Best hotels in Mauritius reviewed
The stunning Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is a magnet for holidaymakers looking for pristine beaches, outdoor activities and historical trails, but finding the best hotels in Mauritius can be overwhelming.
With over 200 hotels ranging from budget options to five-star luxury, there is something for everyone, but it’s important to do your research – getting to Mauritius isn’t cheap and you want to pick the right hotel for you in the perfect location.
From its busy capital Port Louis, to its gorgeous beaches, beautiful islands, mountains and crystal-clear waters, there is something for everyone in Mauritius. Check out some of the amazing things you can do in Rum, yoga and dolphins, my action-packed fortnight in Mauritius but if you want to find the very best hotels on the island look no further. I recently spent two weeks on this beautiful island so here’s a bang up-to-date look at the very best hotels in Mauritius.
Best hotels in Mauritius West Coast
Lux Le Morne, Le Morne, Mauritius
Five-star hotel Lux Le Morne, located in the southwest corner of Mauritius under the looming presence of the Le Morne mountain itself, is a chic, boutique, oceanside resort where the emphasis is more on relaxing and unwinding rather than dressing to impress.
The 600 metre-long pristine white sandy beach at Lux Le Morne is the perfect place for a relaxing holiday
The view from breakfast at Lux Le Morne luxury hotel
There’s surprisingly little glitz and glamour here but what there is, is great customer service – the staff led by manager Jérémie de Fombelle are all incredibly efficient and friendly – a meticulous attention to detail and a location which speaks for itself. Located on 600 metres of pristine white sands dotted with palm trees, the 149 rooms and suites at Lux Le Morne have everything you could wish for, from luxury furnishings, a well-stocked fridge and coffee machines to large bathrooms and large patios or balconies, often with stunning views of the ocean.
The beach at Lux Le Morne in Mauritius is stunning
There are four swimming pools at Lux Le Morne, each with its own character
Outside the rooms, there’s plenty to do at Lux Le Morne if sunbathing or swimming in one of its four swimming pools isn’t enough: there’s East, its flagship Thai restaurant, and The Kitchen, the main buffet restaurant. Beachside dining at The Beach restaurant is a great al fressco option and for those who fancy immersing themselves in a true Mauritian experience, just head down the beach to Vik’s shack. Vik will not only offer you a rum cocktail but he’ll take you fishing for sea urchins and octopus and serve them up to you in front of one of the island’s spectacular sunsets.
Just stroll down the beach to Vik’s shack to enjoy some freshly-caught octopus and sea urchins, and a rum cocktail or two. Pictured – Vik with Lux Le Morne manager Jérémie de Fombelle
There’s also a colonial-style poolside bar at the centre of the hotel which serves everything from coffee to cocktails. More active types can head for the fitness centre, try some watersports – it’s the perfect location from which to go swimming with dolphins – or go for a hike up Le Morne itself (the site of many a engagement proposal), before returning to relax in the Lux Le Morne spa.
There are charming touches all around Lux Le Morne including this Wishing Tree with its very own treehouse at the top
My bedroom at Lux Le Morne was charming, with a large bathroom, outside shower, private patio and stunning beach views
Quirky touches such as a Wishing Tree with a treehouse (the perfect spot for a romantic film evening) and free classes from yoga to photography make this low-key but charming, eco-friendly resort really worth a visit.
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Paradis Beachcomber golf resort and spa, Le Morne, Mauritius
Paradis beachcomber hotel is located on some of the most stunning beaches in Mauritius – no filters used or needed here!
Every time I mentioned the Paradis Beachcomber people would look impressed and say ‘That’s a beautiful hotel!’ and even by the high standards of Mauritian hotels (they’re all stunning), the Paradis on the Le Morne promontory really stood out. Reached via a causeway between the open bay and a lake, so you feel like you’re entering an exclusive, magical world, Paradis runs the length of a beautiful beach – you’re never more than a few feet from the stunning, turquoise waters – and has the largest hotel swimming pool I’d ever seen.
The Paradis beachcomber hotel has one of the largest hotel swimming pools I’ve seen
There are several excellent restaurants – La Palma has a vast buffet selection but my favourite was Blue Marlin with great food and incredible views – as well as a bar which offered everything from afternoon pancakes to rum cocktails and live music and entertainment in the evenings.
The rooms at Paradis are located in the lush green grounds and none are more than a few steps from the beach
I really enjoyed my early morning swim before breakfast at Paradis and I think you can see why!
Beyond these central amenities were the chance to do absolutely nothing but soak up the views along with the sunshine – there’s a small spa as well as golf and tennis options – but Paradis is overwhelmingly a place to do little but marvel at the scenery and relax.
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Oberoi Beach Resort, Balaclava, Mauritius
From the moment you arrive at the Oberoi Beach Resort in Turtle Bay, just north of the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, you will be indulged, pampered and generally treated like royalty, as befits a hotel from this leading luxury group.
