Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa – All Inclusive

Built in the 1950s, Shandrani Beachcomber Resort & Spa is one of Mauritius' very first resorts (and the first of the eight Beachcomber properties on the island). Shandrani not only predates Mauritius' tourism boom by about two decades, it also predates the 1980s expansion of what is now the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. Today, commercial planes thundering overhead are the main downside here, bringing momentary disturbances to the otherwise idyllic Shandrani peninsula. Every other aspect of Shandrani centers around -- and delivers -- true tropical leisure.

A lush and well-labeled garden with endemic tropical flowering plants welcomes visitors as soon as they step out of their cars. But most arrivals are paying no mind to the garden and its palm-like evergreens -- at least not yet. They're heading down the long, thatch-roof entryway leading towards the grand, cathedral-roofed lobby. For travelers coming straight from the airport (most of them), the sight of the main pool and surrounding lagoon -- just past the open lobby's carved columns and fountain -- justifies the long-haul flight in an instant.

The Shandrani sprawls over nearly 150 acres and its coastline extends for more than a mile. The hotel's dozens of room buildings and features -- pools, restaurants, kids' club, spa, golf course -- are spread throughout the peninsula, with buggies available to transport folks from point to point. The hotel lacks for nothing on the amenities front, but it's not totally impervious to its airport proximity, its years, or the occasional minor maintenance issue (like a broken lock or a rusty patch on a mirror). Nonetheless, this is a class-act resort whose size and scope appeal equally to families and couples on a romantic getaway year round. The resort attracts primarily British travelers, as well as those from South Africa and Germany, depending on time of year. (Easter and Christmas are especially popular times for families.)

Shandrani's proximity to the airport is a blessing (it's a nine-minute drive) and a curse (planes fly overhead). The resort sits on the same lagoon as Blue Bay Marine Park and the historic town of Mahebourg is a 17-minute drive away. Black River Gorges National Park is about a 40-minute drive to the west (plan an en route pit stop at Bois Cheri Tea Factory), with Le Morne peninsula about an additional 40 minutes beyond. Budget at least an hour to drive to many of the attractions on the north of the island, like Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, L'Aventure du Sucre, and the Caudan waterfront in Port Louis.

Shandrani's room buildings follow the perimeter of the peninsula, allowing every single unit a view of the surrounding aquamarine water. Inside, room decor eschews the typical whites and teals commonly seen in tropical resorts, and instead embraces warm earth colors, like the taupe shade of paint on the walls, the red and orange throw pillows on the bed and sofa, and the wood details throughout. Old-fashioned touches, like the charming wooden mail sorter by the door or the white wood-plank ceilings in some rooms, remind of the hotel's vintage. Attractive as the rooms are, they lack the wow factor and level of high style one might expect from an advertised five-star resort.

More than half of Shandrani's 327 rooms are Superior Rooms. The 540-square-foot Superior Rooms are most basic of Shandrani's five room categories, which go up to 2,200-square-foot Family Suites. Rooms in all categories have independently controlled air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with with satellite channels, and furnished patios or balconies that look over the green grounds and blue water. There is a king-size bed in every room, though they may be two twins pushed together in some cases. All rooms come with sitting areas with sectional sofas, wardrobes with safes, and minibars with free coffee and tea.

Bathrooms come with separate tubs, rainfall showers, and water closets, as well as dual-sink countertops, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, toiletries, and bathrobes and slippers. Note that some rooms have peek-a-boo bathrooms and two steps separating the entries from the rest of the rooms. Wi-Fi is free in the rooms.

Just about every leisure facility one could want is in attendance here. Aside from the many beach areas, the two pools are the most popular hangouts. The main one practically starts in the lobby, fanning out quite some distance towards the inner lagoon, with a pool bar on one side and terrace seating for the main buffet on the other. There's a shallow area for kids separated by a bridge at the far end. A tiled deck surrounds the pool, with white-cushioned wood rolling loungers and umbrellas all around. A smaller, crescent-shaped pool (also with shallow areas) is located on the far arm of the peninsula (by the Le Sirius restaurant and bar), looking over the Blue Bay Marine Park.

