We have just returned from a fantastic holiday at the belle mare plage. We did go within there winter months but it was well worth the risk as we had really good weather with only two days where it was really overcast, and on those days i just joined my boyfriend on the golf course.

The pool is really sheltered from the wind, if you prefer this but i found it too hot and spent most of my days on the beach. I would advise buying a pair of beach/surf shoes as broken coral can be really sharp on you feet. Once you have gone past the seaweed it's easy to stand. The sea is really warm and snorkelling is good fun. The pools are really cold, but welcome when its really warm as once your in it's really nice.

The staff are really friendly and always aiming to make your stay memorable. Even the lucky, lucky men were friendly and if you weren't interested in what they had to sell they were really polite not like other places we have travelled.

The food was superb in le citronelle. With lots of choice and if you cannot find something to eat in there each night you are really hard to please! We were going to eat at the other restaurants but didn't as the food was just to good and wasn't needed. We switched to the Deer Hunter on the half board basis twice during our stay the food was fantastic and gave more of a restaurant feel. This was not promoted as much but i do advise to check the menu before booking.

The golf courses were fantastic my boyfriend preferred the legends, because you were not dictated to if you wanted to walk around as it can become pricey with 25 euro's each to use the buggy. The course as Le Tousserok is supposed to be well worth a go but we will make sure we do this next time.

The drinks were expensive but we were prepared for this before we went away. I feel that if they reduced the drinks slightly it will give the bar and entertainment at night a better atmosphere. Most people would go to bed early due to the prices and would pop to the supermarket at flaq (VIP) and drink in the rooms. The prices as the supermarket were really cheap and there doesn't seem to be a need for this.

I had a few treatments at both spa's but found the Constance spa to be a lot better when it came to massages, but if you like a woman make sure you ask as the men can be a little bit to firm at times . Shisiedo was like my other half rubbing aftersun into my back. However they did do my manicure and pedicure really well.

We had a standard room and I'm glad. There did not seem to be much in it between the two rooms and we had a much better view, right on the beach.

Overall the holiday was amazing and we can't wait to return, The resort had everything we needed and suited us both perfectly.

This hotel has something extra that cannot be explained. The architecture is so stunning and gives the impression that you are in Bali or in the indonesian atmosphere where water, wood and stone would melt together with the hospitality of the staff specially the frontliners.

The first day we arrived, we were welcomed by a sweet couple and the most impressive was that they could identify us by our name. We arrived in a taxi that we have taken at the airport. There could not be any hint who we were. Our name was the sweetest sound that we could hear, at so many kilometers away from home.

During the registration, my wife could not prevent herself from asking how they happened to do it. The answer was that the Guest manager has taught them a new technique of "smelling'" the guest. Wow. My wife who is herself in the service industry wanted to learn that technique.

Throughout the whole stay, i have been trying to find faults to this hotel, but i could only be surprised by the way people listen to you and to what you have to say.

Of course there were some imperfection in terms of service at the restaurant at breakfast but i can tell you that when you are looked after all these things fade away from your mind.

Even the maid who did our room had a special attention every day. Thank you for the design.

The bar was almost empty as compared to any bar in Bali or Thailand, but the few moments that you spend in their quiet area makes you feel that you are really away from home.

The rooms were splendid though a little tired. I understand that the renovation was for the Junior Suites only. Well let's wait for the next phase.

I can only but recommend this hotel to all of you. We both regret to have left the children at home. This is a real family hotel.

There is really a little something different from other properties that we have known so far.

I booked this trip months ago as a 40th birthday present for myself. 5 of us stayed at the Belle Mare Plage for 10 nights and then moved on to the Al Qasr in Dubai for 4 nights.
I originally booked 3 Prestige rooms for me and my husband, my parents and 2 friends. Unfortunately, I had to cancel my fathers place due to him recovering from a hip operation and on doing so e-mailed the hotel to ask for at least 2 rooms together as my mum would be on her own and wanted to be next to her friends. As the departure date got nearer I e-mailed 2 more times telling the hotel it was my birthday and reminding them about the rooms. Each time I had a reply saying rooms were allocated on arrival but they had noted my request.
We arrived after a very long flight via Dubai and the weather was sunny and very windy. First impressions of the hotel were good but we were too tired to care. Our rooms were not together and after 3 days I went and complained as my mum had been ill from arrival with a stomach bug.The first response was not helpful but I got my way and we were given 2 rooms together on the ground floor.The rooms were more basic than I had expected with no toiletries in the bathrooms and no tea/coffee making facilities.
The buffet restaurant was good and so was the service but decided to go to Le Touessrok for my birthday. Amazing! That is 5 star. Ate at Safran. Just stunning. Also decided to swap the 21 Euro allowance for Le Prince Maurice sister hotel. Absolutely awful !Never been so ripped off for such mundane food. That was in the floating restaurant. 40 Euros for a steak with no sauce or vegetables.Deer Hunter was good at no extra cost.
Golf courses beautiful, beach nice but not as serene and tropical as I expected and the sea was freezing. The hotel pools also freezing so couldn't use either. Had very mixed weather and nowhere looks idyllic in the rain.
Went to the bar on our last night and ordered a Singapore Sling cocktail. It was awful. my husband took them back and they said they hadn't got all the ingredients. They tried to make another and that was the same so told them not to bother but they still charged 8 Euros each. My husband ordered a Heineken beer. They bought a 1/2 pint can to the table and poured it in to his glass. 5 Euros. Unbelievable. Ever likely no-one was ever at the bar.
We met a few disgruntled people and every one said it was not 5 star. It has the makings of one but seems to lack leadership and customer care.
Went on a few trips. Don't book through reps as they wanted £45 each for each of the tours. We hired a minibus for the day from the concierge and the driver stayed with us the whole day and it cost 100 Euros between us.Went to Port Louis, not worth seeing, Pamplemousse Gardens were great and also went to the Sacred Lake, the volcano, Chamarel, Black River Gorge and the waterfalls and that was a good day out.Never expected to see such poverty, though,and we were quite harassed everywhere we went to buy things.
I really wanted this trip to be a holiday to remember my 40th by. It had some really good points but just not that finishing touch that you expect of a 5 star resort. The Al Qasr is 5 star and the difference in the 2 hotels poles apart. If you want to see Mauritius on a reasonable budget the Belle Mare will suffice. If you want 5 star quality go to le Touessrok or Le Saint Geran.

