This is the antidote to a traditional resort. But don't worry, it's still got everything on your tropical island wish list: soft white sand lapped by crystal-clear water, a dreamy pool and toes-in-the-sand beach bar, an open-air restaurant serving delicious local food, and a decadent salt-themed spa. Plus 59 funky, eco-friendly rooms inspired by the bold colours of the island – sunset pink, azure blue, lush green.
But at adult-only boutique hotel Salt, the resort model has been shaken up and modernised. It's geared towards 'culturally curious' travellers. There are plenty of spaces and opportunities for R&R, but guests are also encouraged to get out and about, to explore the island and meet Mauritian people (the in-room guidebook written by locals gives plenty of handy pointers). Yes, you can go kayaking and waterskiing, but you can also head out at dawn with Kishor, a local fisherman. Listen to Mauritian sega music live in the bar in the evening, then learn the dance moves the next day. A romantic table for two under the stars? No problem. But why not have supper (and homemade flavoured rum) in the home of a local Mauritian family? The idea is to connect, not to zone out. This is the future of travel: sustainable, local, transformational, but wonderfully indulgent too.
Highs
- It's right on the beach, and from some of the rooms you can reach out and almost touch the sand
- Sustainability is at its core. No single-use plastics (bottles of filtered water are supplied in-room and in the restaurant) and rooms have eco-friendly features
- The staff, the 'Salt Shakers', are wonderful – always happy and helpful
- The food is fabulous – fruit, leaves and vegetables come from 100% organic farms, and all diets are catered for (there's an extensive vegan menu)
- Authentic curated experiences and an innovate skill swap platform to introduce guests to local Mauritian people as well as the island
Lows
- The actual building, based on a Moroccan riad, was an existing hotel and does look a little dated
- Note that beds in twin rooms are very close together, and the in-room showers don't have doors - not ideal for friends
- Some of the Garden Rooms have views out over the car park
- Not for those after a fly-and-flop tropical island experience
- No kids under 16 allowed
Best time to go
Mauritius has a subtropical climate, which means year-round sunshine and warm temperatures. The best time to go is from May to December when it's generally dry and sunny. Cyclones can roll in from the ocean during January and February and it's hot and humid until April.
Our top tips
Do join in – you'll get so much out of meeting the locals. Some of the most common skill swap experiences include cookery, pottery or soap-making, but you can do pretty much anything. Staff are extremely well-connected so chances are they'll be able to find a local with your desired talent. And if you've got a skill of your own to share, do!
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Overall, I would rate the hotel highly. The food was lovely, the common areas well designed and the beach beautiful. However, the rooms described as ‘twin’ are not suitable for anyone not travelling as a couple. This was disappointing and quite stressful on check in. We were initially offered a double bed made up as ‘German’, ie with two single duvets. An alternative room was found with two single beds albeit they were positioned directly next to each other. These could not be separated due to the fixed bedside tables. However, the remaining problem with the ‘twin’ room is that the bathroom is entirely within the bedroom area behind a cut out screen. The shower actually faces into the room and has no door! We did not feel that this was uitable for friends or someone travelling with a relative.
I had just the best time at Salt. The ethos of the place is followed through practically & with love! As a solo traveller, I felt included. Laughed a lot. Saw much. Participated in loads! Highly recommend!
Overall, we really enjoyed our stay at Salt of Palmar and would recommend it to others. The first thing you notice when arriving at the hotel is the aesthetics with funky bold patterns and colours, which may not be to everyone's taste, but we loved the look. The large central pool / bar / restaurant area is very comfortable - a lovely place to relax in the daytime or evening. Our room, while a good size and quite comfortable, wasn't perfect. It was showing its age and seemed due for a refurb. "Garden view" really means a view onto the car park.
Food/drink service was inexplicably slow - always. Lots of staff around but generally at least a 10-minute wait to receive simple things like water or a beer. Apart from this, I can't fault the staff at all - they were all very friendly and helpful. Food - highly variable. Some meals were lovely, others not so good. The food is also very expensive, as is the wine. Breakfasts were almost always good, with a fantastic array of freshly-baked pastries (I would recommend including at least breakfasts in your booking). There aren't many other food choices in the area, so either you have to eat at the hotel, or drive to other restaurants further afield. We visited over Christmas when the accommodation price was significantly higher than normal. But I would say that if you are going at a normal time without inflated prices the hotel would be good value. One really fantastic thing the hotel does is provide lots of free activities, which can be found and booked via their app. Yoga, fitness classes, games, snorkelling (highly recommended!), glass-bottomed boat trips and more. Another offering is "meet and greet" nights once or twice a week, where guests are encouraged to socialise by the pool area, with free drinks and canapes - a great idea and highly enjoyable.
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape