Baystone Boutique Hotel & Spa

Although Baystone Boutique Hotel & Spa has only 21 rooms, the hotel is split between two buildings that are separated by the main road. Geared toward young (or young-at-heart) couples, this elegant hotel has a hip atmosphere and sleek, minimalist interiors designed by interior architect and designer Albert Angel. Satin tile floors, wavy decor accents on the walls, metallic surfaces, and bleach whites and grays fill the spaces. Attentive, luxurious touches abound -- from the immediate personal greetings to the remote-controlled curtains -- but it all comes at a steep price. While this is not one of the cheapest places to stay in Mauritius, it's definitely not out-of-this world expensive, especially compared to the larger all-inclusive resorts on the island (which can be double to triple the price). 

The Baystone Boutique Hotel & Spa is located on a quiet and narrow street on the northwest edge of Grand Baie Beach, in the Pointe aux Canonniers neighborhood. The Grand Baie (aka Grand Bay) area is the most developed and tourist-heavy spot on Mauritius, full of bars, restaurants, and shops. The hotel's northwestern location along the bay is a unique spot where the calm water of the bay and the Indian Ocean meet. Port Louis, the capital city, is about a 35-minute drive away. SSR International Airport is about a 70-minute drive southeast, on a route that passes through the island. Attractions such as the Tamarind Falls and the Trou aux Cerfs volcano are a bit over an hour away, while Black River Gorges National Park is about 80 minutes away by car.

All 21 rooms at the Baystone Boutique Hotel & Spa are contemporary and chic with slightly stark modern decor. Mostly outfitted in white and shades of gray, rooms have platform king beds, spotless tile floors, curved wall accents, and dark wooden wardrobes. Amenities include flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, hairdryers, mini-fridges, coffee and tea facilities, and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are equally spotless with separate tubs and large walk-in rainfall showers as well as KORRES toiletries. Although rooms have balconies, those in building B only have views of the road, not the ocean. Upgrades to Chambre Deluxe Double rooms will snag you a chromotherapy bathtub, while Junior Suites add iPod docks, Nespresso machines, higher-quality mattresses, larger terraces, electronic curtains, and ocean views. Suites go even further with whirlpools and better views of the ocean due to their location on higher floors. The Baystone Suite also has exclusive access to a rooftop pool. 

Behind the hotel is the small but beautiful strip of beach. There is a raised stone sea wall to prevent wave erosion, on top of which are umbrella-shaded padded loungers and beanbag seats. Guests looking for a spot to lounge directly on the sands of the beach will be disappointed -- there just isn't much room. 

The Baystone may be rich in style, but it skimps a bit when it comes to features. The standout here is the food. Lead by Chef Franco, the hotel's gourmet restaurant serves elevated plates inspired by local flavors. Breakfast is free, served on an outdoor terrace overlooking the bay, and includes continental items from coffee and juice to pastries and cold cuts. For dinner, guests have a choice of daily specials, meal packages, and the Chef’s Table d’hôte, which includes a fine dining experience of French-Mauritian fusion dishes. There's also a swanky bar inside that serves up hip cocktails and mocktails, as well as wines. Guests who really get into the groove can take cooking or cocktail classes for a fee. Guests who want to get their feet wet can get into the water down by the beach; there's a tiny boat house at the end of the beach that provides water sports such as windsurfing, snorkeling, wakeboarding, and kayaking. Most excursions, such as swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, tours, or cruises, are booked via third-party companies. Otherwise, guests can take a dip in the hotel's small, rectangular pool. It offers several cushioned loungers under umbrellas and a nice view of the beach, but it's quite small and not really suited for swimming.The hotel has an on-site spa area with a hammam, salon, and four treatment rooms -- including a couples treatment room with snazzy light-up pod-style beds and waterfall curtains. In fact, the spa is the most futuristic looking space in the hotel, with curved white walls, round ledges, lagoon-style ceiling cutouts, and chromotherapy lighting. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.