The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa Mauritius

After our amazing trip through South Africa, staying in some wonderful places, we really wanted to love our final destination of the Westin Turtle Bay in Mauritius and we are currently nearly over two thirds through our stay. We don’t love it but we’re not quite sure why as it has some good features. It also some not-so-good features and we want to provide a balanced view. I would give it 3 & half stars if I could. We booked a King Junior Suite (we’re in 1311) - this has a partial view of the sea which is a bonus if you’re only expecting a garden view. However, it is one of the ones set back from the others, so there’s not really much view, as mainly trees in the way. OK to sit on the balcony for a glass of something but not for the view but at least we’re on the 1st floor. I should imagine the sea view rooms are lovely if you pay extra. We also seem to be in a block that is being renovated (& understand if there is need) so there’s constant banging, noise and smell of paint. Fine if you’re at the beach all day (more about that later) but not when you’re on your balcony or having a siesta. We initially thought this would stop after a couple of days so haven’t bothered to speak to the hotel and have the hassle of moving rooms and it’s not too bad but hasn’t helped the general feeling of the hotel for us. There are plenty of staff who are polite and are always willing to help you but as there are so many faces, we don’t feel we have got to know any particularly, or know who is responsible for cleaning our room, etc. Not a problem but it loses a more intimate feel which I guess is understandable considering there are 190 rooms! We also seem to be near a gathering place for staff and were woken at 3am one morning to a lot of loud talking and noise outside the block. Luckily it hasn’t happened since. There is no real ‘beach’ at the hotel itself - more like little coves but there is a lovely expanse a few minutes walk along the shoreline and where you can partake in a complimentary glass-bottomed boat trip and snorkelling activities (needs pre-booking) along with paddle boarding and kayaking. You can’t use the sun beds there though, as they belong to a neighbouring hotel. One of our biggest dislikes is the bathroom - it has a lovely big bathtub and the shower is great but the whole room, including the bedroom is open plan and therefore, there is no privacy! Even when you love your husband very much, there are some things that I personally feel should remain behind closed doors! If you the kind of person who is OK with this, not a problem. We did ask if there were any rooms we could move to that had doors and were advised that this was not possible. A big let-down for us. The bed itself is very comfy. Both pools are lovely and the adult-only in the whisper zone is wonderful and tranquil to swim in - one of the best features. The other things that left a slightly bitter taste in out mouths (pardon the pun) is that when you dine in the evenings, the water provided is still the filtered bottled water that you get in your room (complimentary) but you are charged for it. Not something I would expect considering the nightly price paid. The food is fine although in the main dining room (buffet) at breakfast you are joined by lots of birds who are also hoping for some breakfast of their own and are all over the tables as soon as guests have left. The Kangan Resturant is lovely and our meal was very tasty. If you want to explore the island, there are no buses to easily catch which is a shame as they are good value for money. You need to negotiate with taxis outside and these are not cheap. If you’re half board, you may want to consider getting snacks to tide you over between breakfast and dinner as the bar prices for both snacks and drinks are (in my opinion) very high. All in all, we’re having a relaxing time after our long trip but would definitely not want to fly 12 hours from the UK just to come here - far better places in a shorter distance, with equally lovely beaches and facilities for likely half the price ;)

This beautiful location was chosen for its proximity to popular resorts nearby but I also wanted a quieter laidback hotel and area. The Westin Turtle Bay delivered. The beach is not a long strip but volcanic rock which we were aware of, but a long stretch of beach is not far away. Not suitable for families with very young children who want to run free on the beach and theres danger of cutting on the rocks. You would Need beach shoes too. But the sand and water is lovely and clean. The resort is well designed, spacious and open to breeze on hotter days. Sunbeds and pool was perfect, not overcrowded. The only criticism I have is not having a stand alone toilets near to the pool. The only nearby toilets are the one near the Fusion resturant or in the main lobby which isn't ideal. The Wellness Suite was beautiful, spacious, clean and the ocean could be heard from it. The resturants were varid and food was superb, tasty, fresh and with variety. We loved the deserts! Most important of all were the staff, from concierge, resturant staff, Chef Attapong, an exceptionally talented and friendly Head Chef at Mystique, the Pan Asian Resturant, Selvi, the Wellness Coach at the Spa and the managers and staff at the Spa, Dinesh, one of the Managers, down to the lovely housekeeping staff who always left clean fresh towels daily. Everyone had a positive impact on my daughter and my first trip to Mauritius. We met lots of different people and joined in with some of the evening entertainment. The gardens are beautiful, well kept and maintained. We chose half board which was of excellent value for a first time visitor. We explored the Island by hiring out a driver which is easy to do. If you drive its a bonus as there's no quick route from the hotel to walk down to join any main road local transport links ie buses. There is the Dodo app which is a useful equivalent to Uber. Competitively priced and reliable. One of the people I must dedicate my review to and who made our trip exceptional, and made us feel especially special is Selvi, from the Spa. We joined most of her classes, advice and yoga on the beach and the Yoga retreat which was great fun. Selvi was so kind, knowledgeable and professional. She took time to understand our need and advised us wellness tips accordingly. She also took time to listen and get to know us. We adore Selvi! I would definitely recommend the Westin Turtle Bay to others. We hope to come again and experience a lot more of my daughter's ( fathers) heritage country.

An absolutely incredible stay! The staff couldn’t do enough for you, they’re so welcoming and polite always. The calendars per day are so well planned, playing archery and football tournaments on the resort was a great bonus for me! Me and my wife loved all the amenities and the restaurants served high quality food and drinks every night. Would definitely recommend staying here to everyone and we will definitely be coming back soon !

My wife and I spent 10 glorious days here. The food is exceptional, the team are lovely the setting is within the bay is peaceful but with a decent atmosphere. Evenings are relaxed with regular entertainment. Our room was next to some that were being updated at the time but they quickly moved us which was appreciated. The restaurants are exceptional and again the quality of food was perfect. We can't fault or single anyone out in particular as collectively the Westin has given us such a lovely holiday. Thank you to all.

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at this hotel. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed and taken care of. The staff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and always ready to help with a smile. The rooms were beautiful, comfortable, and spotless, and the atmosphere was perfect for a relaxing getaway. The food was delicious, the facilities were excellent, and the setting was simply breathtaking. Every detail made our experience special, and we truly felt that the team went above and beyond to make our stay memorable. Mauritius is already a dream destination, but the Westin made it even more special. We would definitely come back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a perfect tropical escape!