Review: Shangri-La Le Touessrok Resort, Mauritius

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

I recently enjoyed a sunny holiday on the beautiful island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. You can read my trip reports here:

• Review: Austrian Airlines Boeing 777 Business Class from Vienna to Mauritius
• Review: One&Only Le Saint Géran Mauritius
• Review: The Oberoi Beach Resort Mauritius
• Review: Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita
• Review: Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius (today)
• Review: Eurowings Discover Airbus A330 Business Class from Mauritius to Frankfurt

Today: Review of Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius

• Location: Google maps
• Hotel website: Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius
• Tip: get complimentary VIP perks when booking via Classic Travel

Following a renovation that took a total of six months, the iconic Le Touessrok, Mauritius, re-opened its doors in 2015 as Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa. The gorgeous property fuses renowned hospitality with legendary history and Mauritian island chic. The resort’s design complements the surrounding landscape, delivering the perfect combination of style, sophistication, and legend. Choose from 200 rooms and suites and 3 private beach villas that overlook sparkling turquoise waters. With its secluded private island, extensive beach, and trendy restaurants and bars, Shangri-La Le Touessrok is one of the island’s finest luxury hotels. From water sports to land activities, the resort offers a range of experiences that can be custom designed to meet all interests.

Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius features in my top 10 list of the best resorts in Mauritius.

Have you ever stayed at Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment.

In this review (more info and photos below my YouTube video):

• Pros & things I like
• Cons & things to know
• My verdict
• Tips for future guests & save money
• Best time to visit
• How to get there
• Photos

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok Resort is one of the best 5-star resorts in Mauritius. A haven for all travelers, Mauritius is a sublime year-round holiday destination. Located in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa, Mauritius offers travelers sunshine, clear blue skies, sparkling seas and white sand beaches (during the dry season). Adventure seekers will revel in lush forests, nature and wildlife reserves, and historic grottos, while cultural enthusiasts can take in local performances and art such as rhythmic Sega dance and music. Active travelers enjoy water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding, wake boarding, sailing, snorkeling and diving, windsurfing, and water skiing. Land-bound activities entertain with hiking, biking and more. Romance is all around with illuminated centuries-old banyan trees and beautiful sunsets amid ocean horizons, and families can bond through activities and cultural experiences.

• Opened in November 2015, following an extensive and thoughtful renovation, Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius is a five-star resort nestled along the picture-perfect eastern coast of Mauritius in Trou d’Eau Douce Bay. The island’s glamorous east coast is less developed compared to the west coast and the best spot for any holiday in Mauritius. It features miles of powdery white beaches, azure lagoons, and 5-star resorts frequented by the rich and famous. The eastern shoreline is also the windiest coast, which means a welcome cooling onshore breeze in summer (November to April) and great conditions for windsurfers and sailors in winter (May to October). The resort is roughly 45 km (28 mi) from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport and 50 km (30 mi) from the island’s capital Port Louis. It takes about one hour to reach by car and 10 minutes by helicopter from the airport.

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius features a lovely Mediterranean-style architecture fused with Shangri-La’s signature Asian design elements, which creates a welcoming ambience from the moment guests step foot in the lobby. In deference to the island’s Sega dance traditions, an art installation adorns the wall of the lobby, depicting the swirling spectacle of the dresses during this locally revered dance. Custom designed furniture and contemporary wooden sculptures are highlighted by a natural and warm color palette. Subtle animal prints on the textiles and marble floor reflect the African influence and island location. Lamps are similar to art masterpieces made of cast glass, each different and unique. The lobby opens to a water garden where a woven sculpture – created by local artist Reza Supur – takes center stage. Inspired by weaver birds that resided on a date palm throughout the six-month renovation of the hotel in 2015, the sculpture honors Mauritian artisanship.

