Top 10 most luxurious hotels in Mauritius

Set on a sandy cove in Grand Baie, this five-star hotel is a refined little gem. The Royal Palm Beachcomber is all about elegance with its thatched roofs and relaxation by the beach or at the spa. It gets its name from the 500 palm trees that surround its grey marble buildings with gold and walnut wood.

A firm favourite with celebrities, the hotel has welcomed former presidents, top football players and actors from all over the world to its presidential suite. An art gallery features up-and-coming contemporary Mauritian artists such as Gael Froget, and the comic black-and-white photographs of Eric Cuvillier.

The 69 spacious suites are set against a backdrop of tropical oranges, greens and blues. All rooms feature a bowl-shaped bathtub with separate shower, floor-to-ceiling sliding windows, Arabic-style Mashrabiya motif screen and complimentary minibar.

One&Only St Géran is an icon of its kind, set on a private peninsula and offering legendary service. The hotel is named after the ship Le Saint Géran, which sank off the coast, giving rise to the legend of Paul and Virginia, a story similar to Romeo and Juliet.

Built in 1975, it is the island's first luxury resort. Its colonial-style architecture blends with understated contemporary classics in warm white marble, teak and artwork reflecting the tropical environment. The decor is inspired by old sugar cane factories and plantation houses.

Along the peninsula, the 142 spacious rooms and suites overlook the ocean or the creek. The contemporary interiors are elegant and comfortable, with wood-effect floors, sofas and American oak furniture. All suites include butler service and a private cabana on the beach or by the pool.

Owned by a Mauritian family for five generations, this award-winning hotel is the only all-villa hotel on the island. Set in lush tropical gardens, the hotel is one of the most private on the island, with Tamarin Mountain as its backdrop. The hotel is approximately 30 minutes' walk from the beach.

The architecture of the Maradiva reflects the island's mixed heritage. With cathedral ceilings and yellow and ochre walls, the hotel is luxurious without being showy. Its spacious Ayurvedic spa resembles a temple, with Indian artefacts and cascading pools shaded by hibiscus.

The 65 elegant villas and swimming pool are discreetly hidden from view. The garden villas offer the best views of Tamarin Mountain, framed by exotic trees. Bedrooms feature new rich wood floors, soft dark orange furnishings and original artwork.

With three staff per villa, personal service is impeccable. Guests spend most of their time on the large veranda with plunge pool and sun loungers.

This five-star hotel on the Morne Peninsula offers tailor-made luxury for couples and kitesurfers. Set against the backdrop of the mountains, it offers Balinese-style rooms, an authentic Thai restaurant and an excellent spa.

LUX* Le Morne is a place of relaxation and romance. There are stunning sea views from the lobby and five sculpted pools winding through the garden as well as a charming LUX* Me spa. Deep sofas, a hanging bed and a swing can be found in the tropical gardens.

With wooden floors, cathedral ceilings in rattan with fans, marble bathrooms and large balconies, the rooms are simple, elegant and comfortable.

The emphasis is on extraordinary, tailor-made experiences such as personalised gourmet picnic baskets, master classes with local chefs and kitesurfing lessons.

In this sumptuous plantation house, the JW Marriott Mauritius Resort opts for an elegant style with butler service and an excellent choice of restaurants. Situated on one of the most magnificent stretches of beach in the south-west of Mauritius, the hotel faces the giant monolith Le Morne Brabant.

Made from basalt and wood, and painted taupe, the Victorian colonnades and fabric loungers by the large central pool invoke a past glamour, while the spa is boldly contemporary.

172 rooms face the sea and reflect understated elegance with modern artefacts. The sumptuous large oceanfront suites have soaring ceilings, spacious terraces, four-poster beds and couples' spa beds in the bathroom.

The friendly staff make you feel at home here. The hotel has a private cinema next to the large library. The spa offers exquisite experiences such as a ylang ylang massage for two in a hut by the beach, with a detox breakfast.

