Mr & Mrs Smith

Azura

Benguerra Island, Mozambique

Azura hotel is a castaway fantasy: a remote retreat of luxury thatched villas on the sunny shores of Benguerra Island. Join in with island life, and help out with one of the many conservation projects, or just sit by the clear blue lagoon and watch the tide roll in and out.

Need to know

• Rooms 16 villas.
• Rates Double rooms from $1550.00.
  The price shown represents the lowest nightly rate for a double room available at this hotel over the next 21 days. Any price conversions from the hotel's local currency ($1,550) have been conducted using today's exchange rates from xe.com.
• More details Rates include all meals and most drinks, butler service, a 15-minute massage when you arrive, a Landrover drive around the island, a dhow cruise at sunset, laundry and medical insurance, but not a US$10 daily donation each to the Rainbow Fund.
• Facilities Diving centre, spa, gardens, gym, free WiFi in the bar and lounge, and a library of books and DVDs. In rooms, minibar, universal plugs and a selection of books. There’s a boutique selling swimwear, flip flops and handmade jewellery.
• Poolside Each villa has its own sea-facing infinity pool, with teak decking, day-bed, sunloungers and deck chairs.
• Children Cost are free, and extra beds can be added. Babysitting with hotel staff costs US$10 an hour and, ideally, should be arranged when booking. The chef is happy to discuss dedicated meals on arrival, but younger children are asked to eat at 6.30pm.
• Also There’s a remote chance of malaria-carrying mosquitoes on Benguerra Island, so it’s best to be cautious and take some medication.

Food and drink at Azura

• Hotel restaurant Jelly Fish, a wood-beamed, thatched hut, is the main restaurant, but guests are encouraged to eat all over the island, and your butler will surprise you with different dining options: breakfast with your toes in the sea, a private lunch in your villa or a beach-set dinner under the stars. The modern Portuguese food uses Mozambican ingredients, and there’s plenty of fresh seafood. The chef puts on a seven-course tasting menu, as well as regular barbecues. Lunchtime picnics can be packed, too.
  
• Dress code Floaty maxis and elegant linens all the way.
• Top table There may be several choices, but you can’t beat dinner in the abandoned wooden dhow (a boat), romantically lit with candles. For shade from the midday sun, have lunch under a parasol on the Gecko Deck.
• Last orders It’s up to your butler: all meal times are arranged through them.
• Room service Jelly Fish's menu can be served in-villa between 7am and 10pm.
• Hotel bar Star Bar is an open-sided, shaggy-fringed cabin serving colourful cocktails and wine from the owners’ estate in France. Your butler will be able to get you anything else that isn’t in your minibar (including a selection of premium wines and spirits, which cost extra).
  

Azura Benguerra Island, Benguerra Island