Maritim Crystals Beach Hotel Mauritius

Built in 2012 and acquired by the Germany-based Maritim Hotels in 2014, Maritim Crystals Beach Hotel Mauritius is a massive, modern all-inclusive resort spread across 27 acres. Beyond its towering entrance gate and reception area, the resort unfolds. Decorative ponds, sandy-colored three-story buildings, breezy restaurants, an electric blue swimming pool, and a vast grassy lawn all roll toward a staggeringly pretty beachfront. Concrete walkways meander through the grounds, edged by tropical foliage. 

The family-friendly Maritim Crystals Beach is designed like a classic Mauritian sugar plantation. Sugarcane-inspired architecture and decor are found throughout the property (even some of its activities, like a sugar- and rum-tasting demo, have a sugarcane theme). Colonial-style buildings have red tin roofs, and near the resort's center is a tower like the ones found at local sugar factories. You can spot sugarcane motifs all over the property: on the sides of the towering entrance gate and on entire sides of buildings, on hallway accent windows and light sconces, and on bedspreads in the rooms. Volcanic stone walls, furnishings and lighting fixtures made from rattan and raffia, and an abundance of neutral tones further accentuate the Mauritian setting. The vibe is upscale but laid-back, though the resort's sheer size (big for Mauritian resort standards) may make it feel a touch impersonal. Guests are a mix of families and couples -- many celebrating honeymoons or landmark anniversaries -- from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.

Maritim Crystals Beach is located in the village of Belle Mare on Mauritius' east coast. Its entrance is right off the coastal road that winds between the ocean and the vivid green sugar fields. The resort's only neighbors are fellow hotel properties and the wild-looking Palmar Beach, thick with filao trees. There is very little within easy walking distance, and a rented vehicle, excursion shuttle, or car service is necessary for seeing other parts of the island. Reaching the capital city of Port Louis by car takes about an hour, and Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden around 50 minutes. The drive to both the town of Mahebourg and Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport takes about an hour.

Many rooms in Mauritian resorts are crash pads for travelers that prefer to spend their days at the beach or out exploring the island, but the 181 rooms at Maritim Crystals Beach are an actual highlight of the resort. For starters, they're enormous; the entry-level Superior Rooms offer a whopping 540 square feet of space. They're also still modern and fresh from the hotel's 2012 opening. A sophisticated cocoa-and-tan color scheme is lightened up by bursts of red, orange, and lime green, plus natural light streaming in from the sliding glass doors. The doors open onto private furnished balconies or terraces, some with daybeds and loveseats, but all of them facing toward the sea. Bedcovers have an enlarged sugarcane print and above the beds are zoomed-in photographs of sugar. Beige seagrass area rugs, round rattan stools (and coffee tables in Junior Suites), ceiling fans with leaf-like blades, and a lightly sweet sugarcane scent offer a hint of the tropics, but overall, the rooms are defined by their dark-wood furniture, restrained decor, and subdued color palette.

In addition to roomy proportions, sea-facing balconies or terraces, and modern Mauritius-inspired decor, all rooms have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and digital safes. Minibars come stocked with beer, wine, sodas, bottled water, and milk (free for guests on the All-Inclusive Plus plan). Two-bedroom Family Rooms have foyers with lots of storage space, and a separate bedroom with ceiling fan and flat-screen TV. In Family Rooms and Junior Suites, the flat-screen TV swivels to face the bed or the living area (sheer genius). Junior Suites also have peek-a-boo two-person jetted tubs, bathrobes, slippers, and turndown service. Bathrooms in all room types bring their fair share of wow factor. All have separate showers and soaking tubs, toilet vestibules, hairdryers, Maritim-branded toiletries, and individually wrapped loofahs. 

There are three wheelchair-friendly rooms as well.

Even among the area's stunning hotel beaches, Maritim's beach is notable. It's long and wide and faces a startlingly teal lagoon. Sun loungers are scattered throughout the sand and the shady, grassy lawn. Water sports like stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling, pedal-boating, windsurfing, and kayaking are all free. Kitesurfing and diving cost additional fees, but guests can get one free hour-long kitesurfing lesson. 

One of the hotel's two heated swimming pools is located right by the beach. It has a shallow section for kids and a whirlpool, plus daily activities like water polo and pool aerobics, which are put on by Maritim's entertainment team, Kappa Club. (The second pool is located in a quieter, residential section of the hotel.) Kappa Club also organizes activities like beach volleyball, dart tournaments, traditional drum playing, basket-making, beach concerts, and White Party nights.

Maritim Crystals Beach features four restaurants, comprising Le Ferney 1650 (main buffet serving all three meals), Bellevue 1838 (beach restaurant), Les Quatre Cocos 1822 (Asian a la carte), and Villebague 1740 (French a la carte). The two a la carte restaurants require reservations at least 24 hours in advance. Food and drink service are available on the beach and at the pool, and room service is available until late at night. Local beer and spirits are included in Maritim's all-inclusive plan, but premium brands cost extra (or an upgrade to the All-Inclusive Plus package). The resort will prepare free picnic baskets for guests going on island excursions.

Unfortunately, Crystals Wellness & Beauty Care Centre doesn't take advantage of the resort's sea views. Its located below the lobby, on the road side of the resort. It has three treatment rooms, plus an outdoor massage cabin and salon areas dedicated to nails and hair services. Ayurvedic treatments are available. The adjacent fitness center is large and air-conditioned; in addition to modern cardio machines and strength-training equipment, it features a studio space for yoga and stretching. The resort's several tennis courts are free to use; guests just have to pay for the balls.

Maritim's kids' club for ages 3 to 11 offers a dedicated pool, daily activities (cooking and drawing, as well as temporary tattoos, board games, and bunnies) and nightly mini disco. The supervised kids' club keeps late hours so that parents can have a romantic dinner. There is also supervised teens' club with ping-pong and a Wii gaming console.

Maritim has a business center, plus three conference rooms, and an arrivals and departures courtesy lounge. There is an on-site infirmary, and a doctor is on call 24 hours a day. Laundry and dry cleaning services are available. Parking and property-wide Wi-Fi are free.