Tropical Attitude

Lining a beautiful stretch of eastern Mauritius shoreline, Tropical Attitude is an adults-only all-inclusive resort with stunning lagoon views from nearly every area. The lagoon-shaped pool is located within the resort's interior, but glimpses of the sea are still visible through the main restaurant. Despite being inshore, the pool is the main hangout area, with loungers and clusters of tables and chairs where guests play cards and board games, nurse drinks, and leaf through light reads. About half of the guests are from the U.K. and Germany, and the remaining guests come from other European countries, Malaysia, China, Kenya, and South Africa. Many are Tropical die-hards, loyalists that return year after year and happily sing the praises of the hotel's cleanliness, food, service, and staff (especially its genuinely cordial Seychellois manager and accommodating Mauritian chef). Tropical's adults-only nature and beautiful scenery make it popular for weddings, especially with German guests.The hotel was originally built in 1986, and in mid-2017, it underwent a major renovation (using a local architect and interior designer) that overhauled all 60 rooms, the restaurant, and greatly extended the bar by moving the entrance, reception area, and boutique. The resulting look is modern, beachy, and chic. The buffet area has been outfitted with light woods, mismatched tiles, and seagrass wall baskets. Heavy wicker chairs around the pool bar have been replaced with Polynesian peacock fan-back chairs with small wooden stools as tables. Dated and basic furnishings in the rooms were switched out for contemporary canopy beds and chic rattan couches. All in all, this upper-middle-range beach resort is a fantastic pick for adults looking for an intimate and low-key escape. There are other adults-only Mauritian hotels, of course, but they're generally much larger and more resort-y (like Radisson Blu Poste Lafayette Resort & Spa and Ambre Resort & Spa). Those that are small boutique hotels, like Tropical, typically have higher pearl ratings and higher price tags (like Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel and 20 Degres Sud Hotel). Tropical's sister hotel, Recif Attitude, offers a similar experience, but it's on the other side of the island, and its rooms and common areas are not as newly renovated. 

Tropical Attitude is near the village of Trou d'Eau Douce and within a 10-minute drive of Belle Mare, a fishing and farming village on the east coast of Mauritius. Getting to the villages -- or anywhere else on the island -- requires a rental car, taxi, or shuttle bus. The hotel's position on the east coast means there is little in the immediate surroundings besides sugar plantations, vegetable farms, and beautiful wooded beaches. Popular excursions include Black River Gorges National Park (a 70-minute drive), Domaine Chazal (an 80-minute drive), Port Louis (about an hour's drive), and Le Morne (about an hour and 40 minutes away by car). Budget about an hour for the drive to and from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport.

Tropical's 60 rooms fall into two easy categories: Seaview Couple Rooms and Seaview Deluxe Couple Rooms. Note that both the categories include the words "sea" and "view," meaning that all 60 overlook the turquoise lagoon. The only real differences between the two room types are their size and position within the room bungalows: The 248-square-foot entry-level rooms are located on the second floor (so they have balconies overlooking the water), while the 323-square-foot Deluxe Rooms are located on the ground floor, and therefore have direct beach access. In their extra space, Deluxe Rooms have indoor sitting areas with rattan sofas, right by the terraces. Fresh from a 2017 renovation, all rooms have beach-chic contemporary style that includes cane screens, basketry-topped benches, strings of seashells in lieu of doors, and gauzy canopies over the beds. All rooms come with flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, free coffee and tea (Deluxe Rooms have coffee machines), minibars (free for all-inclusive guests), and free four-digit safes. If the strong sea breeze doesn't keep things cool enough, rooms have both air-conditioning and fans. Open bathrooms have separate toilet vestibules and rainfall showers (no bathtubs) that are only separated from the bed area by a glass wall and a seashell curtain. Hairdryers are provided, but no bath products.

Tropical Attitude is geared toward couples simply wanting to read and relax on the beach or by the pool, and its features reflect this ethos. The narrow and pretty beach is a big draw, but the sand disappears at high tide and, unlike most beach hotels, there isn't a full list of water sports available. To counter these drawbacks, Tropical offers free daily boat rides to the beautiful Ile aux Cerfs. In addition to this, guests can take glass-bottom boat trips into the lagoon, where they can snorkel and explore the ocean floor. These are free and offered twice a day.The hotel's pool is located off the beach, behind the main restaurant. All around the pool are loungers and pool bar seating, where guests not on the beach or off on excursions tend to spend their mid-mornings and afternoons. Between drinks and rounds of cards, they might get up for a game of ping pong, petanque, or darts. Like at all Attitude hotels, a Tabaji street cart serves Mauritian snacks, like samosas and gateaux piments (fried chili cakes), in the afternoon. Tabaji snacks are free for all-inclusive guests, and cost a small amount for others. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style at Tropical's one restaurant, which was a recipient of the hotel's 2017 refresh. In addition to redecorating for a chicer, airier look, the renovation extended the restaurant's outdoor deck and added more tables to the garden, greatly broadening the restaurant's outdoor seating. Dinner rotates between buffets and table d’hote (set) menus. The food gets great reviews and Chef Vikash is especially popular with Indian guests. The hotel offers half-board and all-inclusive packages; all-inclusive covers breakfast, lunch, Tabaji snacks, dinner, a selection of local drinks, and minibar snacks. Live sega shows are put on once a week.Spa Attitude has a bridal room (the hotel is popular for weddings up to 12 people), two single treatment rooms, and one for couples. Its full menu includes Attitude's four signature 90-minute treatments, such as Earth Attitude, an energy-balancing massage with oil and hot stones. Like all Attitudes, Tropical encourages guests to experience traditional Mauritian ways of life with events like weekly "Family Dinners," which are held at the home of a hotel staff member and teach guests how to prepare Mauritian cuisine. The hotel also hosts a weekly bazaar with local artisans, who receive 100 percent of the profits.