As you may already know, we spent a memorable week as a family in Mauritius. During that time, we stayed at two different hotels, and we absolutely fell in love with the second one: the Royal Palm Beachcomber.
The Royal Palm Beachcomber offered such an exceptional experience that we simply had to share it with you. This hotel has been a revered institution for over 40 years—and with good reason. It’s a true gem that we wholeheartedly recommend.
In this article, you’ll discover the many reasons why this hotel ranks in the top 5 of our favorite hotels worldwide. It’s also one of the rare places where my husband and I said, “We will for sure come back one day.”
Why? Because this is true luxury—not flashy, not showy, but rather an oasis of understated elegance. The kind of luxury that lies in the details, with impeccable service from start to finish.
Kudos to all the staff who bring this place to life with heart, skill, and professionalism. It’s no surprise that so many guests are repeat visitors (and we completely understand why!).
Mesmerized by the beauty of this place
Why this hotel?
When a hotel is a both a Leading Hotel of the World and a Forbes TravelFive-Star recipient, and consistently ranked among the world’s best hotels, how can we resist?
We had also heard great things about its intimate feel, stunning beach, and outstanding staff. On top of that, the hotel had just undergone a full renovation… We didn’t need to think twice.
Yes, luxury like this comes at a price. But August is low season in Mauritius, so we treated ourselves—and we didn’t regret it for a second.
A balcony over the Indian Ocean
The Luxury of a Serene, Intimate Setting …
The hotel is relatively small in capacity, and it feels more like staying in your own beachfront apartment than in a traditional hotel. It never feels crowded, and the peaceful atmosphere is genuinely refreshing.
If you’re heading to Mauritius to party and dance the night away, you’ll be better off somewhere else. This place is for those seeking peace and relaxation in a refined, discreet environment. Even families with children are quiet and respectful—this is not the kind of hotel where kids are running and screaming everywhere.
Everything here invites you to let go and truly unwind. It’s the picture-perfect paradise island experience.
…With Truly Exceptional Service!
As always, the real difference between a good stay and an exceptional one at this level of luxury lies in the quality of the service.
At the Royal Palm, many of the staff members have worked there for years. They are the soul of the hotel, clearly driven by a sincere desire to provide the best possible experience for guests. Credit must go to the Beachcomber Group for its smart approach to retaining loyal and talented staff.
Management is also very present and genuinely interested in guest feedback. We particularly appreciated being personally welcomed by the then-general manager, Isabelle Bouvier. And the young woman who showed us to our suite already knew our children’s names. These may seem like small details, but they speak volumes about the care taken in crafting a seamless guest experience.
We owe our unforgettable stay to all of them.
Attention to detail and local craftsmanship
Our detailed review
The hotel and its location
The Royal Palm Beachcomber is located in Grand Baie, on one of the most beautiful beaches in the north of the island. We appreciated how well the hotel blends into the natural Mauritian environment.
The property stretches along the beach, surrounded by palm trees. With only a limited number of rooms and suites, it truly feels like a tranquil cocoon, cut off from the rest of the world.
Each room has its own assigned sun loungers on the beach.
The private beach is beautiful, and the pools— modest in size—overlook the beach and offer a lovely, relaxed vibe.
The beach
The main pool
The rooms and suites
We were upgraded to a Palm Suite, and it was huge: a separate area for the kids (with twin beds, a shower room, and dressing room), a spacious lounge/office area, the main bedroom, and a vast bathroom with a large dressing space.
A shaded terrace opened out onto the resort, just 10 meters from the beach.
To my knowledge, all rooms and suites face the ocean, and they’ve all been recently renovated.
We also found several thoughtful welcome gifts waiting for us in the suite.
Family-friendly services
You might assume a hotel like this one is better suited for honeymooners or older guests—and many do choose other Beachcomber resorts in Mauritius based on that assumption.
But this hotel is actually a hidden gem for families with young children who, like us, are looking for peace and quiet without compromising on their kids’ enjoyment.
I’ve already mentioned the warm welcome given to our children and how attentive the staff were throughout our stay. Not to mention the many child-friendly amenities provided in the room: high chair, changing table, bathrobes, slippers, and more—all without us having to ask.
Kids Club: Ti Royal
A must for any family stay! The Ti Royal Kids Club welcomes children aged 3 and up for free, with a fantastic and diverse activity program. During our stay, our daughter got to bake in the hotel kitchen, make floral arrangements, join makeup workshops, and much more.
The kids club itself is well-equipped (including a child-friendly pool), and the staff is friendly. Our daughter loved it so much that she spent several hours there every day—and kept asking to go back!
Ti Royal is now in our top 5 kids clubs worldwide (stay tuned for that article).
Babysitting
Before arriving, we had requested a babysitter each evening so we could enjoy dinner once the kids were asleep. What we didn’t expect was that the same babysitter would be assigned to us for the entire stay.
This level of service is rare—and invaluable for young parents. Our babysitter was incredibly sweet and took care of our 5-month-old baby on several occasions. This allowed me to attend a yoga class, read on the beach during his nap, and more—all with total peace of mind, knowing he was in good hands.
She even took him to the kids club during his awake time to play.
Both parents and kids had the best time!
Dining
There’s a main restaurant (excellent), an Asian-inspired restaurant, and a beachside restaurant open during the day. At first glance, this may seem like a limited selection if you’re staying for several days.
But fear not—the menus change almost daily. We ate extremely well at the Royal Palm and had great conversations with the dynamic head chef, William Girard.
They also organize delightful beach BBQ evenings once a week (weather permitting). The “Royal Grill” offers a refined yet relaxed experience—one of the highlights of our stay.
Getting ready for Royal Grill night
Breakfast is a mix of buffet options and à la carte (or even off-menu) choices. Anything is possible. The pastries are made on site and are absolutely top-notch.
And as for the hot chocolate made before your eyes… we’re still dreaming about it.
Activities
The hotel offers a wide range of daily activities in addition to watersports on the beach. My husband enjoyed the sports offerings while I took yoga classes. The quality of everything was excellent.
Spa
The spa is a haven of tranquility. I had a good massage that left me very relaxed.
More of this beautiful beach
Practical aspects
Getting there
Direct flights from Paris (around 11h30). The airport is about 1h20 away by car. The hotel offers transfer services.
Nearby activities
Cap Malheureux, the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, L’Aventure du Sucre, Château de Labourdonnais, boat excursions… and more ideas here.
August 2024
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