I stayed in a private villa with my very own swimming pool, a first for me, so I was entranced from the moment I arrived, but all the rooms at the Oberoi are either suites or pavilions, so there’s none of the soulless pile-them-high feeling you get with a large hotel building.
From the moment you arrive at the Oberoi Beach Resort you’ll feel like you are somewhere rather luxurious
The Oberoi Beach Resort doesn’t have the long, white sandy stretches of beach you’d find further down the coast, but it is still prefect for swimming, sunbathing or just soaking up the views
That said, having a pool to yourself and 24 hour room service means you could very easily stay in your room in splendid isolation and not actually see much of the rest of the resort. That would be a shame, as the Oberoi’s location right on the beach means not only splendid views and spectacular sunrises but there are many different parts of this hotel which have totally different vibes.
The Oberoi Beach Resort in Mauritius has a great combination of stunning swimming pools and seafront sunbathing, with stunning views across the bay and of course, spectacular sunsets
This means you could have lunch in the open-air On The Rocks restaurant, perched by the waves lapping against the shore, or dine at the grand Gunpowder Room, which dates back from the 18th century. There’s also the imaginatively-named The Bar and The Restaurant, both open-sided with thatched roofs making the most of the warm evenings, and on Saturday and Sunday nights, The Herb Trail hosts a Communal al fresco setting with a four course set menu of dishes slow cooked in an underground fire pit.
There’s also a large spa with a vast range of expertly-delivered treatments, and watersports from PADI courses to kayaks, pedalos and wind-surfing.
The On The Rocks restaurant served lovely, fresh food just metres from the ocean
The villas themselves are as luxurious and relaxing as you’d expect. I stayed in a Premier Villa with a private pool, located right by the seafront, with 70 square metres of interior space and views of Turtle Bay. It was decorated in a relaxing natural palette, with handpicked furnishings and local artwork, with a king-size bed, sofa, bathroom with a sunken marble bath but best of all was my private garden with a thatched al fresco dining pavilion and a heated swimming pool.
Having my own private pool at the Oberoi was a real luxury
My Premier Villa had a heated swimming pool, terrace, thatched open-air dining pavilion and views of the ocean
My luxury villa was a haven of calm, with a king-sized bed, all the mod-cons you would expect including Smart TV, free wifi and large bathroom with an impressive sunken bath
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Sugar Beach, Flic en Flac, Mauritius
Located mid-way down the west coast of Mauritius near the pretty resort of Flic en Flac is Sugar Beach resort, which has immaculate lawns, large colonial-style buildings, vast swimming pools and a large stretch of golden sandy beaches.
Sugar Beach Resort is one of the greenest resorts in Mauritius, with dozens of palm trees and immaculate green lawns
There are three large swimming pools at Sugar Beach Resort
With three swimming pools, 14 restaurants and bars (some of which are next door at La Pirogue), a tea lounge, fitness centre, fully-equipped spa and view points for stunning Mauritius sunsets, guests aren’t short of things to do at this luxury resort.
Some of the 238 bedrooms and suites at Sugar Beach resort are in this impressive colonial-style building
In the heart of the resort at Sugar Beach is this large, immaculate lawn which makes for a very calming atmosphere
Other resorts have a similarly large space but they don’t have the open spaces which give Sugar Beach a very relaxing, calming atmosphere. The swimming pools are all large enough to make sure that there’s no overcrowding, and the beach itself is the perfect spot in which to soak up the sunshine.
This pool at the southern end of the Sugar Beach resort is perfect for swimming lengths while soaking up the views
There are large stretches of sandy beach at Sugar Beach resort
The view from the beach at Sugar Beach resort is perfect for those holiday pictures
There are 238 guest rooms and suites, each with a private balcony looking out over the Indian Ocean or the immaculate Sugar Beach gardens. My bedroom was a Deluxe Beach Front Room with stripped wooden floors, large double bed, open-plan bathroom and my own private balcony which had views of the ocean just a few metres away.
My bedroom was a bedroom was a Deluxe Beach Front Room with private balcony and ocean views
Activities at Sugar Beach includes its newly-launched ‘Come Alive’ collection of experiences including kids clubs, Mauritian high tea with live piano accompaniment, croquet with Aperol Spritz, large spa with fitness classes and treatments and even ballroom dancing classes.
In the evenings, there’s several great dining options, including Citronella’s beach front restaurant, but no visit to Sugar Beach resort would be complete without a cocktail or two at the internationally-renowned Buddha-Bar Beach, which serves quality drinks while guests soak up the sunsets.
