White Sand and Turquoise lagoons greet you at dawn... (Hotels in Mauritius)

Member Name: diamond_sparkles

Product:	Hotels in Mauritius
Date:	16/07/09 (13 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Relaxing, comfortable and great food

Disadvantages: Some 5 star hotels are too formal for my taste

During the course of my stay in Mauritius, we went to tour some of the hotels since I had a lot of American and Mauritian friends who were spending their holidays in a couple of hotels up the coasts of the island. I must say that whatever coast is the hotel on, they all boast of the same white dreamy beaches and turquoise lagoon. We visited various different hotels- from the most luxurious to the most informal ones. Here are some of my personal favorites:


Le Victoria: This hotel is highly acclaimed in Mauritius. It rates among the best ones with five stars and the first class service it offers. However, when I went to visit my friends over there, I was not at all impressed by the stuffy air of formality and class which reigned over the environment. I was invited to stay for dinner by my friend, and even if the meal was excellent (lobster and salad), it had none of the home-made feeling which you get at Le Grand Bleue restaurant. The décor of Le Victoria is quite impressive- indoor water streams, water fountains, and the first sight which greets you when you step in is the most wonderful sight of all: A huge sparkling swimming pool, centered in such a way that it directly blends in with the blue horizon and the sea. According to my friend, one night in that hotel would be quite expensive, but ideal for those looking for first class facility and services.


Le Grand Bleue: That was mainly the hotel I stayed at for most of my holiday. It is a very nice, two star hotel found at Trou-aux-Biches. I particularly liked the blend of the informality and aristocracy at this hotel. It has two swimming pools, a gym, and a balcony restaurant with a wonderful view of the sea. My favourite parts of my long stay at this hotel were- the amazingly delicious breakfast, and the wonderful morning jogs along the sea. Every morning, my friends and I would get up early to jog, and then we would head towards the restaurant for a buffet breakfast. The meals were mainly European dishes, but it was so so delicious! There were sausages, toast, eggs, cornflakes, some traditional Indian meals (which I unfortunately cannon remember the name), orange juice, yoghurt, and lots of fresh fruit. Unfortunately, this hotel did not have a spa, but we liked the friendly, informal bar which reminded me of the London Pubs. The waiters and hotel staff are not extremely friendly, but they are polite and courteous at all time. The lounge is also quite small but very comfortable. You can also rent bicycles at the front desk and explore the little town of Trou Biches. In addition, a couple of my male friends also liked the pool tables which were surprisingly found in the open gym. Other activities offered are undersea walk and submarine ratings. I also liked the hotel setting and environment. It was far enough from the town activities to provide quiet relaxation and peace, but close enough for a quick trip to the shops or restaurants.


Le Coco Beach: I will not elaborate too much on this one since I previously devoted a whole review on this hotel- but all I can say is that I was so, so impressed by Le Coco Beach that as much as I like Le Grand Bleue, I was tempted to pack up and complete my stay at Le Coco Beach instead. The reason why I did not do so, though, was because Le Coco Beach is a three star hotel, hence more expensive than Le Grand Bleue. But both are extremely fun to stay at with a homely environment.


In conclusion, I will say that while I did not visist every single hotel in Mauritius, I would say this for those I did visit: Perfect setting, perfect environment and nice staff.

Thanks for reading

Summary: During my stay, I visited three wonderful hotels!