We decided to visit Mauritius for our honeymoon, mostly because of the prospect of sun, sea and wildlife. I had visited the island back in 2009, so had a vague recollection of what to expect. Jack on the other hand had never been and so it was a completely new experience for him. We spent ages looking at hotels and eventually worked with Kuoni to decide on the Lagoon Attitude Mauritius. The hotel is part of a larger chain and prides itself on being sustainable, especially in regards to the marine life. They even have a marine centre in the hotel! Here is our honest review.
The Lagoon Attitude Mauritius
Before we get into the review, I want to give the Attitude brand a shout out. It is so rare nowadays to find a hotel with such a mission to preserve the natural world, and to conservate the culture of their country. This hotel went above and beyond to ensure that the tourism here is responsibly done. Because of this hotel, I felt that I discovered more about the incredible Mauritian culture than I would have otherwise, and I met fabulous local people and learnt about their lives. I am a massive advocate for this brand.
The Location and Arrival
The hotel is probably as far from the airport as you can get in Mauritius. Now, this is not a negative as it means that it is rather quiet. You are also away from the main centre of the hotels and from all of the main sights of the island. Truthfully, we did not pay a lot of attention to the location as we liked the ethos of the hotel. However, it meant that our days were slightly longer than they could have been and that transfers to and from the airport were a good hour. Not a huge issue by any means, but a good thing to know if you are considering booking here.
We arrived late in the evening after a long flight from Dubai. We were greeted by a drink and a warm towel whilst reception sorted out our stuff. After going through all the usual forms, we were then were taken to our room.
The Room
Our room had been a Seafront View, which we decided to book because it was a mid-tier balcony room. We entered the room and it was really on-brand. There was some fabulous decor made of sustainable and recycled materials, keeping in with the hotel’s mission. I think that this really went with the vibe of the hotel, which was a huge selling point. The room was also nicely done and looked pretty.
The bed was comfortable and we had been left a small welcome present to celebrate our honeymoon. It included authentic Mauritian gifts, which were really thoughtful and so much nicer than generic bottles of champagne. We also had a great balcony which was perfect for an evening drink – we spent a lot of time here!
The bathroom was a good size and had everything you needed. Whilst the shower and tiles looked somewhat tired, I still liked the space and I’d rather the money be spent on the ecological mission of the Attitude brand.
The Food
The food at the Lagoon Attitude was all good, but some of their restaurants served some of the best food I’ve ever eaten. Their flagship buffet was included in our All Inclusive package and we had breakfast and lunch there each day we stayed there. There was a decent amount of choice for breakfast, but it was on a bi-daily cycle of what was on offer. For lunch, there was a selection of different foods based on a theme, which again was decent food.
However, there are also three other restaurants here and all three are amazing. There is one caveat though; you have to book in advance and some travel agents will not do it for you. Sadly, we were part of the latter group. Coral is the seafood restaurant. We ate here twice and on both occasions were amazed by the quality of the food. We also went to Cote Nou, which specialised in local cuisine. I had my best meal here and loved how I just felt at home.
What I loved about the food here was that it all felt authentic. There was no standard meal and it celebrated the vast flavours of the island, a cuisine which us westerners know very little about.
The Facilities
The facilities were really quite nice. There were three pools; two of which were located near the sea and were in the most tranquil environment. One was in the midst of it all and nobody really seemed to go there,. The quieter pools were also right by the Coral Bar, which served some amazing cocktails on tap. I had some lovely quiet moments sat by the pool, either reading a book or watching all the birds (you’ll see lots of them!).
The hotel is also right next to a natural lagoon, hence the name. Because of this there is a marine biology centre right next to the Coral Bar and you can learn about the wildlife here. We loved visiting it and speaking to the biologists there, especially my husband with his background. There was also a snorkelling trail and a dive centre and, for us, this was just perfect. With our busy days we never got to go diving, but we did manage to get out to the reef and snorkel. There is also a great gym and a selection of fitness classes for people.
The Verdict
The Lagoon Attitude is a fabulous choice for anyone who wants to go to Mauritius. It has everything you need and exceeds expectations when it comes to the food and the location. Above all else though, you’ll feel like staying here is doing a little bit of good for the community. You’re supporting local jobs and projects, and ensuring that the natural world around it is preserved for years to come.