One of the unique cocktails served at Buddha-Bar Beach in Sugar Beach, Mauritius
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Best hotels in Mauritius East Coast
One&Only, Le Saint Geran, Poste de Flacq
The One&Only Resorts brand is known for its luxury hotels and Le Saint Geran on the east coast of Mauritius is no exception. From the moment you set foot in its vast entrance hall – where you will be greeted with a welcome drink and a hanging gong will be struck in your honour – you know that you’re in expert hands.
Blue skies, palm trees and a silver sculpture are the first things you’ll see on arrival at the One&Only St Geran
My room, a beach view suite, was the most opulent I stayed in during my tour of Mauritius’s best hotels, and encompassed a plush lounge with sofas, huge bedroom, not one but two bathrooms packed with little luxuries from illuminated make-up mirrors to endless toiletries and a double-fronted terrace facing straight onto the beach.
My beach view suite at the One&Only St Geran was the most opulent I stayed in throughout my trip – check out the welcome rum and shot glasses on the coffee table!
The lounge was as large as the adjacent bedroom and contained, among other things, a full size mini-bar (pictured in the corner). There was also a second bathroom, TV and dining table
A complimentary bottle of rum with shot glasses prepared with sugar and limes in my room was a welcome treat (there was also a beach bag and a water bottle for me to take away) and showed the attention to detail with ran throughout the hotel. The hotel was one of few not to close their doors at all during the lockdown due to guests not being able to return home and as one of the oldest hotels on the island it takes its status very seriously.
The spa at the Only&Only St Geran was picture perfect
The main pool winds around the central bar and restaurant and there’s also an Instagram-perfect spa with pool, large gym, tennis courts, mini golf and the private Villa One which has hosted the likes of the Rolling Stones, John Travolta and a host of other celebs and royals. The service is excellent – I returned back from a very quick dinner due to a work call and found three people busy making my suite immaculate once more – and having room service breakfast on my terrace by the ocean before an early morning departure was a real treat.
The famous Villa One at One&Only St Geran is for rock stars, royalty and the extremely rich and comes with an infinity pool, outside barbeque area and two butlers
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Constance Prince Maurice, Poste de Flacq, Mauritius
One of my favourite hotels in Mauritius was Constance Prince Maurice. From the moment I arrived at its opulent entrance, on its on peninsula in north-west Mauritius, I knew that this was a really luxurious hotel, and that impression continued throughout my stay as I explored its many swimming pools, beautiful sandy beach and my gorgeous bedroom suite with balcony overlooking the bay.
The swimming pools at Constance Prince Maurice were all stunning – an Instagrammers dream!
The arrival hall at Constance Prince was an opulent, relaxing vast open space with water features and high-beamed ceilings, before opening out into a vast swimming pool, beyond which were views of the sandy beach and still waters of the bay.
The arrival hall at Constance Prince Maurice was an opulent, relaxing vast open space
Sculptures and water features make this a very relaxing space
The sight that greets guests when walking through Constance Prince Maurice was this stunning swimming pool
There are luxurious villas and junior suites dotted around the resort, each one featuring air-conditioning, bathroom with bathtub, double vanities, separate shower/WC, hair dryer, mini-bar, safe, desk, satellite TV, Hi-Fi, telephone, Apple Mac mini, complimentary wi-fi internet access and a furnished terrace or balcony. My beachfront villa was beautifully-appointed, with high ceilings, artwork and polished flooring, and had a large balcony overlooking the bay (as well as an in-room dodo).
My bedroom at Constance Prince Maurice was a delight. There was a vast bed, acres of polished wood floor, an old-fashioned ceiling fan and large bathroom area behind the bed, with a bath, stand-alone shower and two wash basins
The view of my bedroom from outside – I had the top floor with the balcony and stunning views of the beach and bay
There are several beautiful swimming pools dotted around the 60-hectare Constance Prince Maurice resort
There’s plenty of activities at Constance Prince Maurice, as well as eating, sleeping and sunbathing, such as visiting the large spa with a range of luxury spa treatments, playing tennis on its two floodlit tennis courts, practising golf on the putting green, cycling, windsurfing, kayaking and table tennis. There are also several bars, including a wine cellar with 25,000 which has wine-tasting events.
There are three restaurants at Constance Prince Maurice, including from the central L’Archipel, which overlooks the central swimming pool, and Asisa Restaurant, which as you’d expect, offers a range of Asian delicacies.
Enjoying an al fresco meal at L’Archipel restaurant
The most memorable meal I had at Constance Prince Maurice, or indeed, the most memorable meal I had in the whole of Mauritius, was my night at Le Barachois. Accessed by a lantern-lit pontoon which winds its way through the mangrove swamps, Le Barachois is built on five floating pontoons on the edge of a vast lake.
Diners at Le Barachois restaurant are seating on floating pontoons in the lake surrounded by mangrove trees
The food at Le Barachois is almost as good as the atmosphere, offering a gourmet Indian Ocean menu with specialties including Madagascar Faye-Faye crab and fresh seafood
The lake’s largest resident, a bull shark named Johnny, will silently cruise past the candlelit diners as they indulge in a gourmet Indian Ocean menu with specialties including Madagascar Faye-Faye crab and fresh seafood and the experience will stay in your mind long after other holiday memories fade.
