Mauricia Beachcomber Resort and Spa

Mauricia Beachcomber Resort and Spa is our mid-range pick for the north and the best base for anyone who wants resort comforts with a lively village on the doorstep. It sits on the beach at the edge of Grand Baie, the island’s busiest resort town, overlooking the sheltered bay, and you can walk along Royal Road to the shops, bars, restaurants and boat jetties. Rooms come in several styles, from beachfront rooms to suites, lofts and villas, and there is also a small village of two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments for families or friends; three of the suites have their own plunge pools. The main pool sits by the beach, and the intimate Spa Beachcomber has nine treatment rooms, designed to look like nomadic tents, around a shaded pool, with a hair salon. A sports centre has three tennis courts, a hammam and a sauna, and a long list of land and water sports is included in the rate. The kids club is free for children aged three to eleven, with baby facilities and paid babysitting. Two restaurants offer buffet and à la carte dining, an all-inclusive package is available, and guests can dine at the sister Beachcomber hotels nearby. Expedia guests rate it well for its location and value.

Location and getting around: the resort is on Royal Road in Grand Baie in the north-west, about an hour and a quarter from the airport. The northern islands catamarans leave from Grand Baie beach a short walk away, Pamplemousses and L’Aventure du Sucre are around twenty minutes by car, and Port Louis about half an hour. The south-west sights are a long day trip, best done with a driver.

Rooms: beachfront rooms look straight onto the bay and are worth asking for; suites and lofts add space, and the apartments give families a separate bedroom and two bathrooms. The plunge-pool suites suit couples on a special trip.

Who it suits: families who want a free kids club and included water sports, couples who like to stroll out to dinner in town, and anyone planning boat trips from Grand Baie.

Good to know: the bay is calm and shallow, ideal for children and beginners, though less dramatic than the open beaches. The all-inclusive package lets you swap dinners with the sister hotels Canonnier, Victoria and Shandrani, with supplements at the five-star ones. Golf is about ten minutes away at Mont Choisy.