Île dʼAmbre Holidays from AU$2,999

The room was as advertised; a good size, comfortable and with a great sea view. The bathroom was a little tired. We had booked room only and paid for a continental breakfast on 2 days. The selection was adequate. Bar snacks, lunch and dinner menus had a good selection. Our room was steps from the beach. There were plenty of beach chairs and lounges and the area was well maintained daily. A great cafe and several restaurants are within walking distance. Free parking was available across the road. Every staff member we engaged with were professional and very friendly. We understand that the property will be undergoing a major renovation / rebuild in the near future which should upgrade the standard of the bathrooms and the guest amenities. We hope the one thing that doesn't change is the staff. Across all the services they were exceptional, going out of their way to make us feel welcome and enhance our stay.

We enjoyed our week-long stay at Seasense and would give it a 4.5 score if we could. This small 63-room adult-only boutique hotel is beautifully designed and the rooms are well appointed. Service is friendly and attentive, but can be slow at mealtimes. The exclusive beach is quite small and shallow but fine for a splash or a snorkel. The pretty à la carte restaurant is right by the sea, and there was no shortage of loungers, including with shade. The small pool is heated and lovely for a quick dip. The modest spa and sauna is a nice touch. Two issues however. First, noise from the road: the hotel is sandwiched on a small strip or land between the main coast road and the sea. More importantly, we found the food quite variable: occasionally excellent, always presented beautifully, but often bland and under-seasoned and cold. A shame given the reputation of Mauritian cuisine. Also, half the menu items (and nearly all the fish options) are subject to hefty supplements. The buffet night (combined with a free cocktail party for guests) was however enjoyable.

Overall, I had a great stay at The Residence Mauritius and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The rooms were comfortable and well maintained, the service was warm, and the beach is simply spectacular—without doubt one of the hotel's greatest assets. That said, there are areas where I believe the hotel could improve. The biggest disappointment was the food at the main buffet. The quality was average, and on some occasions even below average. For a five-star resort in Mauritius, this was surprising, especially considering that many other luxury hotels on the island offer exceptional dining experiences. Coming from the hospitality industry myself, I genuinely believe this property has enormous potential. The foundations are already there: a beautiful location, excellent beach, charming atmosphere, and a strong team. With greater focus on the food and beverage offering and continued attention to detail, I have no doubt it could become one of the standout luxury resorts in Mauritius. Overall, I was satisfied with my stay and would happily return. At this stage, however, I would personally rate the hotel between **4 and 4.5 stars**, rather than a full five stars.