One of the island’s smallest beach hotels, La Maison d'Été offers 16 sea-view rooms set in two pretty thatched buildings reminiscent of French colonial plantation houses. There are two pools, a seafront terrace of sun-beds, steps down to a strip of white-sand beach, bikes to borrow, snorkelling around the reef. For lunch or dinner, sample simple but delicious island-cuisine dishes at a candlelit table in the restaurant – popular with locals as well as guests. Need anything? Just ask. The white-clad staff offer the warmest of Mauritian welcomes.
Highs
- An Indian Ocean view from every room, and all have generous, furnished balconies or terraces
- The food – fishy, spicy and authentic Mauritian dishes, freshly prepared, served with decent wines and, by local standards, not expensive
- A communal living space with pool table, dart boards, sofas, books and an indoor bar provides an escape from the heat (or occasionally the rain)
- In an island where larger resorts are the norm, we were thrilled to find such an intimate little boutique hotel: perfect i-escape material!
Lows
- The east coast is windier than the west, although those cooling breezes can be welcome on hot summer days
- The beach is quite rocky and almost disappears at high tide
- The service can be a little scatty at times, but always friendly and well-meaning
- Internet connection can be patchy
- Most bookings require full prepayment (refunded if you cancel in good time)
Best time to go
Our top tips
- Boutique Hotel
- 16 rooms
- Restaurant and bar (open daily)
- All ages accepted
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
- Laundry service
Rooms
The hotel’s 16 rooms are arranged on two floors in two separate buildings and come in three sizes: Deluxe, Superior or Premium, plus there’s an Exclusive Room (with a ship-like deck on stilts which seems to hang right over the beach).
All feature the same clean, white décor, walls decked with local art and crafts (a giant driftwood fish, basket-ware, boaty monochrome photography), white sofas or spindly bucket chairs, slate-lined shower rooms (the Premium and Exclusive also have a bath tub) and attention-grabbing sea views.
All beds are kingsize (which convert to twins) and all rooms feature minibars, tea- and coffee-making, bedside reading lights, air-conditioning and a TV (with limited channels). The Deluxe rooms are quite small but good value and all have outside space and views of the pool and the sea. A nice touch is the self-contained changing room and shower intended for early check-ins or late check-outs.
Features include:
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Tables spill onto a terrace of coconut palms from a lofty timber dining pavilion where the main restaurant is sited (open for breakfast, lunch and dinner). The dinner menu is short and simple, and big on fresh seafood, local ingredients and Mauritian flavours: start with wild prawn tempura fritters, smoked marlin and palm heart salad, or a tasty home-made fish soup; follow with a lamb masala, a fillet of Dorado fish cooked in a banana leaf, Mauritian-style octopus stew or a vegetarian curry (the menu is not big on veggie dishes, but just ask).
For lunch, take a seat under casuarina trees on a seafront deck right on the beach (dinner served here only when weather permits). The beach restaurant also hosts a weekly barbecue (usually Fridays).
Breakfast - served at the beach restaurant on some days - includes fresh fruit, bread, pastries and jams, yoghurt, juices, cereals, and eggs cooked to order. On Sundays, a lavish buffet lunch of Indian and Mauritian dishes is one of the many reasons the restaurant is popular with non-residents and locals. In a walled courtyard by the restaurant, an open Lounge Bar serves cocktails and cold drinks, and also has a tapas-style bar menu.
There are other restaurants within a few minutes' drive, including in Poste de Flacq to the south, if you want a change of scene.
Features include:
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Room service
Activities
- Hang out by the pool, by the beach, on your terrace or verandah…most guests seem happy to stay put
- Borrow snorkelling gear and explore the lagoon and its reef (beware of strong currents); there is also scuba diving nearby
- Explore the east coast: the island Hindu temple, Sagar Shiv Mandir; beautiful white beaches at Belle Mare and Poste Lafayette (only 3 kms away); the Sunday market at Flacq - the largest open-air market on the island (a 20-minute drive or bus ride away)
- The hotel is on the edge of the island’s Bras d’Eau National Park – a leafy forest of eucalyptus, teak, mahogany, casuarina and ebony trees, alongside mango orchards and natural pools – a great spot for hikes, cycle rides and picnics (bikes are available for guests’ use)
- Take a boat trip to Ile aux Bernache - bring a picnic and snorkelling gear
- For easy day trips, head north to Port Louis (the island’s capital), the Pamplemousses Botanic Gardens, or the fashionable beach and village at Grand Baie
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
Kids
The chilled vibe suggests couples only, and the uneven steps that lead from one terrace to another (or down to the beach) are not ideal for young children, but families are welcome. There are two pools to try out, and there is a baby-sitting service available by arrangement.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years)
Family friendly accommodation:
One Premium room can be paired with a Deluxe next door (17) to create a self-contained suite ideal for families. Sofas in the larger rooms can be converted into extra beds, and even in the smaller Deluxes there is room to squeeze in a cot.
Kids Activities on site:
- Choice of swimming pools
- Beach
- Snorkelling
Distances:
- Airport: 1 hour
- Hospital: 15 minutes
- Shops: 15 minutes
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
La Maison d’Été is set on the north-east coast of Mauritius, close to Poste Lafayette and the villages of the Flacq District.
By Air:
Fly into Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport,
just over an hour away by car.
From the Airport:
Airport transfers are available, or you could hire a car - see our rental recommendations.
Getting Around:
There is a local bus stop just outside the hotel (ask at reception for a timetable), or free bikes are available to borrow (you are asked to stay within 15km of the hotel).
More details will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport 64.0 km MRU
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 15.0 km
- Restaurant 8.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests