Jalsa Beach Hotel & Spa

It’s a lovely, quiet setting, and at the time I visited there were hardly any other tourists, so the spacious grounds felt very private. At low tide, you can walk a long way out into the sea, which was a beautiful experience. The pool, garden, and sea view are also lovely. The room was okay, but our air conditioning didn’t work, and although we were a couple, we were given twin beds with no way to change them. The hotel could use some renovation. Food choices were limited, especially for vegetarians, and when I asked the barman about the specialty, she just told me to check the menu. It’s a good place for peace and scenery if that’s what you’re after, rather than luxury.

The pool and the hotel’s proximity to the sea are pleasant, but they couldn’t make up for how upsetting our family stay at Jalsa Beach Hotel was. We encountered poor service, hygiene problems, and what felt like discrimination against Mauritian guests. Before our visit, my parents asked for rooms with an ocean or pool view. The receptionist said she would try. When we arrived, that same receptionist put us in what we considered the worst rooms, overlooking a noisy construction site with barking dogs. When we questioned it, she said the rooms we wanted cost extra, which had never been mentioned, and then said those rooms weren’t offered to Mauritian nationals. That was insulting. We eventually got the rooms after expressing our anger, but the experience had already soured our stay. There were serious problems in the dining room too. We saw a rat during dinner, the buffet selection was poor, and some of the buffet lids were broken. At tea time, the servers seemed stingy and as if they didn’t want to be there. When my parents raised concerns with the F&B Manager and Head Chef, they were insulted again. The chef told them that “people like us” should stick to eating Dhal Puri. That kind of condescension from senior staff was unacceptable. The dining room also didn’t feel family-friendly. During dinner, a couple were being highly physically intimate at their table in front of their child and other guests, and the staff did nothing to address it. I would strongly advise people, especially Mauritians, to take their business elsewhere. The treatment of local guests, the rodent in the restaurant, and the rude management all point to a hotel that needs a serious reality check about its “hospitality.”

The scenery was beautiful, and the room itself was cozy. Reception and the valets welcomed us warmly, but tea service was a different story. One man looked arrogant and spoke harshly. There was also a bad smell in my bathroom, apparently from a plumbing problem. With that fixed and the staff given proper training, it could have been a pleasant place to stay.

We spent nine nights at Jalsa Beach Hotel and Spa in early November, in room 220, and for a couple looking for somewhere quiet and close to nature, it was a great fit. We enjoyed our stay, with the small size of the hotel giving it a more private feel. The staff were mostly helpful, smiling, and often remembered us. It’s peaceful, without loud music, so you can relax and hear the birds. There are water stations to refill bottles. It’s a three-star hotel, so it’s best to come with expectations that fit that level. The bay is unusual because there isn’t much beach, but we didn’t miss it much. The shallow water was fun, and you could walk far out while still surrounded by water. We usually use a hotel as a place to eat, sleep, and stay while we explore the island during the day. Catching the bus was fun and cheap, 70 MRU for two people, about £1.1GBP, one way to Flacq. Bus No 26 stops near the hotel and runs about every 40 minutes. Flacq is worth visiting for the town, SuperU supermarket, and bazaar, with its lively streets and shops. If you enjoy wildlife or photography, the nearby shallow waters, mangroves, trees, and National Park make this a wonderful spot. I was up before 6 AM nearly every day, spending a few hours exploring with my camera, and I wasn’t disappointed. Thanks, “Jalsa” for a great holiday.