8/10
We were looking for the Mauritius NOT in the glossy brochures. Villa Annjo is situated well away from the 5* gated hotel complexes, in a real village which was just what we hoped for. We even got on first name terms with Anusia at the local shop who supplied our fresh bread, bottled water and beer!
Access to the house was easy and there is a good car port behind the gate. The house beyond is huge with everything that one might need although there is no dishwasher. The TV screen was absolutely enormous and we enjoyed seeing BBC World at a time of strange politics in the UK! We did not explore the access to movies as we brought our own DVDs and our own laptop.
Through the patio doors the smallish yard was perfect for eating outside as we did each day and the small pool made all the difference when the sun got really hot.
The owners took very good care of us and did their best to solve the problem after the water was shut off by the guys cleaning the pool. They even brought round a bottle of wine which was very kind of them. Water is an issue however as in Mauritius there is no water in the afternoons and we had misjudged when to take a shower on the last day and had no water for a while. But that is the real Mauritius and we took it as part of the experience.
If we had some suggestions it would be a more generous supply of good quality towels and bedding but there is a perfectly good washing machine available too. We also suggest creating a handbook with maps and recommendations of shops, restaurants and other activities.
Overall we felt very safe in the Villa Annjo and were very happy with our choice. We were able to travel the length and breadth of the island via the generally excellent road network and were happy with Marie's recommended car hire firm.