Are you wondering whether staying at the SALT of Palmar in Mauritius is worth it?
Then you’ve come to the right place. I split an 11-day Mauritius solo vacation between this 4-star beach resort and the Westin Turtle Bay and am excited to give you my unfiltered opinion.
Spoiler alert: I loved this hotel! Read my SALT of Palmar review to discover why I liked it and if it could be the right hotel for you.
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About SALT of Palmar
SALT of Palmar was established in 2018 as Mauritius’s first eco-hotel by the Lux Collective. It is an adult-only boutique beachfront resort with 63 rooms and was crowned as one of the World’s Greatest Places by Time Magazine after its launch.
SALT of Palmar is located in the Flacq District on the northeast coast of Mauritius. It is an hour’s drive north of the airport.
Like most resorts in Mauritius, there is precious little around the hotel and the nearest town is 15 minutes by car.
My Experience at SALT of Palmar (Review)
So, what is it like to stay at SALT of Palmar? Here’s my honest lowdown.
What I loved about SALT of Palmar
#1 The warm welcome
The warm welcome at SALT was a taste of good things to come.
There is no reception desk creating a barrier between staff and guests. Instead, a few members of staff mill around the reception area which has a seating area and a small shop.
I was relieved of my suitcase as soon as my taxi pulled up and served a refreshing welcome drink. Check-in was done on an iPad on a comfy sofa.
#2 My lovely room on the beach
I booked one of the hotel’s Bang on the Beach rooms. Boy, was that description accurate. The gently lapping waves of the ocean were just metres away and I could practically wiggle my toes in the sand.
It had a real beach house vibe and was perfectly positioned for capturing those Indian Ocean sunrises.
This small but well-designed rectangular room (about 31 sq. meters) had a warm teal green and russet palette with wooden fixtures. There was suitcase storage space, a toilet and an open-plan bathroom near the entrance and doors opened onto a balcony at the opposite end of the room.
The king-size Carpe Diem bed was hand-crafted in Sweden and was super comfortable. This was dressed with 100% Egyptian cotton linen and pleasingly plump pillows.
There was good lighting throughout the room and plentiful power points with USB sockets, including next to the bed. Wardrobe space was generous with removable wooden hangers.
The air-conditioning was efficient yet quiet. The Wi-Fi worked well and there was an in-room safe.
I loved the thoughtful items in the room. These included a plug-in mozzie zapper, a yoga mat and block, and a beach basket. There was also a soft bathrobe made from coffee and slippers.
A fridge isn’t supplied as standard – I later discovered that you can request one – but homemade snacks are provided. There’s a kettle, tea and coffee supplies and drinking water.
There is no TV in the rooms at SALT of Palmar. Instead, there’s a superb Roberts radio. The hotel has a chilled radio station and I managed to connect my Spotify playlists to the radio via Bluetooth.
The balcony was small but could accommodate a table and two chairs.
The room’s bathroom was supplied with toiletries in eco-friendly refillable containers and the Egyptian cotton towels were fluffy.
The massive shower cubicle had a rainfall head and plenty of shelving for your own smellies. Weirdly, it didn’t have a door. This was fine for me as a solo traveller but may be less than ideal if you are travelling with someone else.
#3 The hotel’s design
The Salt of Palmar is a riot of colours and an Instagrammer’s paradise.
Mauritian architect Jean‐François Adam designed the hotel to work in harmony with the natural environment. In many ways, it reminded me of a Moroccan riad.
At its centre is a small lap pool. Gentle breezes ripple through its hallways and open-plan areas and natural light streams in and shines spotlights on bodies of water and greenery.
French designer Camille Walala is responsible for the interior decoration. Its bold colours pop and reflect those of the island.
#4 Stellar eco-credentials
The owners of SALT of Palmar take sustainability very seriously.
Products are locally sourced, from the soap in the bathroom to hand-crafted crockery made by a local potter. The zero single-use plastic policy at the resort extends to the room key which is made from recycled plastic.
#5 Fabulous food
SALT of Palmar is rightly proud of its locally sourced food.
I feasted like a king here. There is only one restaurant and no reservations are needed.
Not a bland, lukewarm buffet in sight here. With the exception of the award-winning pastry counter at the SALT Bakery counter in the morning, everything is à la carte, from breakfast through to dinner.
The food is excellent and the hotel aims to take guests on a culinary journey, filled with traditions and exquisite flavours. Everything is fresh, homemade and seasonal and the menu has a map indicating the provenance of the ingredients.
Room service is available if you don’t fancy leaving your room.
#6 Yummy cocktails
A lazy beachside vacation is the perfect chance for me to try new cocktails and SALT of Palmar did not disappoint. There are two bars: one by the pool and a lovely rooftop terrace.
#7 Wide range of activities
A lazy vacation is fine but SALT of Palmar can help if you want to do more.
From sunrise yoga to channelling your inner Picasso, the hotel offers a broad programme of activities. Many of them are free and they can be booked via the hotel’s app.
The boathouse has pedal boats, paddleboards and kayaks for rent and runs daily snorkelling trips. I enjoyed the trip on their glass-bottomed boat.
#8 Gorgeous and tranquil beach
SALT of Palmar is located on one of the best beaches in Mauritius (although it can be a little breezy). Protected by a coral reef, the sea is calm and the white sand beach is cleaned every day.
There were plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas as well as beanbags and hammocks. I liked the Meditation Station, hydration stations, complimentary sunscreen and aloe vera. There were even brushes to wipe the sand from your feet.
#9 Heavenly spa
I highly recommend treating yourself at SALT Equilibrium.
My massage began with 15 minutes in the spa’s salt room, a healing combination of chronotherapy and salinized air. Under the gentle guidance of Anju, my therapist, I selected the type of salt and oil for my massage.
It was divine.
#10 Superb staff
Leaving the best until last. The staff are the hotel’s finest asset.
Without exception, service levels were off the scale. I have rarely come across a more friendly and helpful group of people in my 30+ years of travelling.
By the time I left, I felt like part of their family.
What I was less keen on
To be fair, there is not a lot I would change about SALT of Palmar.
Although activities are posted on a noticeboard, there is a reliance on the app. However, I found it to be glitchy, displaying some 404 errors.
If you are planning to take a stroll to the nearest town or village, forget it. For some, staying at SALT of Palmar may resemble a gilded cage.
But frankly, that is not uncommon in Mauritius.
How Much Does It Cost to Stay at SALT of Palmar, Mauritius?
I paid €187 per night in 2023 for a Bang on the Beach room at SALT of Palmar. Cheaper rooms are available. All room rates include breakfast.
You can pay for food and drink as you go or upgrade to half-board or All-Inclusive
How to Get to SALT of Palmar
If you are not hiring a car, the easiest way to get to SALT of Palmar is on an airport transfer. This cost me less than €50.
Is SALT of Palmar Worth it?
SALT of Palmar is a superb hotel, perfect for a relaxing Mauritius vacation with sky-high levels of customer service. I loved its approach to sustainability and the way it supports local communities.
You may want to think twice if you are looking for the extensive buffets, flat-screen TVs and facilities of big resort hotels. But if you are looking for a more culturally rich experience where staff call you by your first name, this could be the place for you.
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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.