Emeraude Beach Attitude

Formerly part of the Apavou hotel group, Emeraude became an Attitude in 2010. The new owner built the thatch-roof reception and bar, wood-frame restaurant, and second pool, and refurbished the entire property in early 2016 (our photos predate the property's refresh). The lobby has a vaulted thatch ceiling with palapa fans and big round wicker chairs where guests pair up and lazily scroll through their social-media feeds (Wi-Fi is only available in the reception as of this writing, but it is slated to be in the rooms by late 2017). Just past reception is the restaurant, pool area, and adjacent sandy-floored bar, where the vibe is casually upbeat and social. It quiets down throughout the garden grounds, which are filled with frangipani, allamanda, red cat's tail, and hibiscus flowers. Adding to the peacefulness is the fact that farmland growing onion and garlic comes right up to the back of the hotel.This tranquil ambience appeals mostly to couples, and in November 2017, the hotel will shift to an adult-only policy. For now, though, it welcomes families with a kids' club, game room, and rooms with daybeds. Rooms inhabit thatched bungalows that extend from the main hub of the hotel, meaning that guests can expect privacy in addition to the communal hang-out areas. Emeraude receives mostly British, French, and South African guests who stay for a week on either a bed-and-breakfast or half-board basis. 

Emeraude Beach Attitude is a two-minute drive from Belle Mare, a typical fishing and farming village on Mauritius's east coast. Belle Mare is known for growing eggplant and cucumber, and the land bumping up behind the hotel cultivates onions and garlic. Emeraude is directly across the coastal road from Belle Mare's beautiful public beach. Guests can walk through the wooded beach park to reach the village center and go souvenir shopping, pop into the pharmacy, or pick up some chicken biryani or dholl puri from a roadside snack stand, but there isn't anything beyond Belle Mare accessible by foot. For bigger ventures, a rental car, taxi, or shuttle bus is necessary. Most guests go on excursions to see Black River Gorges National Park (about a 75-minute drive away), Port Louis (a 55-minute drive away), and Pamplemousses Botanical Garden (a 42-minute drive away). The drive from and to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport takes a little over an hour.

Two-story, thatch-roof white bungalows house the 61 rooms at Emeraude Beach Attitude. There are four units per bungalow, and all are well-sized and feature white walls, cream tile floors, and cute vintage-y nautical-inspired decor, like bedsheets with a slightly retro blue-and-green coral print, turquoise throw pillows, rattan pendant lamps, and gauzy white curtains tied back with thick rope. Above the beds are whimsical, wood-framed illustrations by local artist Evan Sohun depicting Mauritian fisherman and sea creatures. On the opposite wall are big block letters spelling "etoile de mer" (starfish).Rooms come in two main categories: Standard and Superior. The 47 Standard Rooms are located on either the ground or second floor (Emeraude is across the street from the beach, and most second-floor rooms have sea views). Standard Rooms are 300 square feet. All 14 of the Superior Rooms are located on the ground floor. They offer an additional 55 square feet of space, which means that they can currently accommodate two adults and two children, but come November 2017, when the hotel becomes adult-only, the daybeds will be replaced with tables and chairs. All rooms offer minibars, free coffee and tea (kettles provided), flat-screen TVs, free digital safes, and furnished balconies or terraces with bamboo blinds. The drinks in the minibar are free for all-inclusive guests (but not the chips, chocolate, or peanuts). Wood headboards have long, low built-in shelving and small silver reading lamps on either side. Bathrooms have an open concept, with the sink area separated from the bedroom by a tiled half wall, a long wood writing desk with a rattan woven stool, and floor-to-ceiling slatted wood blinds. There are separate rooms for the rainfall shower and toilet. Laundry service is available for a fee. In-room Wi-Fi is not available at the moment, but it will be installed in late 2017.

Emeraude's crossguard helps guests cross the coastal road from the hotel's gated entrance to Belle Mare's large and beautiful public beach (watch out for sharp coral fragments), where Emeraude has dedicated lounge area with reserved sunbeds, palapa umbrellas, and afternoon beach service for drinks and snacks. There is no boathouse with free water sports, though guests who stay seven nights or more are earn a free boat trip to Ile aux Cerfs. Guests who stay back at the hotel to swim in one of its two pools can also indulge in afternoon snacks. A red Tabaji street cart serves small sweet and savory bites, like pastries, ice cream, samosas, gateaux piments (fried chili cakes), and other Mauritian snacks. The Tabaji is free for all-inclusive guests, and costs a small fee for other guests to eat unlimited amounts.

Emeraude Beach Attitude has all of the essentials for keeping guests happy, relaxed, and well-fed between jaunts to the beach. Two pools and a game room provide on-site entertainment, while Emeraude's relaxing, two-room spa is tucked into a back corner of the property. It has one single and one double room and a full spa menu which includes Attitude's four signature 90-minute treatments, such as Earth Attitude, a hot-stone massage with oil designed to balance energy centers. Like all Attitudes, Emeraude offers several ways for guests to come in contact with authentic Mauritian ways of life. Once a week, the hotel has "Family Dinners," where guests can go to an employee's house to learn how to prepare Mauritian snacks and cuisine. Reservations are required in advance and the event costs an additional fee, but the fee is very reasonable. The hotel also hosts free on-site cooking classes every week. These are led by Emeraude's chef, and are usually held outside. Participants get their own oven, ingredients, chef hat, and apron and learn how to make curries, parathas, and other Mauritian food. Free Creole language and music workshops are also available, where guests can learn how to play the ravanne (similar to a tambourine and used to play sega music) and the sugar box. The hotel also hosts local artisans from the community come to the hotel and sell their crafts in a weekly bazaar; they receive 100 percent of the profits. Guests who want to explore the surrounding area by car, foot, or bike can borrow a hotel smartphone that will send location-based alerts every time they approach a local attraction, such as one of the local sugar cane factories.Emeraude's reception is open 24 hours a day. Free Wi-Fi is available here, and the hotel has plans to introduce free Wi-Fi throughout the resort starting in November 2017.

The hotel's restaurant seats 120 and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with dinner service alternating between buffet-style (four times a week) and table d'hote (three nights a week). The four buffet themes are Mauritian, Indian, Mascarene, and Italian, while the set table d'hote menu includes a starter, soup, main course, and dessert. At night, the wood-framed, open-air restaurant is low lit and aglow with candles, making it a romantic setting for couples.There is an adjacent, Nikki Beach-inspired poolside bar, with wooden tables, comfy wicker chairs, and barstools right on a sandy ground. Nearby is a game room with pool, foosball, and ping pong. A small dance floor/stage area is next to the bar, used for weekly sega and Indian shows, and music and live bands throughout the week. All-inclusive at the bar runs from late morning to late at night, with available drinks including locally bottled beer, wine, and spirits; international brands cost an extra fee. Attitude-branded rum is available -- flavors include lychee, coconut, pineapple, vanilla, and spiced, all made with local sugar cane.Emeraude currently has a kids' club at its far end, but this will be converted to an a la carte restaurant at the end of 2017. The new restaurant, Kot Nou (which means "my home" in Creole), will serve traditional Mauritian cuisine -- curries, paratha, puri, meat cooked in dry spices (like cinnamon, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin) and red wine.