stay ahead of things instead of chasing them. It’s a small shift, but it gives you space to work better and still finish in time to enjoy where you are.

 

Stay Productive, Without Missing the Moment

 

 

Mauritius offers the rare chance to stay productive without missing out on the beauty around you. With smart planning and the right base, your business trip can be both efficient and enjoyable. Voilà Hotel puts you close to the action and gives you the space to recharge when the workday ends.