5 nights at The St. Regis Mauritius Resort For $0

After flying First-Class on Emirates from Houston to Mauritius via Dubai, I knew I was in for a memorable experience that will last forever. You can read more about my Emirates First-Class Experience here.


Location:
Set on the Indian Ocean, the St. Regis Mauritius is certainly “the best address in Mauritius”. With the historical UNESCO World Heritage site of Le Morne mountain in the backdrop, this 5-star luxury hotel is at the South West of the island. Surrounded by the calm, turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, this hotel is a perfect destination for honeymooners, weddings / wedding anniversary, or whether you’re just traveling solo like I did.

UNESCO World Heritage Site. Le Morne Mountain

Booking:
Since I pretty much live in hotels about half of the year, I had some Marriott Bonvoy points to put to good use. I booked a Junior Suite room for 5-nights which cost 270,000 points. By the way, all Marriott members gets the 5^th night free on every award stay at any of their properties. Until August 2019 when Marriott started the Peak / Off Peak rates, this booking would have cost 240,000 points. I had booked a Junior Suite with the intention of using some of my Suite Night Awards (SNAs) to upgrade to a Beachfront Grand Suite which cost approximately $2,000 per night (more on that later).

Although the hotel did not approve my SNAs (ouch) due to the hotel being sold out, and my 5 SNAs were deposited back into my account. Thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status, the hotel had upgraded me (complimentary) to a Manor House Spa Suite 24 hours before arrival. A 1571sqft (146sqm) 1 Bedroom Executive Spa Suite with 1 King Bed and a sofa bed. 

It would have cost a whopping $7,000 for this 5-nights stay. Thanks to travel hacking. It cost me $0

Check in at the hotel:
I used the hotel shuttle service which cost $130 roundtrip. This is the comfort option, which is actually the cheapest option. Using the hotel shuttle service means less headache, low risk dealing with cabs at the airport, and most importantly, I get to earn 10 base points per dollar spent, additional 7.5 points with my Titanium elite status, and on top of that, another 6 points by using my Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card. So, literally I was earning 23.5 points per dollar spent at the hotel.

After a little over an hour drive from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MUR) to the hotel, I was personally welcomed by Monica and Dimitrios (the hotel Manager). Checking in at the Pavilion was similar to that of when you go to a jewelry store like Cartier for example, and you were served a glass of champagne as you discuss what type of jewelry you’re shopping for.
I was seated on a couch, and a welcome drink arrived within a twinkle of an eye while the check in process was going on. The fruity welcome drink was so refreshing that I went back to the pavilion 3 days later to request for another glass. In no time, I was holding the key to my Suite 103. I began to experience that Mauritian kindness when Monica personally walked me to my room, while my bags were being handled by the friendly valet staff.
I was wowed the moment I stepped into the room.

I was seated on this couch admiring the Oceanview during the check in process



The welcome pavilion (check in counters)



Welcome message displayed on the TV



Full view of the room



The stylish and classy canopy beds in the Manor House Spa Suite



Welcome note from the butler



Exterior view of the Manor House

The marble bathroom was so huge that the hotel was able to fit in 2 massage beds, 1 oversized egg-shape bathtub, 1 ridiculously oversized walk in shower that can even accommodate at least six people at the same time, and 3 sinks. On arrival, the bathroom was stocked with some Luxurious Laboratoire Reméde amenities and was later replenished daily with some other Mauritian made amenities. The bathroom also leads to a huge walk-in closet, which has a table and a chair to get some work done. The closet can as well be used as a dressing room.

The egg-shape bathtub in the bathroom



I was able to put the massage beds to a good use



2 of the 3 sinks in the bathroom






The marble walk-in shower is spacious enough for at least 6 people

Having travelled for about 22 hours from the US, even though I had a few hours layover in Dubai. I arrived at the hotel all beaten up, and it took me at least 2 nights before my body got adjusted to the Mauritian timezone. Funny I was sleeping in the afternoon, and wide awake all night. 

Staying at the Manor House during peak season means that there are likely to be several weddings going on at the hotel (that was the case when I arrived). There were notes left in each room informing the guests of the events going on at the hotel and at what time to what time. It is expected that there would be DJs playing music up until a certain time at night. But if this is something you wouldn’t want during your stay here, I’ll recommend getting a Beachfront Grand Suite or a St. Regis Suite, or even a Beachfront / Oceanview Junior Suite (depending on your preference) which is farther away from the main pool / restaurants area. 

