Sunrise Attitude

Belle Mare is the finest beach on the island — and I’ll say that even though I’m a northerner. White sand for kilometres, a turquoise lagoon, and on the east coast the sun rises straight ahead of you. Sunrise Attitude enjoys all of it at a rate nothing like the palaces 500 metres down the road.

The hotel leans fully into being Mauritian: local cooking, local materials, a team from the village. Simple, clean, warm. Don’t expect a marble lobby — that’s not the point.

I recommend it for a first trip to Mauritius, or for a couple who would rather spend their budget on excursions than on carpet. It’s an hour’s drive from the north — I can arrange the transfer or a car.