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Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius
If your ideal holiday is being surrounded in calming luxury while doing yoga on the beach in preparation for an indulgent night of cocktails and fine-dining ahead, then the Shangri-La is for you.
Located on Mauritius East Coast near Trou d’Eau Douce, Shangri-La Le Touessrosk Mauritius exudes luxury from the moment you arrive, with its uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean and sandy white beaches from all angles, due to its position on a promontory jutting out into the ocean.
Shangri-La Mauritius is surrounded by water on all sides, thanks to its location jutting out into the Indian Ocean and with five swimming pools around the resort
With 189 rooms and suites plus three beach villas, five restaurants and three bars, there’s a wide range of choices in accommodation and food and beverage, and the resort is laid out in such a way that you walk along pretty, winding paths to get anywhere, with villas tucked away in private staircases, across swimming pools or behind towering palm trees – you won’t find large, anonymous hotel buildings here.
The villas are tucked away behind palm trees and many have a view of the ocean and the beach
My bedroom was stunning, with a private balcony right over the ocean, so I could enjoy my morning coffee in the fresh air with the waves lapping underneath, which was incredibly relaxing.
My bedroom at Shangri-La was huge, with a bathroom area located up a level behind the bedroom, with a private balcony and views straight out onto the Indian Ocean
The bathroom contained a large, free-standing bath, loo, shower and two handbasin and looked extremely opulent
The view from my private balcony – no-one is overlooking this room!
If you feel like a more active holiday, there’s an extensive recreation programme when you can take part in activities throughout the day, from a morning power walk to archery, pilates, paddle boarding and circuit training to water polo, dancing and even karaoke and beer pong in the evenings.
The Shangri-La Mauritius resort is beautifully designed, with pools dotted among the greenery
Guests also have exclusive access to the private Ilot Mangénie island & two championship golf courses, so you’ll never be short of something to do, even if all you want to do is to lounge besides the hotel’s many picture-perfect swimming pools.
This is the pool closest to the hotel entrance, showing the Sega Bar to the left, and the ocean view straight ahead
In the evening you can enjoy a well-made cocktail at the atmospheric Sega Bar, is a rum and tiki bar that offers Mauritian-inspired beverages, a unique smoked cocktail menu, extensive rum selection and a specially designed over-the-pool stage that showcases cultural shows featuring local talents, reggae and seggae music, as well as a live jazz and blues band nightly.
The Sega Bar which does great cocktails and has an extensive rum collection
I dined at the Republik Beach Club & Grill which is right on the beach with great views of the picturesque Trou d’Eau Douce Bay and serves Mediterranean cuisine as well as charcoal fired barbecue grills, turning into a late night bar with live music, theme nights and DJs. Guests who want to arrive in style can even make use of the hotel’s helipad – what a way to arrive!
Salt of Palmar
The hotel building surrounds the central pool – across from the loungers is the open bar and restaurant and at the end of the pool is the ocean
One of the newest and coolest hotels in Mauritius, Salt feels less like a place to stay and more like a way of life. The island’s first ‘eco-hotel’ and impressively, number one hotel on Tripadvisor for the whole of Mauritius, Salt prides itself on not only being environmentally sound – there are no single-use plastics here and everything is recycled, recyclable, organic and locally-sourced where possible – but on providing a window into the local community. Its innovative skill swap programme offers guests to learn local skills from local people – anything from fishing to basket-weaving – while daily classes cover everything from cooking to yoga.
To arrive at Salt was to feel instantly relaxed – you could relax anywhere and know that no-one was going to tell you that you were in the wrong place. Plus the beach is roughly a metre from the bar.
As well as having its heart and eco-credentials in the right place, Salt makes sure you can also enjoy a thoroughly indulgent and relaxing holiday here too. With thoughtful touches such as contact-free phone charging pads, soothing aloe vera chips and sunglasses lens cleaner at the bar, to a stunning rooftop terrace where the bar staff will serve cocktails almost as good as the view, to the excellent salt-themed spa (you get salt rubs and a salt room visit along with your massage) you know that you’re in good hands.
Soho House was one of the inspirations for the look of Salt and it’s not hard to see why, with colourful, Instagrammable design touches everywhere
Its Soho House-inspired boutique design and excellent food make for a modern stay along with its modern take on hospitality and its minimalist bedrooms (no TVs or baths but books and a digital radio) with bamboo toiletries and jars (no plastic) of salt scrub and hair masks strike a perfect balance of thoughtful luxury.
