Solana Beach

Solana Beach is one of the east coast's most contemporary resorts, seamlessly blending modern style with a blissful tropical atmosphere. Framed by stone walls and floors and a pitched thatch roof, the open lobby introduces Solana's signature bursts of color, with baths of flower petals, bright throw pillows on low built-in sofas, and the hotel's colorful teardrop logo behind the wood-plank front desk. The lobby opens to resort grounds filled with herb gardens, bougainvillea bushes, oleander shrubs, spiral-leaved tropical plants, and coconut trees. Geckos and hedgehogs might dart across the paths leading to the hotel's three-story, thatch-roofed room buildings and common facilities, like the lagoon pool and the main dining, drinking, entertainment, and wellness area. The resort appeals in equal measure to families (thanks to its mini club, kids' pool, weekly movie nights) and romancing couples (thanks to its adult-only restaurant, upscale spa, and lagoon-side tranquility).

Solana Beach is a five-minute drive up the coastal road from Belle Mare, a traditional fishing and farming village on Mauritius's east coast. Beyond Belle Mare's cluster of souvenir shops and snack stands, there isn't much in the area -- Solana is located in a part of the world prized for the natural beauty of its beaches and rolling green sugar fields. A car or guided tour is needed for island outings, like to Black River Gorges National Park (about a 75-minute drive away), Port Louis (50 minutes), and Pamplemousses Botanical Garden (40 minutes). The drive from and to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport takes a little over an hour.

Guest rooms at Solana Beach are chic with a touch of glam, featuring contemporary furnishings; spacious, sexy bathrooms with walk-in rainfall showers; and clear lagoon views from private balconies or terraces. Of the Solana's 117 rooms, the bulk (95 units) are 420-square-foot Superior Rooms. Colorful knotted-rope wall features, striped bed runners, and chartreuse-framed chalkboards pop against white walls and dark stone floors in these entry-level rooms. The remaining units are 14 Deluxe Rooms (614 square feet) and eight Junior Suites (754 square feet). These upper-tier units have more sedate and sophisticated decor of mostly whites, earth tones, and teals, plus sleek hardwood floors. Their bathrooms are even more impressive than the ones in Superior Rooms, with peek-a-boo layouts, double-sink vanities, and bidets. Wardrobes contain waffle robes and slippers. Suites come with separate two-person jetted tubs surrounded by windows (in addition to the rainfall showers found in all rooms) and extra basin sinks in the separate water closets. Extra perks at the Suite level include DVD players, espresso machines with six pods, and turndown service.Flat-screen TVs with international channels, writing desks, bedside reading lights, and individual air-conditioning units are in every room. Thick turquoise beach towels, free Nescafe coffee and Corson Golden Pekoe tea, free safes, bath toiletries (shampoo, lotion, shower gel, and a shower cap), and hairdryers are all provided. All rooms feature minibars (fees apply) with spring water, chocolate bars, and glass-bottle soda and beer. Free basic Wi-Fi is standard, though the hotel discourages streaming.Rooms are lovely, but not immune maintenance issues. During our stay, the hot water in the tub wouldn't run (forcing us, alas, to take a rainfall shower instead), and the bathroom window, balcony door lock, and Nespresso machine were all defective. Note that mosquitoes can be a nuisance here during the summer months, but rooms do come with mosquito repellants. 

Unlike most Mauritius resorts, Solana Beach's pool is not right by the water, but on the road side of the resort. (Glimpses of the sea are visible though the indoor/outdoor bar on one end of the pool.) The large lagoon-style pool is set in the backyard, with a wide surrounding wooden deck lined with sun loungers and a lawn with hammocks. Canvas umbrellas and palm trees provide shade. A stone patio at one end of the pool leads to a whirlpool with waterfall. The pool's backyard setting isn't a drawback, since the hotel's front side is dominated by a postcard-ready beach on the lagoon. Pairs of wooden cushioned loungers huddle beneath palapa umbrellas right on the sand, and more loungers are set on the grassy knoll right above the beach. In addition to this direct beach access, Solana guests benefit from free beach service and kiosks, plus free windsurfing equipment, kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, and snorkel gear (no water-skiing here). Intro-to-sailing lessons and twice-daily glass-bottomed boat trips to a snorkel site are both free. Scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, parasailing, and bike or scooter rentals are available for an additional fee. Volleyball, bocce ball, ping pong, pool aerobics, and access to the fitness center are all free. The resort's two tennis courts are also free to use; racquets are free to borrow, but balls must be purchased. Ylang Spa is located beneath the main restaurant; it has a hair salon, a beach pavilion for massages, and free sauna and steam room. There are five treatment rooms with private showers or baths (two for couples, and one equipped with a Vichy shower). The spa uses ayurvedic Mantra beauty products from India for massages, body treatments, and body wraps, and the salon uses L'Oréal products for hairstyling, cuts, and color. Solana's kids' club has a pool and trained staff, and is open every day for children ages 3 to 11. Weekly movie nights include kid-friendly screenings, and babysitting is available with 24-hour notice. Wi-Fi is free, but the hotel discourages downloading as it will slow down the network for other guests. The hotel's reception is open 24 hours. Room service, with a menu of salads, sandwiches, pastas, meat, seafood, and dessert, is available during the day for a fee. On-call medical service is available around the clock.

Solana's main restaurant, Cinnamone, is one of the more elaborate buffets we saw in Mauritius. It features several live cooking stations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a rotating dinner calendar with Creole, Asian, Mediterranean, Indian, Seafood, and Rotisserie nights (plain rice, baguettes, pickled vegetables, and Mauritian chili sauce are always in attendance). Cinnamone's appetizer bar typically features fresh fish and octopus salad, and papaya salad with salted fish, and entrees often include stews and curries. The dessert bar is filled with puddings, tarts, cakes, and fresh coconut slices.A romantic adult-only restaurant called Secrets Corner is located in an extension off of Cinnamone's far side. It has just a handful of tables, decorated with candles and rose petals. Open for dinner five nights a week, Secrets serves a special menu with items like sushi and sashimi for a supplemental fee.  Solana's a la carte restaurant, Pomelo, also comes at a supplement. The poolside restaurant serves a Mediterranean menu for lunch and dinner six days a week, plus weekly lobster and barbecue nights. Pomelo offers cooking classes on dishes like curries and dhal puris for an extra fee.Indigo Bar is open daily from morning until night. Afternoon snacks, pastries, coffee, and tea are available here during between meals. The bar overlooks the dance floor and stage with entertainment, like sega shows, karaoke, and live sitar and tabla music. During the day, the beachfront Coco Bar serves Phoenix beers, rum punch, fruit juices, fresh coconut water.