Luxury Hotels Mauritius - Where To Stay and Which To Avoid?
“When you get into a hotel room, you lock the door, and you know there is secrecy, there is luxury, there is fantasy. There is comfort. There is reassurance.”
Are you planning your next trip to Mauritius? I promise you will love it. The island has so many different things to offer. From white sandy beaches to light blue waters and from thrilling activities to delicious food - whatever you’re looking for, Mauritius has got you covered.
If you’re like me and spend your vacation exploring and hanging out at the hotel, you want to make sure you pick the right one. After doing my research, I couldn't decide where to stay. There were so many options, and I booked 4 different hotels. I was pleasantly surprised with some of them and terribly disappointed with others. Want to know which ones? Let’s find out!
Still in your planning stages and not sure what to look for when choosing your hotel? My Mauritius Travel Guide can help you out!
Before we start, remember that everyone’s experience will differ, and this post is only one person’s opinion. It is written from my perspective and features things I would’ve wanted to know before booking these hotels. Ready?
Let’s go - Here are 2 Luxury Hotels in Mauritius I think you should consider and 2 I think you should reconsider, and why:
Recommend: Shangri-La Le Touessrok
Discovering a slice of paradise in Mauritius? Look no further than the Shangri-La Hotel, a laid-back spot that effortlessly blends luxury with tranquility. Located on the east side of the Island, the hotel offers crystal-clear waters and a gorgeous private beach. If you’re looking for a relaxing time, this is for you. From various restaurants to an array of water sports, the Shangri-La has something for everyone. With room rates ranging from $400 to $800, the value for money at this hotel is the best out of the four hotels I stayed at.
Let’s talk pros:
Breakfast is the best out of all the hotels I’ve visited in Mauritius.
The staff is friendly, approachable, and helpful. Professional but not too formal.
Multiple pools + beaches.
Upon arrival, you receive a list of resort activities. Every day has different activities for both adults and children you can attend.
Restaurants with different cuisines to choose from.
Rooms are spacious.
Lots of water activities to choose from.
Let’s talk cons:
It is a bit of a drive from the airport + the capital city. You’ll need a car or taxi to go explore.
The restaurants are expensive.
You need restaurant reservations, so you must plan your itinerary upon arrival.
I recommend this hotel most for:
Families as there are kid-friendly pools and separate adult pools. There are many different activities catered to children so they can keep busy while you relax. There is also a 24/7 nurse on the premises, so in case of an emergency, you’re covered.
Recommend: One&Only Le Saint Géran
Do you want to experience what it’s like to step into the pages of a luxury travel magazine? Then One&Only Le Saint Geran is the place for you to be. Tucked away on the island's east side, this place isn't just a hotel; it's a haven with the absolute best beach on the island. The average room at One&Only Le Saint Geran ranges from $850 to $1400 per night, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking an extraordinary escape with the best beach views, top-notch service, and a dash of that luxury flair. So, if you're yearning for a personal paradise with the best Mauritius has to offer, One&Only Le Saint Geran is your ticket to an unforgettable escape.
Let’s talk pros:
Friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff.
Luxury in all details, from the rooms to the beach beds.
Personal host to arrange all your requests
WhatsApp service to schedule activities.
Drinks + food served on the hotel’s white sand beach
Amazing Sushi-restaurant
Quiet and peaceful atmosphere - especially in the pool area of the spa.
Let’s talk cons:
There is not a lot of privacy as other guests walk through the terrace area rather than using the inner corridors.
Honestly, even for a luxury hotel, I felt the clientele was a tad pretentious.
The buffet restaurant wasn’t that great and pretty expensive, especially if you’re not a big eater ($100 per person without drinks).
There are lots of vendors walking up and down the beach trying to sell sarongs and such. They are very friendly, but didn’t expect this to happen at a hotel.
I recommend this hotel most for:
Couples or newlyweds who are looking for a luxurious, serene, and relaxing getaway.
Don’t Recommend: Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas
Given my positive experiences with other Anantara properties worldwide, I had high expectations when I booked my stay. However, the reality fell disappointingly short. While the hotel boasts a convenient location near the airport, this was the only positive aspect of my visit. I checked multiple times during my stay if this was a 5-star hotel because I honestly couldn’t believe it. The property is undergoing extensive renovations, resulting in construction noise and obstructed views. The staff, predominantly new and inexperienced, struggled to meet the standards typically associated with the Anantara brand.