The perfect way to wind down after a hard day’s relaxing is with a cocktail from Salt’s extensive bar menu and this glorious view
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C Mauritius, Palmar, Mauritius
C Mauritius is the younger, cooler sibling of the luxury hotel Constance Prince Maurice (both are owned by Constance Hospitality) and has a similar approach to its near-neighbour, Salt of Palmar (above).
There’s a playful, fun vibe which runs throughout the all-inclusive hotel, from the floating whale skeleton in the restaurant to the octopus shower sculpture on the beach, the old-fashioned juice wagon in reception and the friendly dodos to greet you on arrival.
The beach at C Mauritius is right by the hotel which means there’s minimal effort to get from your room for a refreshing morning swim
C Mauritius is a fun, cool, stylish hotel with many quirky touches, such as this whale sculpture in the dining room
C Mauritius describes itself as ‘Nature’s Playground’ and there’s a strong emphasis on green, eco-friendly credentials here as well as connecting with your inner child in activities such as pedalos, kayaks, beer pong, floating trampoline and water gun battles. There are live music sessions in the open air, award-winning cocktails and a Club House to relax in, and staff are a great mixture of friendly, attentive and fun.
There are several stunning swimming pools at C Mauritius
The hotel’s sense of fun is throughout the hotel – here’s a fabulous open-air octopus shower on the beach
This old-fashioned juice cart in reception will serve drinks to thirsty guests
A group of friendly dodos are there to welcome new arrivals at C Mauritius
The hotel is right on a beautiful sandy beach, so you can have breakfast soaking up the view, and then spend a day relaxing in its many, Instagrammable swimming pools, having a treatment at its luxury spa or doing a spot of outdoor yoga or paddle-boarding
There are many food options here too, including the Wok n Roll Asian food and the ‘Cpicerie’ where you can enjoy coffee, donuts, croissants and waffles, and there are several bars dotted around the resort depending on your mood.
I loved having breakfast on the beach during my stay at C Mauritius
Bedrooms at C Mauritius are either Prestige or Deluxe and can be beach or garden-facing. Prestridge rooms are 40m2 with a double bed, air conditioning, mini bar and terrace of balcony, while the Deluxe rooms are slightly bigger at 43m2 with a king-sized bed. I had a lovely Deluxe room which was decorated in marine-themed artwork. There was a large bathroom with walk-in shower and patio doors led out onto my terrace which was just a few metres from the beach.
My bedroom at C Mauritius had a private terrace and was just a few metres from the beach
The combination of light wood floors and marine-themed designs was very relaxing
With its combination of relaxing, sport (including an optional weekly hike up Le Pouce mountain), and live music on the beach most evenings, C Mauritius is a great choice for the young or young-at-heart who want a holiday with fun as well as sun.
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Best hotels in Mauritius – unique locations
In the mountains
Lakaz Chamarel hotel, Chamarel
The top suites and View Bar at Lakaz Chamarel enjoy stunning views over the island and coastline
Proof that not all luxury hotels in Mauritius are on the beach comes in the from of the unique Lakaz Chamarel (Lakaz means ‘house’ in Creole) which lies 400m above sea level high in the hills in the south west corner of Mauritius. That’s not to say it doesn’t have stunning views – the aptly named View Bar at the top of the resort has some of the best views on the island, taking in the sweep of the countryside and western lagoon all the way to Le Morne – but to stay at Lakaz Chamarel is to stay in a tropical garden paradise where villas and swimming pools are nestled between olive trees and ferns in lush green undulating slopes.
My villa, Reshma, was the size of a cottage and its terrace looked out over a beautiful lake
There’s nothing like your very own private pool to make you feel as if you’re in the lap of luxury
There are seven bedrooms and 13 suites hidden among the greenery – all have a terrace and open-air shower while the suites also each have a private pool – and the whole effect is of a deeply relaxing, ‘back to nature’ break; this form of nature including fine-dining, a cocktail bar and all manner of in-room luxuries. My villa, Reshma, was located on the lake near the reception area, bar and restaurant – other rooms are further away up the hill but a buggy can whisk you around to the more remote ones – and had a vast bedroom/lounge area as well as an outside shower, private pool and sundeck. Staff are attentive – someone popped round to light my mosquito burner when I was enjoying an evening cocktail on the lakeside terrace – and the hotel runs yoga weekends as well as yoga sessions and treatments on request.
The open air bar made the most of the beautiful surroundings
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On a Private Island
Bubble Lodge, Ile aux Cerfs
My ocean view Bubble Lodge on the tiny island of Ile aux Cerfs was one of my most memorable hotel stays
One of the most memorable nights I spent in Mauritius – and in fact, one of the most memorable hotel nights anywhere – was in a plastic bubble on a tiny island off the east coast. I was in one of Mauritius’ Bubble Lodges – there are four on the Ile aux Cerfs and four on the mainland in the Bois Cheri tea plantation – and it was a truly remarkable experience.
