Sofitel Mauritius L'Imperial Resort & Spa

The Opera Suite was a real treat after a month of traveling in Africa, and it delivered. We had an amazing ocean view and glorious sunsets every evening. The whole property was very clean, with discreet daily maintenance, and everyone we met, from the front desk and restaurant and bar teams to housekeeping and groundskeepers, was welcoming, professional and helpful. We were on half board. The buffets were our one disappointment: whether we went early or mid-service, the food looked a little tired and wasn't as flavorful as we'd expected. That's just my personal observation. The Jacaranda and Chinese restaurants, though, both served excellent meals. At the Jacaranda, the team put together a special farewell dinner at our tour operator's request, and it was a beautiful, truly magical evening.

Manisha was especially welcoming and professional, and we appreciated the courtesy and friendliness of most of the staff throughout our stay. Breakfast was generally good, if not always consistent. The bakery station is very good, and I highly recommend the croissant and fruit. The restaurant fell short of what I expected at Sofitel. It seemed understaffed, which affected service. Over our ten nights we only enjoyed dinner around three times, particularly the Indian, French and Mauritian food, because the variety was limited. Looking back, we might have skipped half board and eaten at nearby restaurants in Flic en Flac, where we found options we preferred. Two waiters in the main restaurant also made us feel unwelcome, which was disappointing. The water setup concerned us from a hygiene perspective because the outdoor dispenser was exposed to the elements. More staff and better day-to-day management would improve the guest experience.

Check-in was smooth, we were greeted warmly, and the room was beautiful. After that, my five days at Sofitel were disappointing. At the beach we were told we could order drinks but not snacks. Dinner at the buffet was average, and breakfast was unpleasant over several days. Around 80-90% of staff seemed unfriendly to us. As Asian travelers, we felt treated differently, and they assumed we were from China, which we are NOT! The pool staff were friendly, but when I tried to charge items to my room, I was told it was on “no post” because there was no deposit. I'd already paid 25,000 at check-in. Having worked in hotels myself, I know a deposit is normally required unless it's a one-night stay. I also went to the gym and asked the spa staff about the menu, and again encountered unfriendly service. The staff overall came across as unwelcoming and unprofessional. As a single traveler or someone not traveling as a couple, I wouldn't recommend Sofitel. It felt like the atmosphere favored only certain guests. I chose the resort to try something new, but at Hilton on my previous stay, staff were extremely friendly and I never felt discriminated against. This was a letdown.

We weren't told in advance about dinner dress codes or some of the events and entertainment. One night there was a wonderful local band and dancers, but we missed most of the show because we were seated for dinner. Daily WhatsApp updates with important information could help. The resort was well kept, and the facilities were consistently clean. Even the beach by the volleyball court was cleaned every morning. All the staff stood out for us, greeting us warmly wherever we went and being both friendly and professional. The half-board food was very good, though the quality, especially of the meat, could have been a little better. It was a remarkable experience overall at the Sofitel Imperial.