Many of the hotels that line this area of coast, particularly the luxury and upmarket ones, are fairly isolated, wedged between cane fields and the sea. Most have excellent facilities and are within walking distance of other hotels but there is no popping out to local shops and bars on foot.
Luxury
A The Oberoi (48 rooms, 28 villas) Turtle Bay, Balaclava; % 204 3600; f 204 3625; e reservations[at]oberoi-mauritius.com; oberoihotels.com. This hotel, which is a member of ‘Leading Small Hotels of the World’, prides itself on excellent service & guest privacy. Thoughtful architecture uses natural materials to recreate the charm of a village set in 20 acres of tropical gardens. The luxurious accommodation includes 18 sumptuous villas with private pool. Interior design is natural elegance with memorable touches like the woven sugarcane headboards, sunken marble bath & small private tropical garden with outdoor shower. It’ll leave you planning to redecorate when you get home! Rooms are equipped with everything you could possibly need. There are stunning swimming pools, tennis courts, a watersports centre (even water skiing is free) & a dive centre. The spa offers all sorts of pampering, including free yoga & t’ai chi classes. The food is, of course, excellent. It’s a romantic, relaxation-focused retreat rather than a family hotel. $$$$$
Upmarket
A Intercontinental Mauritius (210 rooms) Balaclava; % 261 1200; f 261 2101; e sales[at]icmauritius.com; intercontinental.com. A new hotel typical of this large international chain. The hotel has good conference facilities & is well set up for children with family rooms & a kids’ club. Rooms are on the small side but have all the features you would expect of an Intercontinental. There are 5 restaurants & a small spa. In some ways it lacks soul – it could be a large international hotel anywhere. Some will enjoy watching the ships heading into Port Louis, others will find it off-putting. $$$$
A Le Victoria Hotel (254 rooms) Pointe aux Piments; % 204 2000; f 261 8224; e victoria[at]bchot.com; levictoria-hotel.com. A Beachcomber property whose rooms are some of the most spacious on the island (standard rooms are 60m2). It also has suites & family apartments. All are equipped with AC, TV, phone, minibar, safe, tea/coffee facilities & balcony/terrace. There are 3 restaurants, including 1 Italian. There are the usual free watersports, a dive centre, floodlit tennis courts, a large swimming pool & a kids’ club. Guests can use the golf course at Trou aux Biches Resort & Spa. Being such a large hotel, it can feel a little impersonal but the beach here is good & the facilities & room sizes make it ideal for families. The all-inclusive package is popular. $$$$
A Maritim Hotel (215 rooms) Turtle Bay, Balaclava; % 204 1000; f 204 1020; e info.mau[at]maritim.de; maritim.com. This large hotel stands in 25ha of tropical gardens containing 18th-century French ruins. The rooms & suites are equipped with AC, TV, phone, minibar, safe & balcony/terrace. Bathrooms are rather small. There is a choice of restaurants & bars, plus a spa, 9-hole golf course, watersports, dive centre, tennis & horseriding. Decent standards without too many frills. Many guests find the AI option good value for money. The clientele is predominantly German & it is popular for weddings. Dbl/sgl from €295/195 BB.
A The Grand Mauritian (193 rooms) Turtle Bay, Balaclava; % 204 1400; f 204 1401; e info.thegrandmauritian[at]luxurycollection.com; thegrandmauritian.com. This impressive addition to the area opened in 2008. It is a large property, with beautifully decorated & particularly spacious rooms with balcony/terrace. If you can, it is worth paying the extra for a sea-view, rather than a pool-view, room. The spa suites have an adjoining private spa treatment room. Surprisingly for a hotel of this calibre, the broadband connection in the guestrooms is payable. There is, however, a business centre with free internet access. There is a spa, 2 pools, 3 restaurants & a kids’ club. The cuisine here is creative, varied & of an excellent standard. $$$$
Mid range
A Chambly Hotel (42 rooms) Port Chambly Village, Terre Rouge; % 405 3000; f 405 3001; e info[at]portchambly.com; portchambly.com. Small hotel within a Mediterranean-village-style complex of private apartments & a few shops. Set on an estuary with views out to sea, around 15mins’ drive from Port Louis; there is no beach. Rooms are modern & have all you need but don’t aim to be luxurious. They are en suite (shower no bath) with AC, TV, phone & safe. The suites are considerably larger than the standard rooms but only the 2 executive suites have a balcony. Kayaks are available to explore the waterways & there is a boat shuttle to the beach. The pool area is very pleasant, although rather overlooked by the rooms, there is an Italian restaurant & concerts are held here. Self-catering apartments in the complex are also available, & if you really like it here you can purchase an apartment under the ERS scheme. $$$