The beautiful little bubbles have a bedroom, bathroom and lounge and come equipped with all manner of essentials such as air-conditioning, a coffee machine, hairdryer, Scrabble set, open-air shower and private terrace
Some Bubble Lodges are located deep within the forest and surrounded by banyun trees
Staying in a plastic bubble on a private island just a few metres from the rolling waves of the Indian Ocean was an amazing experience in itself, but the real magic happened at night time. When I switched off the light and lay back in my bed, the entire ceiling vanished completely, giving the illusion that I was lying directly underneath the canopy of treetops and sparkling above them, the stars. The only sounds I could hear were the crash of the surf and the wind rustling through the swaying branches above me and it was so strange, so surreal, so sense-defying that there was little else I could do but gaze at the skies and marvel at it all.
Some of the Bubble Lodges are made from a more rigid cylinder structure and has wraparound views
Added to that your own private butler, beautiful scenery, an excellent restaurant, gorgeous beaches and a luxury lodge with all the modern conveniences including air-conditioning, coffee machine, bathroom and rainfall shower and you’ve got an amazing night or two.
Booking Bubble Lodge, Ile aux Cerfs
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Best hotels in Mauritius – north coast hotels
LUX Grand Gaube, Grand Gaube, Mauritius
There is something quite unique and charming about the LUX Grand Gaube, and that’s not just because it is tucked away on its own peninsula right at the top of the island. It successfully hits the ‘retro-chic tropical retreat’ vibe, which is not to say that it’s old-fashioned, far from it, but it has a sense of fun and playfulness about it which fits in perfectly with its luxurious facilities, eye-catching Kelly Hoppen designs, beautiful sweeping beaches and lush green planting throughout.
The lush greenness of the LUX Grand Gaube hotel as seen from my bedroom balcony
Where else would you find a British red phone box and a classic VW Beetle car, a plush red-seated cinema showing classic James Bond films, or discover a bath tub on your vast balcony overlooking the ocean?
The impressive entrance to LUX Grand Gaube combines history and luxury with modern luxury
The resort is known for its focus on wellness and its culinary gems, which include a fabulous Peruvian restaurant on its own mini-promontory jutting out into the ocean, an overwater Turkish restaurant and even a rum treehouse. The main areas in the resort feel very colonial in design, in a nod to Mauritius’ history, but again with a sense of fun: buffet food for breakfast has a massive sign over it saying ‘Hot Stuff’ and during the afternoon and evening cocktails are quickly and expertly delivered.
There are ‘only’ two swimming pools, which is less than other five-star hotels on the island, but the sea in the bay is beautifully calm and clear for swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing. There’s also a vast spa with a large range of treatments, and other activities on offer include tennis, watersports and fitness classes.
The hotel’s central restaurant overlooking one of its swimming pools
There are 186 rooms and villas at LUX Grand Gaube in nine different categories but they have all been given the beach house feel, thanks to soothing colour palettes, large beach towels and indoor plants – the ‘playful but chic’ feel the hotel is going for.
My room was vast, with a king-size bed, large balcony (with a bath tub) and separate bathroom with twin sinks and walk-in rainforest shower
There’s plenty of space in which to relax at LUX Grand Gaube
As for food and drink, there are six restaurants and seven bars at LUX Grand Gaube, including the stunningly-located Bodrum Blue Turkish restaurant which sticks out into the bay over the water, giving great views of the ocean and the hotel. Other places of note are the Rum Treehouse, Creole Smokehouse, Banyan Burger Shack and Inti Peruvian restaurant, so you will definitely not be going hungry during your stay.
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Cannonier Beachcomber golf resort and spa, Pointe aux Cannoniers, Grand Baie
This was the first hotel I ever stayed in in Mauritius, and it was a perfect introduction to the beauty of Mauritius’s beaches. It’s a family-friendly hotel, very popular with international visitors and Mauritius alike, and probably suited to those with children or multi-generational holidays.
The beach at the Cannonier Beachcomber hotel
Located right at the very north-west tip of the island, the hotel is located right on the beach and is perfect for boat trips, coastal walks, mini golf or just gazing across the sparkling water at the rocky outcrop which is Coin de Mire island nature reserve.
The hotel itself has a large swimming pool, several restaurants – you can choose between the buffet option at the large Frangipanier restaurant or the more refined atmosphere of the Navigator hotel which has great beach views – and a programme of entertainment and live music every night to keep you and your family entertained.
One of several swimming pools at Cannonier hotel
It’s one of the few hotels I stayed in which had an all-inclusive option which certainly makes working your way through the cocktail list more fun and there’s also a spa, uniquely sited in above-ground cabins in the branches of a banyan tree.
My room was smaller than others I’d stayed in but with a lovely terrace overlooking the sea and the location is perfect for exploring the north coast from Grand Baie to Cap Malheureux and beyond. I hired a bike for the day and relished every minute of those stunning views!