Having a Manor House Suite means you’re in the center of it all. A double size daybed and a couch at the balcony, Oceanview, the main pool, all 5 restaurants and the bar, the water sports, a short walk to the beach, and even sunset view. And (maybe) even this weird picture below:

The pool and the Oceanview from the balcony



The balcony is big enough to feature daybed, couch, chairs and table.



You’ll see a phone in the toilet at major luxury hotels. These are for emergency

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Food and Drinks:
Anyone staying at a 5-star luxury hotel like St. Regis already knows that the food and drinks doesn’t come cheap. Again, this hotel has 5 restaurants (The BoatHouse Bar & Grill, Le Manoir, Floating Market, Atsuko, and Simply India).

The first day I had breakfast at the Boathouse, I was blown away at the quality of food. The service generally was out of this world. The food was so good that I was always looking forward to breakfast every morning during my stay at the hotel.
The breakfast here is a la carte, and you simply can order anything on the menu. Including champagne at the bar.

Thanks to my server Sajeet who made me looking forward to breakfast every morning. He was so friendly and attentive to detail. In no time, he already knew what I like and don’t like, where I like to sit, what I love to drink, etc. 

Breakfast with the breathtaking view of the Indian ocean

The next day, Sajeet had a day off, and the other lady that attended to me messed my egg-benedict up. And as a result of that, for the remaining days of my stay at the hotel i was like ‘if it’s not Sajeet, then I’m not eating’.
The Boathouse is situated a few steps away from the beach. You can enjoy a tasteful breakfast under the palm trees with the beautiful and peaceful view of the Indian ocean.

Breakfast at this hotel cost an average $60 per person. Again, thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite status. Marriott Platinum elites and above gets complimentary breakfast. 

TIPS ON SAVING MONEY:
Since breakfast is available until 11am, you can eat a very heavy breakfast which can last you all through the day, save money on lunch, and you’re only spending money on dinner. Assuming you get free breakfast.

Another spontaneous breakfast under the palm trees in front of the ocean. All complimentary



Sajeet realized I enjoyed the champagne, and he invited me to champagne saber at sunset. All complimentary



With breakfast as good as this, you’ll definitely have a lot on your plate. Just like I did

There are 2 options for breakfast, either at The Boathouse or Le Manoir. While Le Manoir offers breakfast buffet, I found the food at this restaurant not hygienically safe as there were birds flying around inside the restaurant, and they sometimes perch on the food and also eating them. Unfortunately, this is not a good thing for the hotel and the guests. I was discouraged, so I left and didn’t try the food at this restaurant during my 6 days stay.

Although my plan was to try out all 5 restaurants during my 5 nights stay, unfortunately I wasn’t able to check out Simply India. Atsuko and Floating Market serves both Japanese and Southeast Asian cuisine respectively. Although Atsuko can be quiet and empty, but Floating market is more of date night kind of restaurants. Both hotels enforces dress code, and reservations are required. Your butler can help out with dinner reservation. Dinner cost an average of $50 per person. The Boathouse Bar & Grill also serves both lunch and dinner by the way.

Dinner at Atsuko restaurant. Grilled Salmon which was really good



Dinner at Floating Market. A very tasty Seafood Curry

Beachlife:
Whenever the island of Mauritius is mentioned, some of the things that comes to one’s mind are the beach, turquoise water, Indian ocean, etc. The St. Regis Mauritius Resort has one of the best beachlife on the island. It is no doubt the beach would make a perfect destination wedding. Ask anyone that has been there. 

Every night at sunsets, you’ll see people taking their seats on the bean bags to watch the sunset. At sunset, you can become a certified Champagne Saber, or just sit back and relax as you enjoy the Champagne Sabering (a technique for using saber (sword) to open a champagne) by the beach.

Most of the people that goes to Mauritius are either on honeymoon, or anniversary, while some are even there to get married. And if you happen to go there by yourself, just like I did, you definitely will still have all the fun that you can have in Mauritius. People here are really nice, and you can make friends easily, as you probably won’t be the only one at the hotel that travelled solo.

The peaceful and calm turquoise water of the Indian Ocean at Sunrise



Need a little more romantic touch? You can have breakfast, or lunch, or dinner for 2 on the jetty



Mauritian paradise



At sunset, paying attention to details as I perform my first champagne sabering



You’re not only declared a saber, you also get a certificate as a proof



When the sky touches the ocean. Movie quality sunsets

You’ll find plenty of cabanas around the beach and at the pool. There are also plenty of day chairs outside of each beachfront room right on the beach.

Hotel Amenities:
The hotel offers free watersports activities with lots of great options like snorkeling, kayaking, standup paddle, glass bottom boat tour, etc. While most of those activities are free, there are some of them that requires you to have taken some lessons before you can perform them. One example is the kitesurfing. 

