Review: The Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

Today: Review of The Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius

Location: Google maps
Hotel website: Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius
Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso

The Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius captures the spirit of the Indian Ocean island in a 5-star hotel that combines its abundant natural beauty with refined luxury. Enjoying an excellent position on the shores of Turtle Bay, the resort is set within a lush subtropical garden, offering almost 600 m (2,000 feet) of oceanfront with a mix of white and golden sand beaches. Fine international cuisine and Creole specialties are served in the main restaurant, On the Rocks, and in the restored Gunpowder Room, while private candlelit dining can be enjoyed on the beach. Villas have private pools or gardens, ocean views, and sunken bathtubs. The spa features alfresco therapy suites and a range of signature Oberoi treatments.

The Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius features in my top 10 lists of the best luxury resorts in Mauritius and the best Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in the world.

Have you ever stayed at The Oberoi Mauritius? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

In this review (more info and photos below my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

Located a comfortable 15 km (10 miles) from the island’s capital Port Louis, The Oberoi Mauritius enjoys a unique position amongst luxury hotels in Mauritius. The 5-star resort is set on the sheltered shores of quiet Turtle Bay on the island’s west coast, contrary to its high-end competitors in the luxury market (Four Seasons at Anahita, Shangri-La Le Touessroc and One&Only Le Saint Géran), which are all located on the east coast. Spread over 20 acres of lush, sub-tropical, beachfront gardens, the resort is bordered on the coast by a reef & ocean nature park and lush sugar cane fields behind. Rich in colorful marine life, untouched coral reefs and even boasting a shark pit in the more distant open waters, Turtle Bay and the surrounding Indian Ocean are an excellent setting for an unforgettable scuba diving experience.

The Oberoi Mauritius’ lovely architecture draws upon its natural surroundings and is inspired by the Asian and African heritage of the inhabitants of the island. Referencing its African roots, the resort’s public spaces and villas are comprised of several tachted roof pavilions, while impressive stone head sculptures from Indonesia are featured in the grounds and Asian artifacts are peppered throughout. Renowned Thai architect Lek Bunnag and noted landscape designer Bill Bensley have together attempted to create seamless harmony between the hotel’s exterior and its interiors. For instance, all the guestrooms and public spaces of the hotel integrate beautifully with exotic foliage, flowers and trees. Indigenous materials were used to enhance the local beauty while preserving the environment, such as sugarcane leaves for the thatched roofs and volcanic boulders as natural garden walls.

The Oberoi Mauritius has 71 guestrooms in five categories, including one Royal Villa and one Presidential Villa, both with private swimming pools, 16 Luxury Villas with private swimming pools, five Luxury Villas with private gardens and 48 Luxury Pavilions. Interior designer H.L. Lim has created within each of them an ambience of serenity using soft and subtle natural-colored fabrics and timbers, imbuing the spaces with a soothing, light vibe that makes for an interesting visual contrast to the bright, organic hues animating the outdoor spaces. During my stay, I was upgraded to a Luxury Villa with private pool. The pool was set in a lush garden which also included an open-air dining pavilion. Inside, the bedroom featured a canopy bed with sitting area. The en-suite bathroom, overlooking the private walled garden, also featured a separate shower stall and a luxurious sunken marble bathtub.

Situated at the beach level with uninterrupted ocean views, the impressive Presidential Villa features traditional thatched roofs, handpicked furnishings and original artwork. The residence boasts a king-size bedroom, a spacious living room and a luxurious bathroom overlooking a private courtyard. Nestled within the private garden is another private villa that can accommodate two additional guests. The Royal Villa – the most opulent villa of all – lies within a lush tropical garden and comes in a relaxing neutral color palette that perfectly complements the ocean and garden views. The incredible villa features an elegant living room, three bedrooms, a private pool and a spectacular view of the Indian Ocean. It also includes an open-air pavilion that serves as an ideal setting for al fresco dining.

The Oberoi Mauritius’ gardens embody an ode to nature and a leisurely walk through them is an absolute treat for the senses. Perfectly complementing the serenity of its surroundings, they are home to several species of rare trees, shrubs and plants that line the snaking terracotta-hued pathways leading to a large natural lake speckled with water lilies, golden koi carp and ducks. The gardens and lawns spill over onto the resort’s beautiful oceanfront, which is lined by a walking path perfect for a relaxing stroll early in the morning. The stunning property has access to 600 m (2000 ft) of private shoreline, where patches of rocky shoreline are interspersed by stretches of both gold and white sand beaches, which are blessed with views of magnificent sunsets. Across the lagoon is a panorama of mountains surrounding the capital city Port Louis.

The Oberoi Mauritius features two large outdoor pools, each one located in a different part of the resort. All guests are welcome to use the family pool at On The Rocks, which has a length of 23 meters (75 ft). Located in the central part of the resort, next to the On The Rocks Restaurant (more on that below), the pool enjoys uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean, has several built-in Jacuzzis, and is surrounded by comfortable sun loungers. The pool at On The Rocks also has direct access to a private beach, where more sun loungers are inviting guests for blissful relaxation. On the resort’s southern end is another pool area – called Turtle Bay pool – which is for adults only. The Turtle Bay pool has a length of 17 meters (55 ft) and overlooks the sea towards the mountains surrounding the capital Port Louis, but has no direct beach access.

