This is why we recommend One&Only Le Saint Geran, Four Seasons Anahita, Royal Palm Beachcomber, Shangri-La Le Touessrok and Paradis Beachcomber.
Mauritius is an Indian Ocean island destination of spectacular beaches, lagoons, mountains and authenticity. It’s paradise for families and provides a rare combination of beach leisure with authenticity and adventure.
But Mauritius doesn’t have an abundance of high quality resorts like the Maldives. There are only two resorts where you’ll sense the highest global levels of luxury and service.
There are five five-star resorts we recommend the most. This article explains which and why.
5. Paradis Beachcomber
Paradis Beachcomber is a long-standing favourite of our clients going on a family holiday. Children absolutely love this large resort and the vast array of things to do and see.
Paradis Beachcomber is where your kids are doing kids yoga and crab hunting while you’re at the pool or on a championship golf course. It’s a playground in the sun, in a stunning location, for almost all ages.
We always recommend the Paradis or Presidential villas. These premier accommodations help you balance all the family activities with genuine tranquillity and downtime.
However, the resort has started looking and feeling quite dated, especially in recent years. In June 2023 it will temporarily close for a renovation updating most of the suites, rooms and restaurants.
So don’t go to Paradis Beachcomber this winter. Wait until it reopens for the 2023-2024 winter season. With all the construction noise we’d also avoid its sister property next door, Dinarobin Beachcomber.
If you want a fresh and contemporary family resort this winter consider the new Lux* Grand Baie Resort. We’re yet to personally inspect this property but in general LUX* offer a good five-star standard and a range of facilities to suit most ages and interests.
4. Shangri-La Le Touessrok
A divine tropical setting is the immediate standout at Shangri-La Le Touessrok. Spread across a secluded promontory, the resort has some of the country’s best and most private beaches, including on a nearby island exclusive to guests.
Thanks to this promontory location all the 200 rooms and suites can be on the beach, facing the ocean. Just note there are significant differences in quality between different areas of the resort.
Palm trees neatly hide the beach villas and we absolutely love the three-bedroom seafront villas for families, with their private beach access and personal chef. They’re among the very best accommodations on the island.
For couples we like the suites in the Frangipani Wing, with 24-hour butler service and easy access to the adult-only pool. We avoid the Coral Wing which feels dated.
The setting and style makes this five-star resort feel like a private island retreat, suitable to both couples and families.
Out here on the east you’ll find serenity, the country’s best swimming spots, and a wide variety of facilities demanded by families and children. It is a sizeable resort though so don’t expect the most personal service, a key reason why Shangri-La Le Touessrok only comes number four on our list.
3. Royal Palm Beachcomber
Thatched rooftops and a welcoming Mauritian atmosphere are just two distinctive features at Royal Palm Beachcomber. With 69 rooms and suites it’s the smallest property in our list of the best Mauritius resorts.
This is a cosy and super friendly resort, where the staff remember your name and preferences, then organise bespoke experiences for your stay.
Overall this is the most personal of all the Mauritius resorts and you’re made to feel at home through the service and variety of complementary activities.
We’re cautious about who we recommend Royal Palm Beachcomber to, because of the limited range of accommodations. In general we recommend this resort to honeymooners as the atmosphere is quite grown up and other resorts have better facilities for children.
There are no villas or bungalows. All the sea-facing suites are in one long building so they’re not particularly private. They’re far from being the most spacious or stylish on the island either.
Vibrant Grand Baie town is a short walk away, the spa is really good, the beach superb and you can explore a Mauritian way of life, as part of dozens of excursions and activities. This makes Royal Palm Beachcomber most inviting when you plan to spend less time in your suite and more time out exploring.
2. Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
In complete contrast to Royal Palm Beachcomber, Four Seasons Anahita is the recommended choice if you want a super relaxing holiday in a beach villa with private space to play.
All the 136 accommodations are stand-alone, open-plan villas, with private plunge pools and well sheltered gardens.
These villas range from one to five bedrooms and their location will dictate your experience. Some overlook the ocean and beach, others the mangrove or gardens. The most exclusive are situated on the resort’s private Cat Island. Some have recently been renovated as well.
Villa choice is obviously key here. After that you can sit back and relax, because Four Seasons deliver very high levels of service, amenities and facilities.
Every season they offer unique experiences with special guests, like boxing with a former Mauritian champion, or Italian chef Marco Garfagnini doing a six-month residency this winter at Acquapazza – he’s previously led many Four Seasons hotel restaurants to Michelin stars.
Dominated by ocean blue and garden green, this is a quiet zen-like resort where you’ll quickly slow down and be happy doing nothing. We don’t recommend it for active teenagers, but for everyone else wanting peace and quiet it’s ideal.
1. One&Only Le Saint Geran
For many of our clients, One&Only Le Saint Geran is the best resort in Mauritius. It was the first luxury hotel opened in the country, back in 1975.
A big-budget One&Only revamp in 2017 increased the levels of opulence, taking Le Sant Geran from grand dame to contemporary style icon.
The location is unbeatable, on a private peninsula ,on the most beautiful and exclusive eastern side of the island. The service is the best in all of Mauritius, on a level we’ve come to expect from the One&Only brand.
All the suites come with a butler service and a private cabana on the beach, or at one of the infinity swimming pools. We also love the quality and variety of all the dining and drinking options guests have available.
It’s very difficult to find a fault at One&Only Le Sant Geran. It’s not just the location, service and amenities – everything comes together so effortlessly in this little corner of paradise.
Your Favourite Mauritius Hotel?
In terms of popularity, Mauritius has fallen far below the Maldives in recent years. It’s almost a destination people have forgotten existed. But why?
The tropical climate creates an extended holiday season, with all but July and August a good time to visit. You will find a perfectly serene beach holiday and also a sense of adventure when you want it, by helicopter, on the sea, or discovering the country’s culture.
Yes, you’ll have a bigger choice of top five-star resorts in the Maldives. But if you’re only planning a one or even two-resort holiday, Mauritius remains an excellent destination.
What’s your favourite hotel in Mauritius? Do you want some personalised advice, based on your own holiday interests and preferences?