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius features 189 rooms and suites, making it one of the largest 5-star resorts in Mauritius. Housed in low-rise, whitewashed Mediterranean-style pavilions dotted around the beaches, all accommodations offer views of the sparkling Indian Ocean. During my holiday, I stayed in a second floor “Junior Suite Frangipani Club Ocean View”. The bedroom featured a kingsize bed with a sofa on the side, and opened to a small furnished balcony overlooking the turquoise waters. The ensuite bathroom was equipped with his and hers basins,  separate toilet and shower cabins, as well an egg-shaped standalone bathtub. The suite featured contemporary island-chic décor throughout and included thoughtfully designed motifs, including abstract representations of the contour of sand in sea as well as turtles which reflect the three hidden heroes in the resort’s Tortoise Alcove.

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius’ rooms come in 9 categories, ranging from ‘Coral Deluxe Room Ocean View’ to the ‘Two Bedroom Suite’. The main differentiators between the room types are the size of the room and the location. The lower-end room categories are located in the older Coral wing, which is a bit further away from the resort’s main facilities. The mid-category Hibiscus suites sit at the heart of the resort, near the main pool, in a somewhat secluded bay protected from the trade winds. The most coveted and expensive suites are located in the more private Frangipani Wing, which sits on a secluded islet reachable only via a wooden bridge from the main resort (providing a sense of exclusivity and privacy). Frangipani suites come with several additional complimentary benefits, such à la carte breakfasts at Republik Restaurant, daily happy hour, complimentary minibar and 24-hour butler service.

• At the far end of Shangri-La Le Touessrok’s main beach are three enormous beach villas, which represent the most exclusive address in Mauritius. Each villa features three bedrooms, ensuite bedrooms (equipped with designer Acqua di Parma toiletries), a full kitchen, an expansive outdoor deck with secluded infinity pool, an outdoor waterfall shower and direct access to a private stretch of white sand beach. Residents of the three beach villas enjoy 24-hour butler service, access to a personal chef, luxury airport transfers and a dedicated on-site villa team. Villa guests can also take advantage of the Dom Pérignon Butler experience, in which a dedicated butler is available to serve the prestige Champagne, anytime, anywhere. Guests are greeted by their Champagne Butler, who will then be on hand throughout the stay with decadent Dom Pérignon and gourmet canapés created to complement the delicate vintage.

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius offers guests a sophisticated culinary experience with inspirational gastronomy that is rooted in nature, sourcing from ethically and locally grown ingredients where possible. There are four restaurants and one bar on site:
  • Featuring a market-place atmosphere with a show kitchen, Le Bazar is the resort’s all-day dining restaurant (located one floor above the lobby). Breakfast features live cooking stations, a wellness juice bar using medicinal plants and fresh infusions, whilst dinner takes guests on a global culinary journey with a dim sum trolley, noodle bar, a rotisserie and a western area offering meat and seafood grills, a signature burger station and a kids’ corner.
  • Kushi is a sleek, Japanese restaurant with a dedicated on-site sushi master and yakinuku grills at each table. Open for dinner only, the restaurant’s eclectic menu includes teppanyaki, tempura, udon and soba noodles, shabu-shabu and signature dishes including Kobe and Wagyu beef. I highly recommend the traditional Omakase set menu, which offers the chef’s specials changing daily with the fresh fish arrivals (the best Asian meal I ever had in my life).
  • The resort’s signature restaurant Safran serves classical Indian cuisine with Mauritian influences in a contemporary and elegant setting complete with an open kitchen. Open for dinner only, the restaurant’s culinary experience is designed around a set menu offering a selection of different plates including breads, rice, curries and tandoori.
  • Next to Safran is Sega Bar. Named after the Mauritian dance, this Mauritian rum and tiki bar offers a collection of revered Mauritian rums and over ten house-infused rums. Sega Bar’s signature is the ShangriLa Cask, a unique molasses eight-year-old rum that is served in a mango wood smoked glass over a filtered ice ball and an orange twist.
  • Republik Beach Club & Grill is a contemporary lifestyle destination that features Mediterranean cuisine and barbecue grills, a chic bar where guests can revel in style against a soundtrack of live music and performances by local and international DJs, and a bohemian beach lounge. On selected evenings, this dining venue offers themed buffets on the beach.