My smart bedroom and terrace just steps from the beach at Cannonier Beachcomber
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Best hotels on the south coast of Mauritius
Shanti Maurice, St Felix, Mauritius
The villas are directly on the golden sandy beach at Shanti Maurice
One of the few hotels on Mauritius’ south coast – which means you can see both the sunset and the sunrise from its stunning golden beach location – the five star Shanti Maurice resort and spa is the place to go for some serious relaxing and pampering. Guests stay in suites or villas dotted round the spacious resort – my room was traditional and almost minimalist in design but with a vast bathroom and stunning views from the balcony – and you can soak up the sun by the main pool and jacuzzi overlooking the beach or on the luxury loungers (each with a waiter service button) on the sweeping beach.
Breakfast comes with a stunning views of the beach at Shanti Maurice
There’s also a full-size swimming pool in the beautiful spa complex as well as a sauna, steam room, treatment rooms and yoga studio and the hotel often hosts yoga weekends where you might just find yourself doing sun salutations on the beach just yards from the crashing waves. For fitness enthusiasts there’s a gym, running track (lit at night), tennis courts and water sports centre and for foodies there’s a selection of restaurants (you can dine on the beach as well) and the friendly and efficient staff will make you feel very well looked-after.
The main swimming pool and beach at Shanti Maurice
The spa at Shanti Maurice is a beautiful haven of pampering – here’s the hot tub and beyond it, the swimming pool surrounded with luxury loungers
Book Shanti Maurice at Booking.com
Visit Shanti Maurice on Tripadvisor
Anantara Iko, Le Chaland beach, Mauritius
Anatara Iko is one of the newest hotels on Mauritius and has the ultra-smart, modern feel to reflect this. From the impressive entrance lobby to the view of the swimming pool and the beach beyond, this hotel on the south-east coast of Mauritius embraces its oceanside location.
There’s just one swimming pool at the moment, although there are plans to build another (the hotel has lots of space and lots of plans), and the main bar and restaurant overlooks the pool for pre- or post-swim food and drink. It’s just 10 minutes from the international airport, making it extremely handy and one of the closest hotels in Mauritius from the airport – you can be in the pool while your fellow airline passengers are still travelling across the island – and thankfully the planes take off away from the resort so there isn’t any airplane noise overhead.
The outdoor swimming pool at Anantara Iko is the centerpiece of the resort
The hotel’s 164 rooms and suites are all located in a square block which will blend more into the landscape over time, but it does mean most of the rooms have stunning views of the beach and the waving palm trees (this side of the island can be a bit breezy but it’s pure, fresh air straight from the Antarctic) and no expense has been spared in making the rooms feel incredibly spacious and luxurious.
My bedroom at Anantara Iko was incredibly spacious, with a large bathroom, desk space and balcony
My large bathroom at Anantara Iko
Working from my hotel room was a breeze with this amazing view from my balcony
There is far more to Anantara Iko than rooms and a swimming pool however: guests who venture over the other side of the pool will find a luxury spa offering treatments to soothe, relax and invigorate, and a fitness centre where a vast range of activities are on offer, including the ever-popular Pilates and yoga (I was lucky to be given a sneak preview of the yoga classes in an outdoor class in the nearby forest). There are also hiking tours planned and for those less energetic, there are cooking demos and wine-tasting classes.
The main restaurant at Anantara Iko was large, bright and airy
You can relax in the poolside bar before or after your swim
If all that seems too much, then it’s easy to relax here, with a well-stocked bar serving excellent cocktails located right on the beach. This is great place to dine in the evenings, with a high-end restaurant serving freshly-caught fish on slabs of Himalayan ice and all with the background of waves for the perfect dining experience.
Anantara Iko is located right on this beautiful beach
The hotel frequently spills out onto the beach as in its beachside bar and restaurant
Having only opened in 2019, there are lots of plans for Anantara Iko, so expect this hotel to expand over the years – but always in consideration of its the beautiful environment which surrounds it.
Book Anantara Iko with Booking.com
Visit Anantara Iko on Tripadvisor
Preskil Island Resort, Mahebourg, Mauritius
Four-star family hotel Preskil Island Resort sits on a peninsula in the south east of Mauritius, between the historic village of Mahébourg and the Blue Bay Marine Park and is so named because it’s nearly an island – ‘Presqu’isle’ in French.
Preskil Island Resort has a large infinity pool as well as a large, sandy beach
There’s lots to do for children aged between 3 and 12 at the Tikoulou Kids Club while parents and grandparents relax by the large, central infinity pool and enjoy the views across the bay to nearby islands l’île aux Aigrettes or l’île au Phare, and the impressive Lion mountain.
The resort has a large beach area which is perfect for sunbathing, soaking up the view or more active sports such as beach volleyball
As it is only around 20 minutes away from the international airport, Preskil Island Resort means no lengthy airport transfers, so you can be on the beach less than an hour after you land.