A La Plantation Resort & Spa (270 rooms) Turtle Bay, Balaclava; % 204 3000; f 261 5709; e resa.plantation[at]apavou-hotels.com; apavou-hotels.com/laplantation. Set in 8 acres at the centre of the bay. This is one of the older hotels on the island &, although it is regularly renovated it does feel more tired than its competitors. The rooms & suites, which have AC, TV, phone, safe & balcony/terrace, have been redecorated in a trendy, modern style. There are 4 rooms equipped for the disabled. There are 3 restaurants, including 1 on the beach. There is a choice of bars, pool, spa, watersports, a dive centre, tennis courts, a small fitness centre, nightclub & a kids’ club. $$$
A Le Meridien (265 rooms) Village Hall Lane, Pointe aux Piments; % 204 3333; f 204 3304; e resa[at]lemeridien.mu; lemeridien.com/mauritius. A large hotel, popular with families. The rooms & suites are in 3 blocks of 3 storeys on either side of an impressive lobby area. The buildings aren’t particularly pretty but rooms are spacious, with room for children. There are 5 restaurants & bars, 2 pools, tennis courts, a gym & spa, as well as the usual free watersports. Children are well catered for with a kids’ club & babysitting service. I have heard reports of poor service. $$$
A Le Récif (70 rooms) Coastal Rd, Pointe aux Piments; % 261 0444; f 261 5247; e resa[at]recif-hotel.com; lerecif.com. The hotel is located on a good stretch of beach (although a little rocky), & guests can step straight from the pool onto the sand. Rooms are en suite & equipped with AC, TV & phone. They have a clean, modern feel. Facilities include 2 restaurants, a bar, watersports (inc free water skiing), a small spa (sauna, steam room & massage) & kids’ club. $$$
A Les Cocotiers (48 rooms) Le Goulet, Baie du Tombeau; % 247 4222; f 247 4211; e resweb[at]apavou-hotels.com; apavou-hotels.com. A 2-star equivalent hotel 15mins from Port Louis. All rooms are en suite with AC, TV, phone, safe, minibar & balcony/terrace. The rooms are simply decorated. There is a restaurant, bar & pool. There are relatively few activities/facilities included in the price, & the immediate surrounds have little to offer. The hotel provides a free shuttle service to Mont Choisy Beach 3 days per week, & to Port Louis once per week. $$$
A Veranda Pointe aux Biches Hotel (115 rooms) Royal Rd, Pointe aux Piments; % 265 5901; f 265 5905; e resa[at]veranda-resorts.com; veranda-resorts.com. An informal family-friendly hotel on the beach. The architecture is rustic but modern & features sand floors, including in the reception & beach bar. Rooms have en suite, AC, TV, safe, minibar & balcony/terrace. The 44 family rooms have a separate children’s bedroom area. There is also a wing for couples, with its own pool, beach restaurant & bar. There is a small spa & kids’ club. There are limited watersports here but guests can use the watersports facilities at other Veranda hotels. $$$
A Villas Mon Plaisir (48 rooms) Coastal Rd, Pointe aux Piments; % 261 7471; f 261 6600; e villasmp[at]intnet.mu; villasmonplaisir.com. One of those small hotels independent travellers on a budget hope to find & seldom do. In a quiet cul-de-sac with direct access to the beach, the hotel has cosy en-suite rooms with AC, including 3 family rooms. All have TV, phone, safe & balcony/terrace overlooking the pool. There is a bar & a restaurant with sea view. Some non-motorised watersports are free & there is a dive centre next door. Internet is available at reception for a small fee. Prices increased significantly following renovations in 2007 but it is still good value. $$$
Budget
A Margarita Hotel (19 rooms) Coastal Rd, Pointe aux Piments; % 261 3969; f 261 8238; e margarita[at]intnet.mu; lamargaritahotel.com. A small hotel opened by the owners of Villas Mon Plaisir in 2007, which aims to be equivalent to 2-star. It is about 200m inland from Villas Mon Plaisir & the beach, on the coastal road. Set behind high walls, it doesn’t look like much from the outside. However, behind the austere exterior hides clean, modern, but simple accommodation in a 3-storey building around a small pool. Rooms are en suite & have AC, TV, safe & balcony/terrace. There is a restaurant & guests can use the facilities at Villas Mon Plaisir. There are some unsecured parking places by the road. $$
Shoestring
A Oasis Beach Club (22 apts) Coastal Rd, Pointe aux Piments; % 265 5808; f 265 5207; e info[at]oasisbeachclub.com; oasisbeachclub.com. Simple self-catering studios & apartments equipped with AC & kitchenette (fridge, cooker, etc). The stark, white, 2-storey units face the sea & are fronted by a pool. There is a restaurant, bar, entertainment & a decent beach. Excursions & diving can be arranged. Run by Italians & popular with Italian tourists. $
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