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius is set among four pristine, white sandy beaches, which rank among the finest on the island. The main beach – in front of the Hibiscus wing  – is long and wide and features white soft sand lapped by the turquoise waters of the lagoon. Located in its own little bay protected from the trade winds, this beach – called Hibiscus Beach – connects to a second beach – called Barlen’s Beach – which is also the spot where the Republik Beach Club & Grill Restaurant is located. Both beaches feature plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas, and excellent service is provided along the entire shoreline. There’s also a water sport center on Hibiscus Beach, offering complimentary non-motorised water sports (kayak, SUP, paddle boat, Hobie Cat). A third, smaller beach is located at the heart of the Frangipani islet and a fourth beach is set on the resort’s southern shoreline, in front of the older Coral wing and near the jetty from where the shuttle boat to the private island departs (more on that below).

• Just off Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius’ pristine coastline lies Ilôt Mangénie, a private island which is open solely for guests of the resort, providing an excellent beach experience in the Indian ocean. The unique destination offers a day of perfect castaway tranquility on a remarkable island paradise with complimentary boat shuttles departing every 20 minutes. With 3.5 km (2 mi) of pristine beach, Ilôt Mangénie is home to a chic and idyllic beach club which offers dozens of ocean-front sun beds dotted along the shore. There’s also a restaurant – open for lunch only – which serves delicious seafood platters, wood-fired truffle pizzas, tailor-made cocktails and local specialty rums. For an intimate experience, guests can retreat to a more secluded area in a beach cabana, ideal for day relaxation or tailor-made dining experiences. Wellness seekers can also go on holistic spa journeys with on-island signature spa treatments. On-island butlers are on call to cater to guests’ desires.

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius features world-class leisure facilities. Guests can relax and rejuvenate in the tranquil waters of two swimming pools: a lagoon-style family pool overlooking the main beach next to the lobby and a beautiful adults-only pool on Frangipani islet. For those seeking a faster pace, the resort’s state-of-the-art fitness is located next to the spa (more on that below) and has facilities to suit every fitness preference. The gym’s experienced team can help each guest achieve their best through personal training and stretching sessions and specialized programs for swimming, aquatic exercise, tennis and golf. The resort also offers bocce ball, football, volleyball, badminton, archery, yoga, stretching, a jogging track and aquatic fitness lessons, nature trails and cycling. Players of all levels can enjoy four artificial grass tennis courts with flood lights. Guests can explore the beauty of the coast through an e-cycling ride.

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius invites its guests to achieve balance and serenity at CHI, The Spa, which draws inspiration from the legendary Shangri-La, a place of personal peace, enchantment and wellbeing. Spa treatments are based on natural healing methods found in traditional practices shared by many Asian cultures. Set in the heart of the resort and surrounded by luscious verdant tropical vegetation, the spa features eight treatment rooms, each with their own design elements inspired by local Mauritian culture. A wide selection of treatments is on offer. In partnership with the French luxury-skin-care company, Biologique Recherche, guests can enjoy personalised aesthetic care that combines a clinical approach to hyper-customised treatments with a 3-stage methodology for guaranteed immediate and long-lasting results.

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok Mauritius’ guests have the opportunity to play on two spectacular golf courses:
  • The first lies on the private island of Île aux Cerfs, separated from the mainland by a shimmering turquoise lagoon, and features a stunning 18-hole course designed by legendary professional golfer Bernhard Langer. The course covers 38 hectares with 18 holes that sweep up and down the beautiful landscape. The course is complemented by the island’s natural topography and includes volcanic outcrops, lakes, gullies, and rich, lush vegetation, all framed by spectacular ocean views.
  • The second golf course, Anahita Golf Club, is set on a former sugar plantation and offers a magical experience that makes the most of its incredible tropical setting with two distinctive nine-hole loops backed by lush mountains and fringed by a crystal-clear lagoon. The course also features a fully serviced club house and Pro Shop, as well as a number of delicious Mediterranean offerings at its very own restaurant.

• Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius is managed by Shangri-La Hotel & Resorts, one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands. Through nature-inspired design, delightful culinary & cultural experiences, and its impeccable service, the brand aims to offers its guests a Shangri-La moment. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Shangri-La Group has grown from a single hotel business to a global portfolio comprising real estate and investment properties, wellness and lifestyle facilities. Today, the Group owns, operates and manages 100+ hotels under four brands: Shangri-La, Kerry Hotels, JEN, and Traders. The company is part of the Kuok Group, one of Asia’s most dynamic multinational conglomerates and a leader in properties, logistics, agribusiness, maritime and hospitality.

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

• Although Shangri-La Le Touessrok is one of Mauritius’ older resorts, the property is immaculately maintained and the resort also doesn’t show its age (the hotel was completely renovated in 2015 when Shangri-La took over management). But since the resort was built four decades ago in a time were regular hotel rooms and suites where still the norm, the accommodations are not as impressive as the pool villas which are offered at some of the island’s newer five star hotels. The exception to the rule of course are the resort’s exceptional 3-bedroom villas. IMHO, you shouldn’t stay at Shangri-La Le Touessrok for the room product (which is still excellent though and absolutely feels 5-star) but rather for the fabulous location (which – together with One&Only Le Saint Géran – ranks among the best on the island), the stunning white-sand beaches, the world-class resort facilities (including a wonderful adults-only area) and the excellent restaurants.

• Some of the rooms can only be reached by stairs (and not elevators) which might be challenging for guests that have difficulties with walking. That said, the resort has plenty of rooms on the ground floor which are wheelchair accessible, so make sure the book the right room type or to inform the property’s reservation about any mobility issues.

• Sangri-La Le Touessrok’s best suites are located on a private islet – called Frangipane islet. But while this used to be a true islet (separated from the main resort area by narrow canal) that’s no longer the case as sand has replaced the canal. The same is true for the private island Ilôt Mangénie, which is separated from the popular Ile Aux Cerfs by a narrow, easily forded and sometimes silted channel (so day tourists on Ile Aux Cerfs can and do cross the channel to the private island although you will only encounter few of them).

MY VERDICT

• Location: 9/10
• Design: 8/10
• Pool: 9/10
• Rooms: 8/10
• Food: 9/10
• Breakfast: 8/10
• Spa: 8/10
• Service: 9/10
• Value for money: 9/10
• Overall experience: very good 8,6/10

TIPS FOR FUTURE GUESTS & SAVE MONEY

• Save money: get complimentary VIP perks at Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius when booking via Virtuoso (e.g. room upgrade, daily breakfast, early check-in, late check-out, and a complimentary 50 minute massage).

• Save money: read here my tips for getting the best deal at a luxury hotel like Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius (and/or receive many free perks).

• Read my tips for preparing your trip in time.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

During the Mauritian summer months (November to April) the days are long, hot and humid. This is also cyclone season with January to March being the wettest months – so if you do go on a holiday to Mauritius at that time you should be prepared for some heavy rain.  Since it never really gets cold on the island in winter (May to October) the average temperature simply drops from sticky to balmy.  So in general, the best time to visit Mauritius for cooler, drier weather is from May to December. That said, if you’re planning to stay on the east coast, I recommend avoiding the months of July and August as this is when the wind is at its strongest on this side of the island.

HOW TO GET THERE

The resort  is located a 60-minute drive from the airport, and you can book a private transfer through the hotel, or prebook a much cheaper taxi. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SRU) is served by many airlines (click here for a continuously updated list of airlines that offer direct flights to Mauritius).

PHOTOS

Below is a selection of my photos of Shangri-La Le Touessrok, Mauritius. To view more photos (including breakfast and dinner), click here.

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