For the ultimate indulgent experience in Mauritius, The Oberoi Spa – located at the back of the resort’s lush garden – presents a selection of holistic healing, relaxation, rejuvenation and well-being treatments for the mind, body and soul. Guests can choose from a full body massage, a sensory experience, a body, face, hands, feet or hair treatment and feel revived under the care of our trained therapists in exquisitely appointed spa rooms and suites. With an extensive spa menu featuring the organic products from South Africa, Terres D’Afrique, guests can experience the use of South African natural ingredients such as African plants, baobab seeds, Madagascan black and pink peppers for the absolute blissful moments. The spa is also home to a well equipped gym (open 24/7) as well as several tennis courts.

The four restaurants and bars at The Oberoi Mauritius offer an array of delectable options to choose from.
- Surrounded by a reflection pool lit by flaming torches, the main restaurant serves international, Indian and Mauritian cuisine for dinner. For the latter, it also boasts a vegetarian menu and a special children’s selection. Each morning, the venue also serves a breakfast (buffet + à la carte dishes), featuring an array of freshly baked pastries, cereals, fruits, yoghurt, freshly brewed tea and coffee.
- Lunchtime calls for a visit to On The Rocks, the restaurant for al fresco dining as the waves rise against the rocks by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. With a light menu of salads, pastas, pizzas and snacks, it is perfect for a mid-day meal. Guests can also stick around here for a barbecue dinner with a fresh selection of exquisite seafood and meats.
- Authentic Creole fare is served at The Gunpowder Room, which is housed within a restored 18th-century building. The fine dining venue exudes the charm of a bygone era with rustic stones walls and floors, antique wine barrels and chandeliers.

The Oberoi Mauritius has restored 18th century French relics on site that are considered as national monuments and form a significant part of Mauritian heritage. The current area occupied by the resort served as a fortress in the mid 1700’s and was an integral part of the defense system of Mauritius. The troops guarded the entry to the northern side of Balaclava Bay (then known as Baie Aux Tortues). This site was in fact called “La Batterie de la Pointe de la Baie des Tortues”.

The resort is managed by Oberoi, one of the world’s most exclusive hotel groups. The Oberoi story wrote its early chapters in 1934 in Shimla where Mohan Singh Oberoi pioneered the idea of luxury hospitality in India by opening his first hotel. In the following years Oberoi – assisted by his two sons – continued the expansion of his group with properties both in India and abroad. Today, the group operates 35 hotels and cruise ships in six countries under the luxury ‘Oberoi’ and five-star ‘Trident’ brand. The group still practices the hospitality philosophy that began with Mr. Oberoi himself and are now echoed by his son and current chairman Prithvi Raj Singh Obero: The guest is everything.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

All meals at the restaurants are served à la carte, including breakfast, which has both its advantages and disadvantages. There’s a small continental buffet, which is a bit underwhelming with only a limited bread selection, but this is more than made up for by a wide variety of à la carte dishes. In fact, the breakfast is more of an à la carte affair, with the buffet only being an addition to the à la carte dishes (and not the other way around). Nonetheless, the breakfast formula might not be the best if you in a hurry and perhaps a combination of a more varied buffet (presented in a cooled room) complemented by à la carte dishes would work better.

While I absolutely loved my dinners at the Gunpowder Room (unique Creole menu) and at On The Rocks (barbecue in a beachfront setting), I wasn’t impressed by the dinner dishes served at the main restaurant (where I had dinner only once). Of course, this might entirely depend on my personal preferences, but my dinner at the main restaurant did not blow me off my feet and it wasn’t the gastronomic tantalizing experience I expected. That said, I still had an enjoyable meal and most guests rave about the food at The Oberoi, so I just may have had a bit of bad luck.

The shoreline of The Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius is comprised of some small man-made beaches with golden sand, some small cliffs, and a longer stretch of a lovely and natural white sand beach. There are some parts where the beach is very rocky and I would advise to wear coral shoes when going for a swim in the ocean. Overall, the beaches on Mauritius’ west coast are not as stunning as those on the east coast, but the advantage of staying on the west coast are the brilliant sunsets and also being closer to nightlife and plenty of restaurants & clubs (if you feel like leaving the resort for a night out).

MY VERDICT

Location: 8/10
Design: 8/10
Pool: 9/10
Rooms: 8/10
Food: 8/10
Breakfast: 8/10
Spa: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Value for money: 8/10
Overall experience: very good 8/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

Save money: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a complimentary lunch or dinner for two people per room once during stay).

Save money: read here my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like The Oberoi Mauritius (and/or receive many free perks).

Room tip: the best accommodation choices are the villas with pools close to the beach.

Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

During the Mauritian summer months (November to April) the days are long, hot and humid. This is also cyclone season with January to March being the wettest months – so if you do go on a holiday to Mauritius at that time you should be prepared for some heavy rain. Since it never really gets cold on the island in winter (May to October) the average temperature simply drops from sticky to balmy. So in general, the best time to visit Mauritius for cooler, drier weather is from May to December. That said, if you’re planning to stay on the east coast, I recommend avoiding the months of July and August as this is when the wind is at its strongest on this side of the island.

HOW TO GET THERE

The resort is located a 60-minute drive from the airport, and you can book a private transfer through the hotel, or prebook a much cheaper taxi. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SRU) is served by many airlines (click here for a continuously updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to Mauritius).