SALT of Palmar

This hotel is not for me. I usually choose half-board hotels because I prefer spending the day sightseeing or at the beach. I never use the swimming pools and I do not drink alcohol or any beverages other than water during the day. I usually have a light lunch and enjoy having a beer at the end of the day, followed by dinner in a restaurant serving quality food, where I can share a bottle of white wine with my wife and finish with a coffee and an aged whisky. So I booked this hotel to enjoy a room with a sea view, as well as a good breakfast and dinner. The all-inclusive option was not much more expensive, but since we spend little time at the hotel and do not drink alcohol during the day, it did not make sense for us. When we arrived, we were shown the room whose “sea view” is attached: whether standing or sitting, the view is mostly of a roof, parts of the building and the pool, with only a small glimpse of the sea in the background. I was told that this was their “sea view” category, while the rooms with a genuine full sea view have a different designation. I later found out those rooms cost around €30 more per night, which is negligible in the context of the overall cost of this trip. So the mistake was partly mine for not researching more carefully, but also the hotel’s for describing this category as “sea view” when it is, at best, a partial sea view. We then went for dinner and I asked for the drinks menu. To my surprise, a glass of wine was around €20 and the cheapest bottle started at about €60. The least expensive small beer was around €8, with prices increasing proportionally by size. That immediately ended my plans for a pleasant dinner — not because I could not afford €60 for a bottle of wine, but because I consider these prices excessive and I refuse to pay them on principle. We rented a car for a week in the Mauritius, travelled around the island extensively, visited supermarkets and local restaurants, and also stayed in another five-star hotel. The prices charged here for beer and wine are extremely expensive even by Mauritian standards. In supermarkets, an entry-level French wine costs under €10, while good French and South African wines can easily be found for under €20. A local Phoenix beer costs less than €1 in supermarkets, and European beers are generally under €2. genuinely do not understand the reasoning behind this hotel’s management policy, because the location, décor, comfort and service are all excellent. Calling these rooms “sea view” when they are really only partial sea view rooms — while the truly front sea view rooms cost only slightly more — feels misleading. Charging excessively high prices for drinks also seems counterproductive, as it encourages guests to drink only water or nothing at all during meals, ultimately leading them to spend less money rather than more. For guests choosing the all-inclusive option and booking the rooms that are genuinely sea view — although marketed under a different name — this hotel is an excellent choice, for all the reasons many other guests have already mentioned. Had I known in advance the actual drinks prices and what the hotel considers to be “sea view” rooms, I would never have booked this hotel, as there were many other alternatives available. The only reason I took the time to write this review is in the hope that, one day, someone with similar preferences to mine may avoid ending up celebrating a birthday dinner with nothing more than a small Guinness beer — not because I could not afford a €60 bottle of wine on a one-week trip that cost nearly €5,000, but because, as a matter of principle, it left a negative impression that affected the overall experience of the stay.

We stayed in the hotel for a week before moving to a more expensive option at LUX le Morne in the West. Salt was by far our preferred hotel. The things that really stand out are - fabulous service from friendly, happy, local staff who made us feel very welcome. Never had to wait for anything, staff all greeted us as we walked around the hotel and took time to chat and offer their expertise. The food is beautiful. All meals are table service, everything fresh and beautifully presented and where possible sourced locally. Every meal was delicious as were the cocktails so well worth going all inclusive. (It really doesn't feel like an all inclusive resort but like eating at a really good restaurant 3 times a day). Can't fault a thing. Of note we felt very comfortable as a same sex couple on honeymoon. The perfect balance of informality and luxury. Should be a 5 star hotel for service, atmosphere and food. Thank you to all the wonderful staff for a very special stay.

We had an amazing stay at this hotel for our honeymoon. The staff were incredibly welcoming and attentive, making our trip feel truly special from start to finish. A special shoutout to Heeroo, who was absolutely wonderful. The food was excellent, with plenty of delicious options to choose from, and every part of our stay exceeded our expectations. It was the perfect place to celebrate our honeymoon and we would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a special getaway.

Well, where to start...? From the first greeting at the entrance, to the final goodbye, we had nothing but the best possible service from each and every team member, be it management, admin, security, cocktails, food, cleaning, beach or spa. Genuinely 100% amazing. Some shout outs to Rewa, Daram and Bool in the main restaurant, Bhavish at the roof top bar, Heeroo on the beach, and Chanda and Naresh on the front door...but these are just a few of the folk that we got know more than some of the many others, who are all equally lovely :) The rooms are simple and straightforward, but well equipped, plenty of space and storage, lovely shower rooms, and comfy big beds. It was a blessing for us to have no TV for 10 days, really helps to sink into the holiday relaxation, but the rooms do have an excellent digital radio, so we could still get our Radio 2 fix! Our couples hot stone massage, foot treatment and salt room experience in the spa were fabulous, I hear the exfoliations are also great. Food is generously portioned, and incredibly delicious...the Big Brekkie Board and the Mauritian Chicken Curry are worth separate mentions. The wine list is very good with a decent of selection by the glass and bottle. The rooftop bar is the perfect spot for an early evening cocktail, it became a bit of a routine for us before heading off for a lovely hot shower before dinner...and who knew Mauritian rum is so good? Tek Tek is an absolute must for anyone into their gastronomy...a six course meal in a maximum 10 seat separate restaurant, prepared in front of you by the excellent sous-chef, Ravi. Note - it was all fish except the pudding...something to bear in mind if you're not that way inclined! The beach is but a stone's throw away - with plentiful sunbeds and shades...fresh fruit comes round occasionally, and there is always iced water on tap, also suncream if you've run short. There are three yoga sessions a week, with an excellent teacher, perfect for an early start and to watch the sunrise. Hints and tips...be sure to get to the Beach Hut early to make sure you can secure a spot for the snorkelling the following day...it's not wise to risk waiting for the day itself! Also, it can get crowded by the pool...but we found that by about 3pm it was quietening down...perfect timing for coming off the beach for the last couple of hours of sun. The gym...all we know is that there is a gym... ;) Overall, we could not recommend SALT of Palmar enough...absolutely 100% from start to finish. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

From the moment I checked in, to the moment I checked out, I received dedicated 5-stars service. The mattress was too soft for my back and as soon as I informed Housekeeping, I got transferred to another room with a harder mattress. At the restaurant: great choice of menu and delicious pastries. As a foodie and fussy eater I was nicely surprised that the meals were kindly and promptly adjusted to my liking. At the pool and beach: a gentleman goes around cleaning our sun glasses and there is a 50 SPF sunscreen dispenser. The room is ok. Great customer experience overall. I understand why it is one of the most recommended hotels of the island