The Touessrok by Shangri-La offers Asian-style elegance with a Mauritian twist in a divine tropical setting. Set on a promontory on the east coast near Trou D'Eau Douce, the hotel boasts five white beaches. Islet Mangénie, a private island retreat exclusive to guests, and Ile aux Cerfs are both a 10-minute boat ride away.

Touessrok features palm-lined pathways through tropical gardens to Mediterranean-style villas.

The exceptional service is one of the friendliest on the island: staff on segways deliver fruit kebabs, sorbets and drinks to the beach; a butler is available 24 hours a day in the villas.

The 203 refurbished oceanfront rooms and suites feature raw tropical mango wood, marble floors and bespoke furniture and artwork. The most coveted suites are located on the more private Frangipani Wing, which is accessed via a wooden bridge from the hotel's central lobby.

This spacious yet intimate hideaway is named after Prince Maurice Van Nassau, a pioneer of the Indian Ocean spice trade. The hotel's rich, warm character permeates its colonial architecture and its regionally spiced cuisine.

Sheltered on the north-east coast, part of the hotel stands in the mangroves overlooking mountains and a few secluded white-sand beaches. The infinity pool is one of the most beautiful on the island, with cabanas large enough for two people.

Guest comfort is a priority, and with almost two staff per guest, care is guaranteed. The discreet and charming staff go the extra mile to ensure a special experience.

This quiet, discreet and secluded hotel exudes luxury, with 89 suites and villas set in 60 hectares of tropical greenery. The Princely Villa is one of the most private on the island, with its own beach, two swimming pools, three terraces and a 24-hour butler. A beautiful lantern-lit walk through the mangroves allows you to admire a perfect sunset over the mountains.

The hotel, set on a secluded lagoon on the east coast, offers villas with ultra-private and elegant pools, waterside restaurants and a spa on stilts in the mangroves. The Four Seasons service also extends to an exclusive beach on Île aux Cerfs.

The most glamorous hotel on the coast is set in tropical gardens and offers a contemporary Mauritian-style interior and exterior décor with water pavilions, wooden floors and beautiful terraces.

Each guest receives a bicycle, giving the complex a village feel. Grass-lined cycle paths mingle with the gardens. The icing on the cake: the hotel has three private beaches with exceptional service and four swimming pools, including a multi-level infinity pool.

The emphasis is on high-end experiences such as boxing lessons, snorkelling with a WiseOceans guide, free unlimited green fees on two championship golf courses, private boat trips to see the monkeys near Grand Riviere in the south east.

Inspired by 19th-century Irish naturalist Charles Telfair, this five-star colonial-style resort is located on the Bel Ombre sugar estate. It offers both privacy and open green spaces.

It is one of the few colonial-style hotels on the island, boasting a picturesque 'French village' style with old-fashioned signage. This luxury hotel blends plantation architecture with soothing contemporary lines and nature-inspired colours.

The rooms and suites, designed in a colonial style facing the sea, are generous in size and feature bay windows, spacious bathrooms and balconies, and contemporary interiors with a decorative piece inspired by nature by Christian Lacroix.

A 24-hour butler service is available in every room. Two swimming pools, a PADI diving centre and an 18-hole championship golf course complete the hotel's facilities. Finally, the spa, housed in a total wellness pavilion, is perfect for balancing the chakras. Activities include sunset yoga and 'swimming in the forest', walking safaris, quad biking and mountain biking in the Heritage Nature Reserve, and electric bike excursions.

Nestled in flower-filled tropical gardens, the Lakaz Chamarel is a haven for a complete retreat in the heart of nature. Situated at an altitude of 400m in the green hills, a 10-minute walk from the village of Chamarel in the south-west, the hotel is at the gateway to the Black River Gorge.

The atmosphere is friendly and bohemian, with statues of divinities in the beautiful garden. A palm roof, leather seating and reclaimed granite combine with original artwork and antique family furniture in the main house.

The ecolodges and suites are nestled discreetly among mango, frangipani and hibiscus trees, and guests can explore the grounds with the gardeners. The hotel is like a guest house, but with first-class service.