Based on the price, I find the hotel to be satisfactory. It's important to keep expectations realistic and not compare this hotel to other Anantara properties. During my stay at the other island hotels, the guides and hotel staff mentioned their surprise regarding my choice to stay at Anantara Iko. According to them, the quality of Anantara Iko was not comparable to any of the other hotels. All in all, from my experience, Mauritius has much better places to offer.
Before we dive in, I did voice the points below to the manager (I was quite proud of myself as it was my first time doing so), so hopefully, some of these points will have improved after my stay.
Let’s talk pros:
Convenient location near the airport.
Nice swim-up pool. However, the water is quite cold.
The cocktail bar offers tasty cocktails and bites.
Comfortable beds.
Friendly restaurant staff.
The food at the Indian restaurant was really nice.
Let’s talk cons:
Communication with anyone from the reception/concierge area was challenging. From getting information on activities to booking them, from items added to the bill that were included in a package to inconsistent information, everything was a discussion rather than a conversation.
The rooms are incredibly noisy, and the exterior reminds me more of a college dorm than a hotel.
The food from the buffet restaurant lacked taste.
As the hotel is located on the west side of the island, the waves are very high, which makes swimming in the ocean or any other water activities pretty difficult.
During breakfast, I inquired daily about the availability of lactose-free milk due to my intolerance. Despite my request, I repeatedly received coffee with regular milk. Of course, this is not the end of the world. However, the situation would have been less notable had the staff not previously asked about allergies during booking, upon arrival at the hotel, and while at the restaurant. The communication among the hotel staff as a whole became evident in this instance.
Mauritius has many stray animals. Even at the other hotels, on occasion, a cat or dog would stop by. However, here, it was constant, and the animals appeared to be sick.
I recommend this hotel most for:
“Budget-friendly” travelers who want to experience Mauritius, and will spend most time outside of the hotel.
Want to experience it for yourself and prove me wrong?
Don’t Recommend: Four Seasons Resort Mauritius
The Four Seasons caught my attention with its distinctive location, offering more of a tropical rainforest vibe than the typical beach paradise the One&Only offers. I was excited about staying here, but the reality didn't meet my expectations. The room prices, ranging from $600 to $1,200 per night, felt quite steep, given the overall experience. While the resort was undeniably stunning, it seemed outdated. From the interior of the rooms to the restaurant and beach furniture, everything was either damaged or old. Compared to the One&Only, I found that the Four Seasons lacked a luxury touch, especially given the price tag.
On a practical note, there were also some clear areas where the resort fell short. The Wi-Fi was unreliable, and the bikes provided for exploring the area often needed repairs (for example, the breaks were broken off). Also, when trying to book activities, the staff frequently directed me to check online. The lack of responsiveness and attention to detail, mixed with the old, outdated furniture, left me feeling somewhat disappointed.
While the Four Seasons Mauritius has the potential for greatness, it falls short compared to similar resorts, especially the One&Only. In my opinion, it's clear that there's a strong need for an update.
Let’s talk pros:
Lots of water activities to choose from.
Multiple restaurants.
Your own small private pool.
There was a fun atmosphere by the pool/beach area (music + drinks).
There’s a special bar area to watch the sunset.
Let’s talk cons:
Outside of water activities, there isn’t much to do at the resort.
The rooms are very basic. There’s a fridge, a bed, and a desk. There are no decorations on the walls or carpet on the floor. I had never considered this before, but when I entered the room, it was very noticeable.
The overall service is not what you would expect from a luxury hotel. My mattress was dented, and when I asked if there’s something they could do, they told me to “just flip it”.
The rooms have a private pool, but the water is cold. Due to the location of the Island Room Garden Villas, it’s also very windy, so you couldn’t enjoy much time outside.
The resort is really big, so it takes a while to get from your rooms to the restaurants or pool area.
I recommend this hotel most for:
Larger groups as they offer villas with multiple bedrooms, and there are activities for everyone at the resort.
Want to experience it for yourself and prove me wrong?
