Are you wondering what it’s like to stay at the Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa in Mauritius?
Then you’re in luck. I split an 11-day Mauritius solo trip between this 5-star beach resort and the SALT of Palmar on the island’s east coast and am excited to give you my honest opinion.
Spoiler alert: I loved this hotel! Read my Westin Turtle Bay Review to discover why I liked it and if this could be the right hotel for you.
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About the Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa
Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa opened in 2014. It was formerly Starwood’s Grand Mauritius Hotel which was devastated by a fire in 2009 (I had an interesting chat with one of the staff who was on duty on that fateful day).
It is owned by the Marriot group and their Westin brand focuses on wellness. The hotel’s tagline is “Unwind, restore your wellbeing.”
The hotel is located just south of Turtle Bay, a tranquil spot on Mauritius’s northwest coast. Its neighbours are the Oberoi, the InterContinental and Maritim resorts.
Westin Turtle Bay is around an hour’s drive northwest of Mauritius’s Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. The more touristy Grand Baie, Pamplemousses Botanical Garden and the capital Port Louis are nearby.
You can check the location here. If you are not hiring a car, the easiest way to get to Westin Turtle Bay is on an airport transfer. This cost me less than €50 in 2023 and you can check the price here.
All room rates include breakfast; half-board and full-board options are available.
My Experience of Westin Turtle Bay (Review)
So, is the Westin Turtle Bay Hotel worth it? Here’s my honest lowdown.
What I loved about Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa
#1 The friendly welcome
As I pulled up in a taxi next to the massive Banyan tree in the hotel’s entrance courtyard, my arrival was heralded by the banging of a gong.
Jeet in reception checked me in and took the time to carefully explain the layout of the resort and how the restaurants worked. As he did this, I sipped on a refreshing pineapple and lemongrass drink.
Maurice took me to my room in a golf buggy and gave me the lowdown on the room with a broad smile.
#2 My spacious Junior Suite King
Painted in neutral tones with cream tiled floors and wooden furniture, my 678 sqft room had a light and airy feel. It was on the ground floor, close to the ocean, behind the adult-only pool.
The room’s generous terrace overlooked the pool. Tweeting birds provided the soundtrack.
There was a mini-bar, coffee machine and kettle in the short entrance corridor. Two bottles of water and four coffee pods were provided each day.
Its walls were decorated with paintings of local flora and fauna and there was excellent lighting throughout.
A brocaded sofa at the foot of the bed faced the ocean and a 55” LG Smart TV. This seamlessly supported Chromecast from my own devices. There was a large desk with writing supplies.
Air conditioning was efficient yet quiet. The Wi-Fi worked well and there was an in-room safe.
The king-sized signature Westin Heavenly bed guaranteed a restful stay. There was good quality linen, plump pillows and USB charging points at either side of the bed.
Behind the bed was an open-plan bathroom. The two sink units had vanity kits, soap bars and small bottles of fragrant body lotion (always a positive for me!).
The large shower cubicle had a rainfall head and generous shelf space for your own smellies if you didn’t fancy the proprietary Westin toiletries in eco-friendly refillable containers.
Weirdly, the shower and toilet doors weren’t frosted. This was fine for me as a solo traveller but may be less than ideal if you are travelling with someone else.
A comfy robe and slippers were provided. Generous wardrobes concealed an ironing board, iron an umbrella.
At the centre of the bathroom space was a deep oval tub with bath salts and gel.
I adored the small private zen garden at the rear of the bathroom. Once I threw open the doors, this extended the room into this serene outside space which also had an outdoor shower.
A beach basket was available for use while I was in the resort.
#3 Sophisticated hotel design
The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa oozes understated sophistication.
Its 190 rooms are housed in 17 villas with pitched temple-like roofs. The resort sprawls over 800 metres of prime beachfront and has lush gardens and a few ancient Banyan trees. Walking from one end to the other takes about 10 – 15 minutes.