My husband and I stayed at the Belle Mare Plage for two weeks, commencing June 5th 2008.

We had previously visited Mauritius two years earlier, staying at The Residence, but, as my husband is a keen golfer decided on the Belle Mare for our second trip.

Our first impressions of the hotel were positive, There architecture is attractive and the public areas are tastefully furnished.

The main thing to say about our trip was that the weather was awful - it rained every single day. All the staff kept saying - 'well, it is our winter', and whilst this may be true, I didn't see this information made clear in any travel brochure I consulted. I would not recommend visiting Mauritius other than between October and January (Feb + March is the cyclone season and then winter starts). Without good weather, Mauritius, like most places, does not have very much to offer. Obviously the hotel is not in control of the weather, so this review is written disregarding the rain and gale force winds!

Accommodation:-
We opted for a Deluxe Junior Suite which was adequate. The furnishings were okay, if a little tired, but this is definately a 'no-frills' type of place. The toiletries supplied were basic and minimal (shower caps, cotton buds etc. that I have come to expect as standard are available by special request only). The room had no iron, kettle, cd / dvd player or flowers. On the plus side, the balcony was relatively well furnished.

We wanted to explore upgrading to a better room but this request met with a brick wall (too long a story to go into here!) and this, amongst other things we experienced during our stay left the distinct impression that no one in any kind of supervisory or management position cares whether you are having a good holiday or not. Unusually, the management were conspicuous by their absence!

The Bar:-
In terms of the bars - as you will have read many times before, the cost of drinks (and food) is prohibitive. Interestingly, we met up with a couple who had stayed at the hotel in February this year and they were astounded by the huge hike in prices. A half pint of local beer is €5.00 plus 15% tax. Given the poor Euro exchange rate that is pretty much £5.00. The cheapest wine was €6 + 15% tax for a fairly small glass. There is a 'Happy Hour' 2 or 3 nights a week from 7.45 to 8.45 where a small selection of drinks are on a 2 for the price of 1 offer. The bar was, without exception, always deserted. We renamed it the 'Marie Celeste'.

The Restaurants:-

The main restaurant for half board guests is a buffet. I'm nnot a fan of buffet dining, but in fairness there was a wide selection of good quality food and, though the restaurant was large, the room was well planned and the tables nicely spread out.

Guests on half board can also opt for a set dinner at the Deer Hunter Restauarant located in the club house of the Legend Glof Course. We much preferred this option, although the choice is somewhat limited and I can imagine that the food on offer would not appeal to everybody.

All other restaurants are pretty expensive. We ate at the Blue Penny Restaurant - the food was very good but its hard to justify the additional cost.

All drinks and food are way overpriced, and over the course of a two week holiday it really does start to wear you down. You would be very hard pushed to have even the most basic lunch of a burger, a sandwich and a single drink each for less than €60. Multiply that by 14 and that really startsa to add up. The cheapest wine starts at around €33 + 15% tax. The cheapest water starts at €3 per 1 litre bottle. The local shop in Belle Mare supplies larger bottles for less than half a Euro.

The Beach
The beach is okay - I've enjoyed better, and I've seen worse. There were plenty of sunbeds available, but a complete lack of beach service. You had to collect your own towels and if you wanted to reposition your sun lounger (which was really heavy) you were on your own - don't expect any assistance from staff. I thought this level of service was below par. There were no niceties that I have become used to at other hotels like cold towels, fresh fruit or water being offered.

The Golf
The highlight of the holiday! The Belle Mare has two excellent golf courses. Though green fees are free of charge, be warned that the use of a buggy is compulsory at the Links course (€25 per person, so €50 if two people playing). A buggy is optional at the Legend and a local caddie proves to be a cheaper and more knowledgeable option! Also - you pay the caddies directly which I liked. I think it worked out to be approx £10 per round .

The Spa
Pretty expensive - most massages priced at €100 + 15%. Heard mixed reports and decided not to bother.

Summary
I didn't really enjoy my time at the Belle Mare Plage. Its a pity as some of the staff were very friendly - particularly at the Golf courses and in some of the restaurants, bit its always the bad experiences which stand out more in one's memory. I wouldn't recommend this hotel. The Residence has a much more polished offering and I heard many hotels that other guests had stayed at were also rated highly. It's hard to put my finger on what is wrong with the hotel - but there doesn't seem to be any joy hear - not amongst the staff and certainly not amongst the guests. I've visited many resort hotels - some much more prestigious and some less so - but this is the first holiday I didn't enjoy. I won't be going back!!!!!