You can take a glass bottom boat ride, or even go snorkeling



The hotel offers free water sports activities. Unfortunately, my snorkeling didn’t go well 🙂






Scared of the ocean or you just can’t swim? You can sit back, relax, and just enjoy the boat ride

Trying to spend some time away from the sun and the beach? You can spend some quiet time in the hotel Library. The hotel also has a Drawing Room where you can enjoy a couple of games. There is also a cinema at the hotel where you can enjoy some classic movies. The St. Regis Resort is a family friendly hotel, and also has a Kids Club where your little ones can spend some quality time with other kids at the club. As a guest at the hotel, you are entitled to a complementary photoshoot on the house. Although I was not informed at check in, I found this out by myself. While I would usually check out the spa of any hotels that I’m staying at, during my stay at this hotel I did not. But, since I had 2 massage beds in my bathroom, I instead got a massage in my suite. And it was one of the best massages I’ve ever gotten. The massage was so relaxing that I fell asleep during the massage. The hotel also has a spa (Iridium Spa) which offers rejuvenating massages, there is also an hair salon at the spa.

The Library



It’s called Drawing Room, but it’s more of a Game Room



The Hotel Cinema. Get your popcorn, recline the seat, stretch your legs, and enjoy some classic movies

The hotel also has a state-of-the-art fitness club with enough treadmills, cardio equipment, and free weights. You can also enjoy a game of tennis at the hotel’s tennis court. NOTE: while the hotel will give you their tennis racket, you will be required to purchase the tennis balls from the hotel. Thank goodness I went with my personal racket and balls.

The Hotel Staff:
The staff at this hotel is the friendliest hotel staff I’ve ever come across. From Rajeev, Mary Jane (my butler), again Sajeet (my server at BoatHouse), Monica, Virginie, Dimitrios (the hotel manager), Sharmila from housekeeping, etc. Each and every staff at the hotel gives you eye contact and greet you, some will even try to make a conversation, or call you by your name if they know it. Very friendly and caring people.

Internet Connectivity:
As an engineer in the IT industry and a frequent business traveler, one of the things we look forward to in a hotel is a WiFi speed fast enough to get some work done.
This hotel did not disappoint in this regard. As a matter of fact, this hotel did a great job in making sure that their guests stay connected even while on the beach.

While you may not notice this, but as someone who works in the industry, we’re always on the lookout for stuff like this. The hotel has a couple of industrial Wireless Access Points (WAPs) mounted on some of the palm trees. This ensures guests are not disconnected. This kind of makes sense since majority of the guests on the island are from outside of the country and rely on the internet for communication with their loved ones. Kudos to the hotel for providing an extraordinary internet speed.

88Mbps Upload speed is a very very good wifi speed. It sure did pass our WiFi test excellently

In Conclusion:
As I round off my review, there are 2 additional acts of kindness from St. Regis Mauritius that made this my stay a memorable one. On the day of departure, I had an 11pm flight out of Mauritius. This hotel was kind and generous enough to have given me an 8pm check out.

And on top of that, I was transported in a sleek Mercedes Benz E Class back to the airport. As I mentioned earlier, I booked a roundtrip airport transfer with the hotel, but the Mercedes was a higher class than what I booked. Probably twice the price of what I paid for, at least.

Bottomline:
The service level at this hotel was very good. Although there are room for improvement. Seeing birds perching on and biting some of the food in Le Manoir restaurant is a thing of concern. The flies’ issue at the BoatHouse restaurant is another thing also. Although this is normal since it’s outdoor, but I believe it can be managed. 

Another room for improvement:
No cold water in the mini bar refrigerator. And the complimentary bottled water in the room is too big to fit in the fridge. Since Mauritius weather can get really hot, i recommend providing some small bottled water in the fridge to accommodate those that would rather not bother the butler every minute requesting for a bucket of ice to be delivered to their rooms.

Value for money? Absolutely! Although I paid $0 for this $7,000 worth hotel stay, but I must say that you get value for your money. The hotel is perfectly located. The service is excellent, great food and drinks by the ocean, free activities, spacious rooms, very comfy beds. Everything is just within reach. 

You’ll think that 6-days is too much to be isolated on an island. Time went by so fast and I didn’t want to leave. I asked myself where did the time go again? But truth be told, I was wowed by this hotel, and I cannot wait to be back again. Very soon 🙂

Have you been to this hotel, or Mauritius before? Or maybe you’re planning to go there soon, I’d love to read / reply your comments below.