Hotel Riu Palace Mauritius

We stayed at Riu Palace twice during our trip, and the experiences were quite different. The first visit was perfect. On the second, they seemed short-staffed and many senior staff weren’t around. Our luggage still hadn’t arrived after two hours. We also asked to change rooms, which added to the wait, but the team kindly upgraded us. The food was amazing, cocktails fantastic, and entertainment fine. We loved that the beach wasn’t windy and was good for swimming. The app usually worked well, though the Wi-Fi varied depending on room location. The Kayak and SUP rental center is near Rio Turq. I’d highly recommend the hotel for a stay of up to ten days. The Le Morne Barbant hike is nearby, and you can drive to two different starting points.

We had a great time at Riu Palace, and the all-inclusive option was really worth it. The separate restaurants served great food, the cocktails were delicious, and the buffet had a good selection. The coffee shop had the best coffee and cakes. Staff were friendly, helpful, and courteous. Our room was comfortable and soundproof, so we never heard the neighbors. There were plenty of sunbeds on the beach, and the pool was a good size. I even got a bottle of bubbly for my birthday. Thank you, Riu Palace!

The staff were amazing and attentive throughout. They even let us stay for lunch after checkout, still included in our all-inclusive package, which I thought was great. The location by beautiful Le Morne beach is excellent. Our room was large and clean, with a very comfortable bed and pillows, a lovely big bathroom, a good shower, and air conditioning that worked well. The buffet was another strong point, with lots of choices, including good-quality steak and different pastas. A few things kept the stay from feeling truly premium. The hotel is huge, so walking from the restaurant to our room could take 5 to 10 minutes. There are four restaurants, but we couldn’t get a reservation at any of them, even though staff tried to help. That was disappointing and left us feeling we missed part of the experience. The hotel was also a bit hard to pin down, but felt soulless at times. The bar had a nice atmosphere, while the architecture, layout, and sheer size could feel clinical. The plastic beach chairs weren’t particularly clean and didn’t match the hotel’s level. More gluten-free options, such as pancakes, would have been nice. Still, we had a good stay for comfort, food, and location.

I’ve been a loyal RIU customer since 2014, so what happened at RIU Palace Mauritius was especially disappointing. At lunch on 30 May 2026, I was served a pasta dish labeled vegetarian, “4 Cheese Mushroom Pasta.” After eating it, I discovered it contained chicken. I’m a lifelong vegetarian, and this was extremely upsetting, as well as a serious food-labeling failure. The kitchen staff acknowledged the mistake and apologized, but management’s response was much more concerning. The Food & Beverage Manager/Assistant GM, Mr. Axel Walter, came across as dismissive and arrogant. I would never expect that when a guest is affected by such a serious error. Rather than showing empathy or taking responsibility, I heard comments like “things happen,” “the bad is already done,” and “what can we do more?” It felt as though the priority was to move on rather than understand the impact. At one point, I was left with the clear impression that management would rather have us leave than properly address the problem. The interaction showed a deeply disappointing lack of professionalism and empathy. After I made a formal complaint, the response largely defended the managers involved and said the situation had been handled appropriately. It gave me the impression that protecting management mattered more than addressing a legitimate guest concern, rather than acknowledging the failures or showing accountability. Mistakes can happen at any hotel. What matters is how they’re handled. This one, and management’s response, seriously damaged what should have been a memorable family weekend. It was very disappointing and not the level of service I expected from an international hotel brand.