The focal point is a large central pond leading from the hotel’s entrance to the Indian Ocean. Home to koi carp, it is studded with frangipani trees and a rock-filled rectangular island and crossed by teak walkways.
I loved that the Westin Hotel’s public areas are partially open to the elements, allowing gentle breezes to ripple through its hallways and natural light to stream in.
This design aesthetic extends to three of Westin’s restaurants – Fusion, Kangan and Mystique – which sit alongside the hotel’s enormous main pool.
#4 Delicious food
Except for breakfast, you don’t have to dine at the hotel’s main buffet restaurant (Seasonal Tastes).
Westin Turtle Bay has four more restaurants: Fusion, Kangan, Mystique and the Beach Grill. I ate at Seasonal Tastes, Kangan and Mystique and all were excellent.
Seasonal Tastes
Seasonal Tastes is located in the main building and serves breakfast and dinner. This was the setting for the best grilled calamari of my life.
There was an astonishing choice of food for breakfast, including freshly-made Eggs Benedict and sparkling wine if you wanted a fizzy start to your day. I also visited Seasonal Tastes for the buffet dinner a few times and was particularly impressed with the seafood night (oysters and grilled King Prawns anyone?).
Kangan
I ate at Kangan, the resort’s stylish Indian restaurant, a few times. Their butter chicken and Goan fish curry were both excellent.
Mystique
Although it’s a closely run contest, Mystique was my favourite restaurant at Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa.
Channelling a beach lounge concept, it served fabulous Pan Asian dishes (I recommend the Dynamite Prawns and decadent chocolate tart). Their Japanese omelette was so good that I had it twice.
#5 The Heavenly Spa
My 50-minute massage by Preet was divine.
It started with a lemon and ginger tea in the spa’s relaxation area, followed by a micro-meditation and then a blissful massage. Post-massage, there was downtime in the relaxation area with another tea and a sweet treat.
I also tried the spa’s sauna, steam room and jacuzzi which are free to use (book ahead).
#6 Stellar customer service
You might expect a certain level of customer service from a 5-star resort but the staff at the Westin went above and beyond.
A few days into my stay I had a problem with noise disruption from renovation work in the adjacent block. When I reported it to reception, they could not have been more accommodating.
They moved me to another (and better) room. I was the recipient of a basket of fruit, chocolates and a bottle of fizz. And they comped me the massage and upped my package to fully inclusive on the day of departure.
This was done with grace and a desire that I should have the best experience possible.
But all this notwithstanding, the friendliness and service across the report was first-rate.
#7 Spectacular sunsets
Yes. I get that the hotel isn’t responsible for nature’s wonders. But I am just saying.
What I was less keen on
So far, so excellent. However, the Westin Turtle Bay is not a perfect hotel.
It’s safe to say that the Westin Turtle Bay doesn’t front one of the best beaches in Mauritius.
Although there are a few stretches of sand, there isn’t much beach to speak of and the shoreline is rocky. Immediately north of the adult-only pool, there is a wider stretch of sandy beach.
However, the hotel’s beach was clean and there were plenty of sunbeds, beanbags and hammocks from which to take in the views.
I found the beach towel policy irksome. There were no towel stations at either of the hotel’s pools. Instead, you were provided with two towels per room which were replaced with fresh ones as part of the turndown service.
Although not a deal-breaker, you need to make a reservation for the resort’s à la carte restaurants.
Finally, if you are planning to take a stroll to the nearest town or village, forget it. For some, staying at Westin Turtle Bay may resemble a gilded cage.
But frankly, that is not uncommon in Mauritius.
Is The Westin Turtle Bay Worth it?
Westin Turtle Bay is a stylish and sophisticated hotel with high levels of customer service, perfect for a relaxing stay in Mauritius. Its rooms are spacious and comfortable, dining options are extensive and the food is superb.
You may want to think twice if you are looking for a smaller boutique-style hotel or want to walk for miles along a sandy beach.
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About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.