Sugar Beach

Sugar Beach sits on the west coast of Mauritius, on a long stretch of beach in Wolmar, and affords some fairly impressive sunsets. The hotel is a 40-minute walk – or six-minute taxi ride – to the bustling restaurants and bars of Flic-en-Flac.

While every effort has gone into making this hotel slick and welcoming, its sheer size leaves it feeling a little like a resort. The historic plantation-style vibe of the Manor House, Governor's Lounge and villas is juxtaposed with modern facilities and quirky additions, such as giant Havaianas and selfie frames. Although the hotel has 258 rooms and suites, its public spaces are wide and open, meaning it only ever feels crowded at meal times. While the layout is perfect for children, the lack of privacy is less than ideal for couples in search of a romantic break.

The service can be a little hit and miss. It’s well intentioned but can sometimes be a touch overbearing. The lack of valet parking means the car park is a bit of a free-for-all, while check-in and other interactions with staff can feel a tad intense.

Spa Cinq Mondes is one area where the service and the treatments have been balanced to provide a relaxing experience, while the main pool is a definite highlight for families, with its specially designed children’s area and walk-in beach edge. The gym is among the biggest hotel gyms on the island and offers a variety of classes including yoga, Tae Bo and karate. Keen golfers can take advantage of complimentary access to Ile aux Cerfs Golf Club.

Rooms are simply designed in pale greens, creams and golds, with marble-effect bathrooms and large, cosy beds. Garden Manor House rooms are located on either the ground or first floor of the manor house and feature either a small balcony or terrace with views out over the gardens. The rooms are light, clean and reasonably spacious, and most are no more than a couple of minutes from the beach –  they’re not designed for lingering and have reasonably standard facilities.

Mon Plaisir is the main buffet restaurant, offering different themed dinners each night, such as Mauritian or a Caribbean-inspired 'rum runners'. The food on offer is designed to accommodate the large number of guests and it shows; there are plenty of dishes to choose from and it’s perfectly edible but certainly nothing to write home about. Breakfast is also served buffet-style to the same standard.

Citronella’s Café is a cosy Italian serving light meals and wood-fired pizzas – perfect for fussy children – and while the quality of the cuisine at Tides Restaurant, which serves up fresh seafood, is markedly better, it also comes with heavy supplements for those not on the all-inclusive package.   

Double rooms from MUR 5,140 (£110) in low season; and from MUR 5,840 (£125) in high. Breakfast and dinner included. Free Wi-Fi.

Some rooms and facilities have been adapted.

This is possibly one of the most family-friendly five-star hotels on the island. Children aged under 12 stay, eat and play for free while access to the kids’ club (for ages three to 11) and teens’ club (12-17 years) is complimentary. The main pool has been designed with children in mind and there are a variety of free activities and excursions on offer. Interconnecting rooms are widely available.