There’s a large selection of restaurants and bars on the resort, including 1810 restaurant which sits on the beach and gives lovely views over the bay while serving fresh Mauritius cuisine, and the Medley bar which offers cocktails and 12 different beers from 12 different countries.
Preskil Island Resort’s many restaurants serve delicious local cuisine
My room had its own terrace with beach views, so I loved getting room service breakfast while enjoying the morning sunshine. During the day, you can just lounge around on the vast beach area or get a treatment at the Banyan Spa, or the more active might like to try kite-surfing, wind-surfing, stand-up paddle-boarding or a catamaran trip.
There are several different room types, including family rooms, garden rooms and suites
I loved having breakfast outside my Prestige bedroom overlooking the beach and ocean beyond
Book Preskil Island Resort at Booking.com
Visit Preskil Island Resort at Tripadvisor
Heritage Le Telfair, Bel Ombre, Mauritius
Golf lovers will be in their element at the five-star Heritage Le Telfair golf and wellness resort, located on the south coast of Mauritius, as its Le Chateau golf course and golfing academy is often the home of national and international golfing competitions, and a new links course is set to be the only links course in the Indian Ocean.
Guests who are more inclined to less active pursuits such as sunbathing, dining or relaxing in a spa will not find themselves short of places in which to indulge though, as this large, lush resort has five restaurants and bars, a luxury spa, several swimming pools and beach access for great sunsets.
Bedrooms at Heritage Le Telfair are all suites, ranging from those with garden or beach views to private terraces or balconies.
And for a bonus hotel, let’s not forget my quarantine hotel, Trou aux Biches Beachcomber golf resort and spa…
No-one wants to spend 14 days in one room but there are far worse places to quarantine than in a five-star luxury hotel in Mauritius and Trou aux Biches turned out to be the perfect place for my necessary isolation. While the restaurants, pools, spa and 35 acres of landscaped gardens were all closed to me and my fellow guests – we had been driven there from the airport in a convey of minibuses with a police escort and quickly shown to our rooms – we were all extremely well looked after. Firstly the room was thankfully one of the biggest I stayed in while in Mauritius. There was a large double bed, a lot of floor space which turned out to be ideal for exercise videos, a balcony with a table, chairs and sun lounger (although annoying the balcony was entirely shaded from the sun so I had to sit on my front door step at midday to get some vitamin D), a separate work area which was psychological perfect for distancing work and leisure time and a large bathroom with shower, bath, loo and twin sinks.
My ‘home’ for 14 days…. Thankfully there was plenty of room to stop me going completely stir-crazy. Just behind the bed was a separate work area with a desk and if I opened the door I could get a lovely breeze and sense of freedom
Every day I’d receive several phone call asking for my choice of menu options for the next day’s meals which were then promptly delivered at 8.30am, 1pm and 7pm and the food was both excellent and plentiful (there was also afternoon tea at 4pm but I had to ask them not to deliver as I was eating so much food) and came with a litre of water and whatever drinks I’d ordered.
A typically epic dinner – after several days like this I realised I had to increase my step count or decrease the amount of food I was consuming!
For exercise I either used apps or constructed a walking circuit around the available space so I’d plug in a podcast and trek for an hour between the outside steps, bedroom, balcony, bedroom, bathroom and back to the steps – it was boring but necessary – and I loved my morning yoga on the balcony with the colourful birds flying about.
It was 31 degrees outside but always shaded on my balcony… I ate breakfast and lunch out here everyday
I couldn’t see the sea which was only 20 metres away through the trees, but the gardens were nice to look at – although I was envious of those on the ground floor who could sunbathe and have a bit more room to walk around in – and the only difference from a typical hotel stay was the fact that I was given cleaning products and enough towels, sheets and loo-rolls for a week (new ones came at the end of the week). I’d be temperature-tested every day and Covid-tested on days 7 and 14 (there was a test on arrival at the airport and I had to have a recent negative test to travel at all) and to be honest I enjoyed the chance to finally get on with admin task and work without distractions.
One of my many colourful companions for the quarantine fortnight
Knowing that everyone back in the UK was also under restrictions meant I didn’t feel I was missing out on anything and the only tough day was day 14 when I was woken at 6.30am for the Covid test and then had to wait until 5pm to be given the all-clear. I’d certainly be happy to do it again and after two weeks there’s the whole of Mauritius to explore!
Do you have a favourite hotel in Mauritius which isn’t mentioned here? Do recommend your best hotels in Mauritius either in the comments or email me at [email protected]
And if you enjoy reading about luxury hotels, then check out some reviews closer to home… Best luxury hotels for Christmas; Best luxury hotels in the UK with swimming pools; Best luxury hotels for Christmas; Top romantic hotels for Valentines Day; British hotels with golf courses;