Shandrani's six floodlit tennis courts are in the center of the property. Guests may borrow tennis racquets for free, but must buy or bring tennis balls. Tennis lessons are available for a fee. The nine-hole golf course rolls along the southern stretch of the resort; golf equipment rentals cost a fee, but ping pong and bocce ball are free. There's a free open-air fitness center (not open 24/7) with a sauna and fitness classes (personal training for a fee). Bikes are free to rent for for two hours, and, for a fee, guests can go on guided bike tours to places like the Monday Market, historical Mahebourg, Natural Bridge, and La Cambuse.

Other planned activities throughout the day include beach volleyball, aerobics in the main pool, ping pong at the sports center, stretching and abdominal classes in the fitness center, and golf for kids at the kids' club. Free for ages 3 to 12, the kids' club offers drawing, painting, T-shirt painting, cooking classes, and treasure hunts, as well as a playground and enclosed garden. Babysitting is available for a fee.

The lobby features two gift shops and a business center with two Mac desktops (free to use). There are also conference rooms, an infirmary, and book exchange. Laundry service is available for a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout.

Shandrani's secluded spa is set in a private tropical garden -- away from the bustling heart of the resort -- where the scent is an intoxicating mixture of vanilla, cinnamon, amber, and lapis lazuli. With 20 treatment rooms, the spa is one of the largest on the island. Outdoor cabins are enclosed by stucco walls and bamboo shades, and kept cool with thatch roofs and fans. Three rooms are for couples, and two are devoted to shiatsu and Thai massages.

Before and after treatments, spa guests can unwind in the outdoor sauna and steam room or on cushioned loungers set on grassy pockets and terrace areas around the private, shallow spa pool, which has a floor of teal and green tiles. The spa provides lemon water with mint and herbal tea, and gifts guests a pair of slippers after their treatment.

The shape and size of the Shandrani peninsula (the outline of the land looks sort of like a fish tail fin from above) allows the resort more than a mile of shoreline with several separate beaches: two calm lagoon-side beaches across from one of Mauritius' biggest marine parks and a long crescent beach facing the ocean. This beach is large and wild, with a big sweep of white sand and actual waves. It's one of the prettiest spots at the resort, so it's no surprise a thatch-roofed wedding pavilion with gauzy white curtains is set here. There is also a small curving beach with tiered stone walls near one of the room blocks, with coolers filled pre-prepared sandwiches and snacks (free for all-inclusive guests).

Located on the beach by the main pool and buffet, the boathouse offers free motorized and non-motorized activities: water skiing, sailing, kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing, and pedal-boating. Glass-bottom boat trips, Hobie cats, and lasers (mini sail boats) are all free as well. The only things not included in the rates are private lessons, speedboat trips, and scuba-diving at the diving center. Beach service is available throughout the day, but note that there are no lifeguards at the beaches or pools.

The main restaurant at the Shandrani is Le-Grand Port, a large buffet serving all three meals by the pool and lagoon. Nightly dinner themes at Le-Grand Port include Mauritian, Italian, French, and Asian. Shandrani's three other dining spots are a la carte and require reservations. Ponte Vecchio is an Italian a la carte restaurant on the opposite side of the main pool from Le-Grand Port, open for lunch (seasonally) and dinner. Adjacent to Le-Grand Port is Teak Elephant, an adult-only a la carte restaurant with a Thai menu that changes weekly. Le Sirius is located on the far end of the resort by the golf course and wild beach (but it faces the lagoon), and is open for breakfast (seasonally), lunch, and dinner.

There are two a la carte bars, one by each pool. Both are open from midmorning to late at night and serve afternoon snacks (free for all-inclusive guests). Room service is available for a fee. Live entertainment is presented nightly.