Riu Palace Mauritius

I am sorry to write such a negative review on such a visually stunning resort but after spending a week ruined by diabolical "hot" food and incessant cigarette smoking needs must. Reaching the isolated resort area from the airport involves a 1hr 20min journey on winding , bumpy country roads. I could not fault our excellent Club class room , the beautiful surroundings or the friendly hard working staff especially Mohip at the Maravanne Bar and Pierre at the Club Pool Bar. However we soon realised that the food at the hotel was sub-standard. The main buffet restaurant pre-cooks ( badly ) vast amounts of food which due to being kept under heat lamps / warming trays ends up lukewarm , dry and congealed. The quality of the meat was often poor, tough and fatty. We opted to eat at the speciality restaurants on 3 nights hoping for better quality fresh cooked food but the hot food repeatedly did not appear to have been cooked to order and was again lukewarm and of terrible quality. For example , in the Club Restaurant , who on earth thinks that a tiny piece of overcooked dry fish served solely on a vast plate of green beans is an appetising main course? On the last day of our stay my wife developed a severe stomach upset which lasted for 7 days after our return to England. This was reported to the hotel on our return home. The hotel not only allows but encourages smoking in outside areas, having ash trays on all outside tables , even around the bar at Maravanne. It was impossible to enjoy any time outside without a selfish smoker lighting up beside you and you choking on their disgusting habit. We could not even enjoy the stunning view sitting on our Club room balcony due to smokers on adjacent balconies. No chance of leaving the balcony patio doors open either as cigarette smoke drifted into the room. We hired a car for 2 days in the hope of enjoying decent food and fresh air but having toured the west of the island we were disappointed. No chance of finding a bar or restaurant overlooking one of the attractive beaches. The resorts of Grand Baie , Flic n Flac , and Perrybere lacked infrastructure and to be honest were tatty. The less said about Port Louis the better. Tourism appears to be concentrated on remote All Inclusive resorts where you could be anywhere in the world. Unless you are a smoker who only eats salads I could not recommend this hotel.

The hotel is in a perfect location for a relaxing getaway, with an absolutely wow-worthy ambiance. The rooms are cosy, comfortable, and beautifully appointed, offering excellent value for money, especially with the All-Inclusive (AI) package. A big compliment to the housekeeping and public area teams for maintaining a high standard of cleanliness throughout almost the entire property. The in-room amenities are also excellent and add to the overall comfort of the stay. A big thank you to the restaurant team as we were in the resort for birthday celebration. Front office team also a big thank you to address our queries. What truly makes this hotel stand out is its vibrant atmosphere. With a wide range of activities and an inviting poolside environment, the property feels lively and full of positive energy. It is not about noise, but rather the joy, happiness, and excitement shared by guests enjoying their holiday. Staying at RIU Palace, Mauritius is indeed a value for money. Overall, a wonderful destination for a memorable getaway. Keep up the excellent work!

I have to say I did not enjoy my stay here. The hotel staff were great and attentive. Lovely to be away from children although as it is attached to its sister hotel for families, when dining we were subjected to listening to the kids club. Not an ideal choice. Le Morne in itself although a lovely location, is far from many main attractions. If I was to travel to Mauritius again, I would opt to stay in the middle of the island making it easier and cheaper to travel. (Taxi wise)

Big Thanks to all the staffs of Riu Palce for their wonderful welcome during our stay to celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary in the Elite Club Mainly to those special people: The Management Team directed by Mr Léon and Mr Vivek Great attention from Smita, Iris, Owen, Mariam , Lachmi, Kevin from Reception Suraj the Bellboy The Bartenders : Pierre, Visham, Nitish, Vashish, Mohitabh with their special services The waiters Vania, John, Mercy, Lola, Vistoria, Alvino, Vanida, Shantanu Kertish for caring about us in the resrtaurant Great varieties of food from Chef Gungah and his colleagues Nadia our maid room Christopher and Yannich with their entertainment team.

The location is stunning. There is Mount Le Morne behind the hotel. The hotels grounds are beautifully kept.As it is on the south of the island you will need taxis to visit attractions. These worked out around £40 for a morning and £70 pounds for a full day. the roads are winding so it you get car sick take some tablets. The drivers are very good at taking you to great photo locations and attractions. We upgraded to Elite club which has its own pool and bar, at which the staff were brilliant. Sit with your drink looking into the deep blue ocean. The rooms are very nice and kept clean. With the elite club you get branded spirits in optics in the room along with branded drinks at the bars. The entertainment was at the sister family hotel next door which we didn't go to. Noise levels on a night time were quiet and people respected this, and there was no noise from the entertainment. Sometimes in the speciality restaurants there were people watching stuff on their phones on full volume while others were having a meal which is pretty rude and ruined the atmosphere. I just asked them to stop but I feel the staff should be doing this. If they can enforce dress codes they could do this. By the way the staff were fantastic and that was an observation not criticism. I have to say Vashish at the main lobby bar was fantastic, we didn't need to ask for a drink as soon as the glass was nearly empty he was there. I cant emphasise enough how fantastic all the staff are. Polite and professional.