Silver Beach

We booked an all-inclusive stay, but there was only one bottle of water in the bar fridge and the buffet was awful. The room wasn't ready, the beds were unmade, and the linen was dirty. The hotel felt rundown and in disrepair. When we arrived, there was no reception or help with our luggage. Eventually someone appeared and asked us to sit in a stifling room, with the air conditioning off or not working. He brought the paperwork, then a porter arrived with two glasses of boiling-hot juice. There was no manager available to sort anything out. The TV offered only local channels, with nothing for international visitors. As a South African, I found that level of service unacceptable, even compared with our own third-world country. Maybe European tourists are happy with almost nothing, but I wasn't. I can't understand why travel agents still sell this hotel to civilised people.

The staff were cheerful, kind, and helpful, and we had an amazing stay. This is a three-star hotel and a bit old, but the rooms and bathrooms are spacious, the bed is comfortable, and there's a smart TV and good air conditioning. They clean daily, sweep, make the bed, and change towels. I'd choose an ocean-view room: the extra cost is worth it for the views and the closeness to the beach, bar, and restaurant. There is a small pool as well as a private sandy beach, with plenty of sunbeds on the beach and patio. You don't have to reserve a spot in the morning. From 9, they set out beds and provide beach towels at the boat house by the bar. I liked that they posted a morning announcement about the weather. People mentioned the wind, but that's how the whole east of the island is, so it's worth researching where you want to stay. We enjoyed the breeze because it made the heat feel less intense. We saw a lizard and some crabs on the beach. There are bugs in a tropical place, but everything was clean, and I don't think bed bugs are an issue the hotel can control. At check-in, they give you a list of what's included in the all-inclusive package. There's a good range of cocktails and the usual non-alcoholic drinks. Meals are buffet style. Breakfast stays the same, but there's plenty to choose from. We were there for a week, and lunch and dinner changed enough that we didn't get bored. We liked the regional, authentic food, and even picky eaters should find something. The bar is open 10 to 23. Try the local rhum with vanilla. For activities, there's a small gym, a pool table, and board games available if you have kids. Free water sports include paddleboat, kayak, and snorkeling, all arranged at the boat house where you get the towels. We had booked a cruise in advance through Viator, canceled it, and got one from the hotel much cheaper, so ask reception about that. You can rent a car there for 50 euros for 24 hours, cheaper than Sixt, or they can book a taxi. They also have an evening entertainment show at dinner every couple of days or so. We caught local music and dances and really loved them. I'd recommend coming here.

We booked and paid for a garden-view room, but on arrival there was no help with our bags and service at reception was poor. The beds weren't made, a sheet was missing, and the sheets were dirty. There wasn't even a chair in the room, and the TV didn't work. We were told the restaurant had a strict dress code, then got to dinner and saw nearly everyone in shorts and sandals. The old building is run down and needs urgent updating. We paid for all-inclusive, but it wasn't worth it. This was our fifth visit to Mauritius, and our last.

Some of our things went missing from the rooms, and when we tried to leave, we were told the booking couldn't be refunded. The hotel also overcharged us for a short taxi ride: the quoted fare was 200 rupees for a three-minute trip to a place 500m away, but they charged 600 rupees. The reception staff were extremely rude, and the website was misleading. The rooms felt shady, the bedding and pillows were poor, and towels weren't changed during our stay. There were bed bugs and roaches. A few people suffered food poisoning. The food menu never changed, and the cocktails were limited and not very good. The swimming towels were old and ragged; we saw them being used to mop floors. The whole staff leaves the building after 22:00, so there's nobody to help if a problem comes up. The hotel is far from everything, about an hour's travel to other activities. This was the worst hotel I've ever stayed in. DO NOT STAY HERE, IT'S HORRENDOUS. Contact me if you need evidence, we took pictures. I wouldn't even give it one star. Another three-star hotel, tropical attitude hotel, was a 15-minute walk away, in the same price range, and amazing in every way. I wholeheartedly recommend that one.