Grand Baie Suites

The modest entrance and rough-around-the-edges road leading to the hotel belies its crisp, contemporary interior. The quaint lobby opens to a central pool which is sparkling and well-maintained. A dozen lounge chairs line the pool deck, anchoring the hotel’s only social space. It’s a quiet place to relax with an atmosphere that feels far more secluded than it actually is. The couples and small families who stay here prefer the quiet scene. The property is designed for self-catering travelers looking to forego traditional hotel amenities in favor of a more full-featured room. 

The hotel sits on a short, dead-end side street, but the location ensures guests are just far enough off the tourist-heavy strip to provide quiet and the illusion of seclusion. The surrounding Grand Baie neighborhood is among Mauritius’ most popular for tourists. On foot, dozens of restaurants, bars, and shops are located 10 minutes north or south along route B13. Grand Baie Public Beach, one of the most beautiful on the entire island, is within an eight-minute walk. Mauritius’ only major airport, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU), is located more than an hour south. The hotel can arrange paid airport transportation with rates comparable to local taxi service.

Room decor is reserved and tasteful. There’s a vague budget feeling to it all, but it’s clear someone with design sense put thought into each space. Painted accent walls, plush, modern futons, and dark wood-and-glass sliding door panels add hints of sophistication. Every apartment-style room features an identical spacious layout with separate living and sleeping areas. The fully equipped kitchens include breakfast bars, refrigerators, ovens, microwaves, and plenty of glassware, cookware, and utensils. A flat-screen satellite TV is provided in each bedroom, as is air-conditioning. Wi-Fi is unavailable in any room. However, some rooms can locate hits of internet service on the private balconies overlooking the pool. Bathrooms are spacious, but feature more modest decors. Only generic bar soap is provided and glass shower stalls are standard.

As a self-catering property, the list of common amenities is limited. Most guests appreciate the outdoor pool, which has a section for kids. The horseshoe-shaped architecture of the three-story buildings faces away from the road which adds a nice degree of privacy and quiet to the terrace. A dozen lounge chairs line the pool deck. Free self-parking is available adjacent to the hotel in a video-monitored lot. Wi-Fi is only technically offered (for free) by the pool where we found it to be fast and reliable. There are no other facilities like breakfast or a bar.