Blue Bay and Mahébourg: a protected lagoon on the airport's doorstep

Opened in 2019 under the Anantara name, IKO has been run by Constance since February 2026. At Le Chaland, on the edge of Blue Bay marine park, it has 164 rooms and 8 two- to four-bedroom villas with private pools, an infinity pool, a 25-metre lap pool and a spa.

The white-sand beach keeps a local feel, and the kids' club is free. Recent reviews praise high-quality renovated rooms, the service, breakfast and dinner. The airport is only five kilometres away, handy after a long flight.

Preskil sits on a private peninsula at Pointe Jérôme, facing Île aux Aigrettes and Lion Mountain, on one of the island's biggest lagoons. Its 214 rooms look onto a beach that's longer and wider than most, with slightly coarse sand and few passers-by.

Sailing, water-skiing, paddleboarding, windsurfing and snorkelling are included, and there's an on-site dive centre. The Tikoulou clubs take children from three months. Four restaurants, including Konviv for Creole food, and the Banyan Spa round it off. Reviews praise the beach, the lagoon and the roomy bedrooms.

On the coast road between Blue Bay and Pointe d'Esny, right opposite the reef, this guesthouse has been welcoming travellers since 2010. The marine park is a five-minute walk away, and the house lends masks and snorkels so you can explore the lagoon first thing.

Reviews, very numerous on other platforms, talk about the snorkelling spot, breakfast, the staff and sunrises over the lagoon. Half board and full board are available, with Mauritian, Chinese or European dishes, and boat trips can be arranged.

Opened in 1990 and renovated in 2012, this small inn in central Mahébourg has about ten rooms, from budget singles to family rooms. The waterfront, facing Lion Mountain, is four minutes away on foot, as is the market, at its busiest on Mondays.

Reviews mostly mention how clean it is, the location and a very helpful owner who's happy to give tips. Breakfast was included at our last check, and a paid airport shuttle saves you a taxi before an early flight.

At the end of a private lane in Beau Vallon, an old wooden colonial house holds a restaurant known for its Mauritian cooking and its seven-curry meal. Guests sleep in wooden cottages scattered around a leafy garden, with a small pool and hammocks.

Reviews praise dinner and breakfast, the staff, cleanliness and the quiet, two kilometres from the airport: handy for a first or last night. Mahébourg is under two kilometres away and Blue Bay beach about 2.5 km.

At Mon Trésor, a few minutes from the terminal, this 140-room IHG hotel works first and foremost as a stopover before or after a flight, with a free airport shuttle. Rooms are modern but compact, set around a pool, with a gym and a day spa.

It isn't on the water, but a free shuttle takes guests to a lagoon beach during the day, and another runs to the nearby shopping centre. Reviews like the airport access, the staff, the cleanliness and the pool. A night was €119 at our last check.

Between Pointe d'Esny and Blue Bay, this family-run 18-room guesthouse sits on the lagoon, with a waterside restaurant, a bar, a pool and massages. Rooms range from Cocoon to sea-view Premium, plus a villa.

People come for the location: Blue Bay public beach is three minutes' walk away, and snorkelling, diving, kayaking or windsurfing can be arranged on site. Reviews praise the setting and the restaurant. The house puts the airport fifteen minutes away and Port-Louis three quarters of an hour.