We had two weeks at this hotel which were probably the most relaxing and enjoyable time I can remember since starting work over thirty years ago. It offered the best combination of beach, service, food and pool. Litle touches and surprises delighted us from the late check out at no extra charge to the secret bar that pops up in different places from time to time. Having experienced the best that 5* Asia can offer (Singapore, Thailand, etc), I found the service here quite the equal, but with a relaxed informality that was perfectly adapted for the vacation environment.
Many other reviewers have commented on the main aspects so I know readers will want to know whether the standard has been maintained lately (Jan 2012) - yes it has. Instead here are some answers to the questions we had before we came...
How rainy is it during the rainy season? We had one afternoon where it rained for a hour and a half in the whole of the last two weeks of January. There were some showers on several nights as well, which just freshened things up. So we were really pleased that we hadn't been put off coming at this time of year.
Do you need beach shoes to cross the sand to the water or for wading? No, they groom the beach every night and there is an area for swimming in the sea that has been cleared of coral and sea urchins etc, so you can paddle and swim safely in bare feet.
Is there enough variety in the food for two weeks? Yes, the buffet in the main restaurant (called the Kitchen) is different each night of the week, and the other three restaurants all offer something different again. Just note that each one closes for one night each week (except the kitchen).
How spacious are the ordinary rooms (= "junior suites") - We had plenty of space with a good-sized balcony, fair-sized sitting area, king bed area, separate dressing room, large bathroom with a big bath and huge separate shower. We had one of the modernised suites with white plantation blinds. We found the airconditioning to be exceptionally quiet and could be left on low all night together with the overhead fan circling slowly to make for a very comfortable night.
How would they cope with a gluten-free diet? We were a bit concerned at first but spoke with the restaurant manager (Marius) who briefed all the restaurants so whenever we arrived at the Kitchen or a restaurant and gave our room number they were right on top of it. We had gf bread baskets everywhere, gf pasta at the Kitchen and Beach, and when in Langoustier or IndoChine, the manager offered gf advice on options without prompting, and chefs made adjustments to chosed dishes. Very, very impressive.
All in all it was hard to fault the Lux BM, maybe the bar prices are a bit steep, but we accepted that goes with the turf (and are not as high as its next door nieghbour hotels). I have never liked to go back to exactly the same place for a vacation in the past (there's so much of the world still to see), but I would go back to the Lux BM, especially if I needed a vacation that was just about relaxing and winding down.
- Beau Rivage Resort
- Beau Rivage Mauritius
- Beau Rivage Belle Mare
- Mauritius Beau Rivage
- Beau Rivage Hotel Mauritius
