Hotel Review: Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius

The Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is residence to some wonderful resorts, and the oldest and most iconic is Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius (previously referred to as One&Solely). This property kicked off luxurious hospitality on Mauritius, a rustic recognized for its hospitality. Since opening, this resort has skilled quite a few expansions and renovations. Its most up-to-date was in 2024, and it has by no means regarded higher. These are our 5 favourite the explanation why this tropical vacation spot resort is a must-visit for Individuals.

The seashores

This resort sprawls throughout six secluded seashores stretching 2.5 miles, tucked into bays and coves alongside the 84-acre property. The waves are light, and the water is shallow sufficient for teenagers to play. Given the resort’s privileged location, each single room and suite faces the seashore with these on the bottom ground open on to the sand.

Rows of thatch-roofed palapas with intelligent towel racks above are on each seashore. Cushioned lounge chairs have facet tables, and the workers shortly brings over a cooler of chilled water. Whereas the seashores are for all visitors, the longest one in entrance of reception and the most important pool are the most well-liked with households.

Different smaller seashores are quite quiet and nearly make you are feeling as if you’re by yourself non-public island. One necessary factor to notice is that sharp corals and sea urchins are widespread within the waters round Mauritius. In the event you plan to spend time within the water, rubber footwear are a good suggestion.

There’s additionally a big household pool and separate adults pool, each with splashing fountains and views of the ocean.

The non-public island

Talking of private islands, this resort is the one one in Mauritius to have one in every of its personal. Head for the jetty on the sting of one of many seashores right here to take a free motorboat over to Shangri-La’s personal, properly, shangri-la.

There, you can see extra seashore chairs with umbrellas, cushioned cabanas, day beds and loads of seashore and sand to frolic the day away. A separate restaurant and bar imply that you just’re by no means removed from a menu.

Additionally it is residence to a golf course with free greens charges for visitors. To get there, meet the bell workers close to the large banyan tree on the entrance. They will drive you in a golf cart to the jetty (it’s additionally walkable). Service right here is superb with a virtually 3-to-1 workers to visitor ratio.

The eating

With so many choices right here, you don’t want to go away the resort. And most of the people don’t. Company can go for a half board bundle masking breakfast and dinner or full board.

The principle venue is the breakfast and dinner TSK Restaurant, which has an open kitchen and reside cooking stations that put together the intensive buffet menus right here. Breakfast begins with contemporary bakery and pastry choices, all types of tropical fruit, eggs ready to order, and regional alternatives from all over the world. Themed buffets are common with decisions like Center Japanese, pan-Asian and Indian. Company on a eating bundle can order nearly something on the menu right here with solely a handful of premium dishes carrying a surcharge.

Coco’s Seashore Home is a must-try restaurant because it opens on to the seashore. Begin your meal with a drink as you sit in a swinging chair or along with your toes within the sand. The cocktail and mocktail record is intensive with new choices added commonly. Drinks include nuts and canapes, and through the night “golden hour,” drinks are 50% off.

Then transfer to the al fresco eating space with a breeze that wafts via from the shore to the exhibition kitchen. On the menu are varied worldwide regional dishes. I attempted the native palm coronary heart salad with truffle French dressing and a vegetable curry with chutneys and the nation’s spicy piment unfold on the facet. Grilled rooster, ribeye steaks, freshly caught seafood and totally different salads are additionally choices. Most of the herbs and spices come from the resort’s personal backyard.

Every month, visiting cooks boost the providing with particular menus they create from their very own restaurant. Throughout my go to, Michelin-recognized cooks from Spain have been making ready two multi-course dinners of Spanish specialties.

Saffran is the South Indian-inspired eating room making ready aromatic dishes from its pair of tandoori ovens and open kitchen. At Kushi, the gorgeous inside design is as a lot part of the expertise because the contemporary sushi and teppanyaki-prepared menu itself. I actually appreciated how the resort’s web site lists the total menu for every restaurant on-line.

The actions

There’s a lot to do on the resort. Like most properties, it has a full-service holistic wellness spa. However, it goes above the norm with a reiki grasp on workers and coverings like icoone micro-stimulation and an Iyashi Dome. The health heart is open 24-hours with the choice to rent a private coach. There are additionally boxing, Zumba, tennis and swimming classes push dawn yoga.

Non-motorized watersports are complimentary right here, however so is jet snowboarding. This is among the few resorts all over the world that I’ve visited that gives this exercise with no cost. You can even hit balls on a trio of tennis courts or padel courtroom, attempt your hand at archery, chess or darts, or play seashore soccer or volleyball.

Different actions embrace bocce ball, billiards, desk tennis and visiting the property’s three tortoises (one in every of whom is greater than a century previous). Just a few instances every week, visitors can take part in feeding them or studying to play Mauritian devices. The children membership is expansive with its personal waterpark and pool, indoor video games and studying classes, and even a stage for performances.

When youngsters verify in to the resort, they uncover an enormous present field ready for them, filled with t-shirts, coloring books, toys and stuffed animals. It’s the most beneficiant unfold I’ve seen for teenagers to take residence. One other good contact right here is the sit-down check-in welcome within the feng shui foyer upon arrival. There’s additionally a complimentary fruit station for visitors to seize and go as they want.

The rooms

Quilt-covered beds include a pillow menu so that you can customise your relaxation. I appreciated the worldwide array of energy shops within the room, too. The resort caters closely to British, French and German visitors, however is seeing a rising variety of American guests amongst different markets. The wi-fi charging clock by the mattress was a success.

Different extras embrace welcome presents for adults like flip flops, shirts and seashore luggage to take residence. A big, lighted make-up mirror (like what you may discover in a division retailer) sits on the countertop.

Every room has a furnished balcony or terrace, espresso machine, spacious closets and L’Occitane-stocked loos with twin vanities, spacious bathe stalls and deep soaking tubs. Sliding doorways shut off the room from the toilet, permitting for both pure mild with a view or extra privateness.

The three villas right here include three bedrooms every, non-public butler service (and the choice so as to add a chef), giant residing areas, their very own swimming pools and kitchens. These are particularly common with visiting celebrities, athletes and politicians who’ve stayed right here over the a long time. Amongst them: David Guetta, Princess Stephanie of Monaco and former French President François Mitterrand.

Methods to get there

Quite a few airways join the U.S. and Mauritius with only one change of planes of their hub metropolis. These embrace Air France (Paris), Austrian Airways (Vienna), Emirates (Dubai) and Turkish Airways (Istanbul). You’ll be able to earn or redeem frequent flyer miles along with your favourite loyalty program, too.