SO/ Sofitel Mauritius

The place felt strangely empty and almost run-down, with the bare minimum on offer. Some staff were very nice, but that couldn't make the price feel justified. We'd moved from a four-star hotel in the north of Mauritius, expecting an upgrade to this five-star property. Instead, our previous hotel had twice the dinner choices, more activities, and more comfortable rooms. We left feeling we'd paid for five-star treatment and received something closer to three-star.

The beach is beautiful and windy, and the property feels very empty. There was only one restaurant and one bar. The spa was good, and the quiet setting may suit someone looking for privacy. The chefs were humble and good, but food options were limited. It didn't feel like a five-star stay, more like three or four stars. There seemed to be a clear staff shortage, and many employees were untrained or not suited to a hotel this large. Housekeeping and reception need more training for a Sofitel Hotel. At this price, I'd recommend another hotel. Beware of water, sharks there.

I travelled with my 11-month-old baby on his first trip abroad, and a lot of things went wrong. I'd asked for an early check-in, but they made me wait despite my platinum membership. The front desk staff were extremely arrogant. While we waited, there was no food available for me or my baby. They said the restaurant wouldn't open until 12, so we'd have to wait a couple of hours. I'd told them we'd just had a 14-hour journey and still got no proper response. Food is the most basic thing you'd expect. There weren't enough buggies to get guests around. The staff were rude, kept avoiding us, and suggested we walk. I was also surprised to find a cap on how much water we could have. This was the first five-star hotel where I'd been asked to pay when requesting water for my baby's milk. There aren't many vegetarian choices, though the chef was very accommodating with our requests. Still, completely avoid this place if you're vegan or vegetarian. Even borrowing basic items like scissors or a knife costs extra. Water and scissors are chargeable, while water sports and coffee are complimentary. I don't understand the logic. The property is beautiful, and most of the staff are friendly, but these shortcomings left us with a bad experience. We were meant to stay four more days and shortened our trip.

The resort covers a huge beachside property, with spacious, neat rooms and access to its private beach from the back. But it's isolated and far from the city, with absolutely nothing around it. You'll need to hire a cab or rent a car just to get something to eat. I wasn't happy with the restaurant food, especially the pizza and pasta, and would rate it 2/5. Some staff were welcoming, but others gave vague answers when we asked for help, which wasn't appreciated.