Friday Attitude

The former Hotel Bougainville was acquired in 2014 by the Attitude hotel group, who injected the property with the brand's signature breezy style and reopened it as a modern upper-middle-range boutique resort. Everything here feels at once open and intimate. For example, the outdoor lounge that one passes through before even reaching the check-in desk: the open-air space has low wooden platforms lined with white cushions, and armless chairs and orange and yellow poufs provide more places to sit. The casual lounge seating extends into the lobby, where tall bamboo sticks poke out of oversize rattan vases; kids play ping-pong and foosball; and departing guests scribble fond farewells on a whiteboard wall. 

Friday attracts mostly families and couples, who feel at home at the small and cozy property. The majority of those staying here prefer to hang out at the resort all day over going on island jaunts. To that end, all-inclusive and full-board packages are most commonly booked, but the hotel also offers bed-and-breakfast and half-board. Many of Friday's guests are Western Europeans and South Africans who are loyal to the resort and return year after year.

Friday Attitude is located in the village of Trou d'Eau Douce on the east coast. The coastal road winds along the shore and through impossibly green sugar plantations; the area would seem completely undeveloped if it weren't for the occasional side street leading to the gates of luxury resorts. Friday's entrance is right off of the main road, and its only neighbors are fellow small resorts and villa properties. There are no restaurants or shops within walking distance, and a rental car, taxi, or shuttle bus is necessary for getting around. Some Mauritius travelers might prefer the bustle of Grand Baie in the north or Trou aux Biches in the northwest, but those who come to the east coast are drawn to its natural beauty and beach-centric calm. Guests who find themselves in need of a dose of excitement could drive into Central Flacq for its twice-a-week market (about a 16-minute drive from the hotel). The drive from and to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport takes about an hour.

The hotel's chic gray and orange color scheme is brought into the rooms, where rattan pendant lamps and bamboo accents add a dose of tropical flavor. The 50 rooms are split into two main categories: Standard and Family. The 35 Standard Rooms come with one double bed or two twins. Six of the Standard Rooms are located at the very back of the resort, by the beach. These Premium Sea View Rooms -- three on the ground floor with a front yard and three on the second floor with a balcony -- are well worth the low upgrade fee. The remaining 15 rooms are Family Rooms, with separate kids' rooms with two beds. Family Rooms are located towards the road side of the resort, and look over garden grounds (no views of the ocean or pool).

All rooms come with a flat-screen TV, free coffee and tea, and a balcony or terrace. Gauzy gray curtains conceal the three-bay closet area, which contains a free digital safe and a mini-fridge. Chic open bathrooms have rainfall showers, wooden vanity benches with magnifying mirrors, and separate water closets. Big orange beach towels are provided, and can be swapped at reception. Laundry service is available for a fee and Wi-Fi is free in the rooms. 

Friday is small and intimate, but it has just about all of the resort requirements. The hotel's one restaurant is by the beach and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinners rotate between international, Asian, Italian, and Mascarene buffets, and three table d’hote nights a week. Kids' menus are available, with choices like fried chicken, fish nuggets, and pasta carbonara. Special dinners on the beach -- with sparkling wine, grilled lobster, and banana flambe -- can be arranged, preferably with advance notice. Another dinner options is the weekly "Family Dinner" -- one of the authentic Mauritian experiences that the hotel offers (others include free weekly cooking classes, free Creole language lessons, and a weekly bazaar selling Mauritian crafts by the beach). Family Dinners take place at the home of one of the hotel employees, who shows participants how to prepare a Mauritian curry. These meals cost an extra fee and should be booked two days before. Friday's main bar is located right on the beach, and is open from late morning until nearly midnight. At night, a second bar opens by reception, which is where entertainment like sega dancing, variety shows, and live music is performed most evenings.

A rectangular swimming pool is located at the heart of the property; it has an attached kids' section and a concrete terrace with shaded sunbeds and linen sling chairs. The hotel's wellness center is located above the lobby. It has one double and one single treatment room, and there is also a beach kiosk for 15-minute massages. The spa uses Mantra products made with ingredients like tulsi basil, Indian jasmine, and aloe vera for its facials and massages. A popular spa service is Sun Attitude, which is one of the brand's four signature 90-minute treatments. Sun Attitude begins with a coconut-milk foot soak, continues with a pressure-point massage focusing on the shoulders, neck, head, and scalp, and ends with a full-body massage. Unlike some of the other Attitude locations, waxing services are not offered here, and there is no steam room or sauna.

The one major feature missing here is the boathouse. As of our 2017 visit, the hotel was waiting on its permit, but it compensates for this missing amenity with free snorkeling equipment, free daily boat trips to Ile aux Cerfs (it is necessary to reserve the day before), and free glass-bottom boat trips, which can be booked the day of. A supervised kids' corner with a playground is right by the beach and open six days a week. Babysitting and laundry services are both available for a fee, and Wi-Fi is free (and password-less) throughout the resort.