LUX* Belle Mare

From the outside looking in, the buildings and large garden grounds of this luxury resort have a colonial-island look to them -- think: perfectly manicured lawns, tall palm trees, and colonial-style buildings topped with thatched roofs. An artificial lake complete with fish sits in front of the garden canteen, which is hitched to the back of a vintage white Rolls Royce that Queen Elizabeth gifted to the island after her visit many years ago. Inside, you'll find lots of open-air spaces and hallways, spic-and-span public areas, and contemporary furniture with bright pops of color. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a large, modern palapa-style lobby with spotless tile floors, a high roof, and a central reflecting pool. The hotel's seamless decor and design are the work of renowned designer Kelly Hoppen. While several guests remark on the hotel's look and feel, though it's worth noting that service is particularly attentive here. The resort sees mostly couples, though plenty of families also make their way here as well.

LUX Belle Mare is located in the quiet, eastern coastal suburb of Belle Mare. The surroundings are home to green sugar plantation fields and large, high-end resorts. The area itself is famous for its variety of hotels and is a favorite for water-sports fans, deep-sea fishing, and divers (there are several dive sites about 10 minutes away). Though there aren't many restaurants to explore, the village is about a 15-minute walk away, down a main driving road. SSR International Airport is about an hour south by car, and the popular tourist town of Grand Baie is about a 50-minute drive from here.

The 174 suites and villas at LUX Belle Mare keep it classy, simple, and stylish. Even the various lower-category Junior Suites offer lots of space -- 60 square meters, or 646 square feet to be exact -- including a dedicated, though not separate, sitting space and private outdoor area. Crisp and clean contemporary decor includes white walls, white linens with colorful accents, natural wood or all-white bed frames, polished tile floors, and high-end modern furniture. Everything is beach-chic and polished. All rooms come with iPad minis pre-installed with LUX Valet, a digital concierge service that guests can use to order food, book reservations, or learn more about the hotel and island. Minibars, large flat-screen TVs, free bottled water, tea- and coffee-making facilities (including a kettle and French press), and a speaker system all come standard, and many rooms have sea views. Bathrooms are spacious and outfitted with stand-alone tubs and separate showers, as well as premium toiletries. Suites offer more space -- ranging from 90 to 240 square meters (969 to 2,583 square feet) -- with living room areas furnished with couches that can seat eight and large flat-screen TVs that pop out of a dividing island. They also have larger furnished outdoor decks, as well as walk-in closets, big bathrooms, and added perks like Nespresso machines. Guests seeking even more space can opt for the Villas (160 to 255 square meters, or 1,722 to 2,745 square feet), which are large, stand-alone units. Beach Front Villas have their own private garden, patio, and direct access to the beach; Prestige Villas come with a deep garden setting, private pools, and outdoor showers off the master bathroom; and Ocean View Villas have private heated pools and sunning areas, covered outdoor patios, and granite bathrooms with sunken tubs overlooking the pool. 

LUX Belle Mare's beach area is wider than found elsewhere on the island, particularly around Grand Baie or more northern areas. The sand around Belle Mare is soft and white, and the beach at the hotel is dotted with palm trees and intermittent rows of padded lounge chairs under thatched umbrellas. Thanks to the umbrellas and palms, there's plenty of shade and respite from the sun. For the most part, the loungers are placed far from the shoreline, back toward the garden and pool area. The sand leads out into crystal clear turquoise water, but watch out for volcanic rocks jutting out here and there. 

Mixe is the hotel's main restaurant, serving up breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffet-style. The space is an open-air indoor/outdoor, casual dining spot that overlooks the back of the pool. While there's a slight focus on island flavors, as the name suggests, Mixe is about mixing it up with food from all around the globe. Meanwhile, the Michelin star chef, Vineet Bhatia, dishes up his reinvented spin on traditional Indian fare at Amari. Duck Laundry serves Chinese and a bit of dim sum. Like the Mixe buffet, Duck Laundry also has some live cooking stations. For a more casual meal, Beach Rouge is a stylish spot serving lunch and dinner with a view. This breezy spot's dining area is on a shaded, beachside terrace with high tables, wicker stools, and more relaxed couch seating -- all overlooking the beach. There are also a few smaller, informal eateries like the ICI ice cream parlor and the El Jefe Rolls Royce Canteen serving food truck style bites from a trailer. Food all around gets almost universally enthusiastic marks from previous guests. All-inclusive and half-board rates are available.

LUX Belle Mare has three dedicated drinking spots -- two bars and a cafe. The resort's main bar, K-Spot, is named after designer Kelly Hoppen, who "breathed life" into the hotel's design and decor. Guests can imbibe dragon-inspired cocktails or choose from a selection of craft beers from the gastropub's very own microbrewery. This open-air, round palapa hut bar has colorful seating along the edges and a few wooden bar stools. The poolside Mari Kontan bar offers a bit more of an island-life vibe. Designed like a roughed-up wooden barrel, the small space's walls are lined with different types and flavors of rum. Local tunes add to the atmosphere, plus the bar offers Creole lessons, cocktail-making sessions, and dance classes. Cafe Lux is the hotel's coffee bar; it roasts its beans on-site and baristas are continually trained in the latest methods and trends of the coffee world. 

The standout hotel feature at LUX Belle Mare is its huge pool. As of 2016, it was the largest pool on the island. With a lagoon shape, this crystal clear, tiled space has multiple levels and beach entry as well. Contemporary, cushioned wicker loungers with headrests provide views of the grassy courtyard, swaying palms, and ocean. Because of the wide-stretching shallow end and easy, open line of sight, the pool area is a favorite hang-out for families; couples tend to take to the beach.The hotel has a full spa with holistic-centered treatments, outdoor treatment rooms, and a separate pool. Besides offering the usual Asian-inspired massages and beauty treatments, it also provides traditional Zhengliao Chinese medicine treatments, as well as meditation and yoga classes. The fitness center has modern TechnoGym equipment, water dispensers, and a free Body Balance Analysis for the fitness curious. A variety of water sports are available for guests over by the seaside "Boat House," including kayaking, sailing, wind surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving (there are several diving sites within 10 minutes of the resort). The hotel can also arrange swimming with the dolphins and fishing trips.Kid-friendly features include a kids' club with both indoor and outdoor space. A colorful plastic playground and trampoline take up most of the grassy area, while a small kids' pool with water nozzles is in the opposite corner. Inside, kids have run of game and TV rooms with colorful beanbag chairs, an activity room with books and toys, an internet station, and a large kitchen that serves up kid-friendly snacks and buffet items.An internet station for adults is located near the boutique, which stocks toiletries, souvenirs, clothes, and jewelry. Other features include dry cleaning and laundry service, meeting rooms and event space, and free Wi-Fi. There are red boxes, set up like London's iconic phone booths, where guests can use VoIP phones to call home (or anywhere in the world) for free. These "Phone Home" booths are located next to the full-service bridal shop and can't be missed thanks to their bright red color.