The Residence Mauritius — Hotel in Quatre Cocos

After spent a week in a great Airbnb in Flic en Flac we hoped to end our holiday in a luxury environment in The Residence, well it stayed with a hope.. one needs to set expectations right and The Residence being part of GHA Discovery and a 5* our expectations were set high.

Concluding it is not on par with other GHA Discovery 5* like Anantara and behind other 5* beach resorts we visited in other parts of the world. One can conclude that this a Mauritian issue where all hotels are overpriced for what you get.

Positive: great beach and clean surrounding. However keep in mind that the beach is public and it is certainly not relaxing during weekends, also many powerboats going back and forth. size of the room and view from the balcony walkable to some restaurants (which is nice as you can if then get some better food, there is a really nice lunch place on the public beach and with normal prices) Generally staff is friendly but many seem to have little experience. Food in the plantation (a la carte) was really nice. However all comes withe a hefty supplement and you end up with a bill easily comparable to any western european restaurant. Too limited selection of items without supplement. enough beach activities like SUP, canoying, snorkling (great reef!) One comment to the hotel: due to low tide the snorkling boat and engine hit the reef a few times! This is a no go!

Improvement areas: The overall feeling in the hotel and area was a bit claustophic, we were unfortunate to be there at times of full occupancy and struggled to find beach beds. Pool beds were even more difficult to find. Despite the message that one cannot reserve seats this was widely done without taken action as we witnessed. Overall too many rooms for the hotel space Food was a dissapointment with exception of The Plantation. Breakfast is fine but not at 5, ie no barista coffee's or anything special, not bad but again not 5. Buffet was not good! From undercooked gambas at seafood buffet to undercooked steak at Italian buffet (which I felt at night!) Food is extremely repetitive besides 2 cooking stations. Again not 5. Quite strange as we read positive reviews about the food.... we can only compare to other 5 and local restaurants and this is not on par. Breakfast and Dining room, especially the larger area is like a canteen. Extremely busy, staff running around, very noisy (echo) and zero ambiance. We figured out there was a butler on day of departure by finding a card in our room.. well we haven't seen or heard anyone. Safety as mentioned in the comment about the rooms. Cleaners leaving the door open the entire day is a no go! The room door is absolutely not soundproof. Poor service on the beach. If lucky we had someone asking once in an afternoon whether we would like something to drink. Weird there is no pool bar..something we missed. despite mentioning on check in several times I was GHA Titanium this didnt ring a bell. Even on check-out they asked if I wanted to become a GHA member... Cleaning is a hit or miss. On two occassions only the bed and towels were done but still a lot of sand on the tiles and bathroom table wasn't cleaned and 3 days no water replenishment. Gym is very very very sad! This is in the basement without any day light. Equipment is probably from when the hotel started 25 years ago. Many machines but old and cramped. Zero activities in the evening. Besides some mediocre singing and some poor dance performance there is nothing to do. After 10pm it is dead. At least get some pool/darts possibility.

Overall this is a solid 4* hotel but don't come here for a relaxed time (unless it is half full). Interesting is to see differences in the room prices. We ended up paying 250 euro/night whilst direct their best price was more than 100 euro/night higher and some prices are even around 450 euro/night. This hotel is certainly not worth more than what we paid, but again this is a Mauritian issue.

One tip: rent a car! Without a car it is far from everything and you can enjoy good hikes...

Our trip to The Residence Mauritius began with anticipation for a 5-star colonial-style experience. What we found was a story with two very different chapters – one of genuine charm and thoughtful details, the other of clear weaknesses that tarnished the shine.

The Golden Chapter – Where the Hotel Shone:

Let's start with the positives, because there certainly were some! The concierge was a true everyday hero, always competent and helpful. Likewise, the valet parking service – simply outstanding and super efficient! A big thumbs up for that. The cleanliness throughout the entire hotel, from the rooms to the public areas, was impeccable. Our beds? A dream of comfort!

There were culinary highlights too: the half-board offered varied theme nights for dinner and a solid breakfast buffet with freshly prepared egg dishes. The live cooking stations in the evening were a nice addition. The fitness area is top-notch, and the saunas in the spa area are a real asset. And yes, those plush towels, always available in the outdoor areas – a small but fine gesture! We also enjoyed the regular evening program with singing, music, and even a show dance band, which created a pleasant atmosphere.

The Chapter of Disillusionment – Where the 5 Stars Faded:

But then came the reality that repeatedly pulled us out of the 5-star dream. The colonial style, a clear design choice, personally struck us as rather unmodern and old-fashioned, especially when directly compared to the chic LUX Belle Mare next door. This contrast made us wonder: How can both hotels claim 5 stars when the standards are so obviously different?

The absolute biggest annoyance and a no-go for an establishment of this aspired class: the huge, bare, lovelessly designed concrete terrace directly in front of our (and many other) rooms on the second floor of the main building. A desolate sight that ruined any view.

The rooms themselves were clean but continued the sparse style. And then the thin walls! We could clearly hear the neighboring family, including children screaming – the upgraded room also had a musty smell. Small things, like a missing adapter for the kettle (which we had to request), completed the picture.

Service was a double-edged sword. The room butler, who straightened the sheets in the evening, was attentive but almost intrusive. Otherwise, the staff at the reception and for inquiries often seemed overwhelmed and not very competent. For example: for three days (!), we heard loud drilling. Only after the third call on the third day was the issue addressed by offering us an upgraded room. Proactive guest management looks different. The supposed dinner reservation requirement by 3 PM was never checked and seemed to interest no one – a confusing and unnecessary rule.

The prices for drinks at the sparse bar (which we didn't find to our taste) and the coconuts on the beach (600 Rs/approx. €12 at the hotel vs. 100 Rs in Flacq) were simply exorbitant, topped off with a 5% service charge. The internet was painfully slow at 2 Mbits. The worn-out outdoor seating furniture (though loungers were good!) and the loud scraping of chairs in the restaurant further marred the overall impression.

An Important Note for Beach Lovers (Not the Hotel's Fault!): The east coast is extremely windy in May/June. For us as a couple wanting to relax on the beach, this side of the coast was unfortunately unusable at this time of year. Next time, definitely the southwest coast!

Conclusion:

The Residence Mauritius has good approaches and some real strengths. But the sum of the shortcomings – above all, the unacceptable terrace, the service weaknesses, the excessive prices, and the thin walls – makes the claimed 5 stars seem a distant dream. For us, it was a solid 4-star experience with a significant need for improvement. If you can get a very good package deal and can overlook the mentioned points, it might be an option. Those expecting pure 5-star luxury and a relaxing beach holiday should adjust their expectations or...

I have waited so many years to be old enough to write this review. As someone who has just come back from a holiday at the Residence, now as an adult, who has been here for a grand total of 7 times from the age of 5 years old - I think it is safe to say that my sisters and I know the Residence better than most people. If I could, I would honestly get married, retire and die here - there is no place on this world I would rather be and trust me, I have been to a lot of places. I have so many core memories of this place and though it has changed over time, the Residence’s spirit remains the same. The staff members throughout my childhood who stood out to me by name were Wendy from the Kids Club - whose electric smile made everything seem so much fun, Teddy - who used to do Yoga in the pool with all the Mums, and finally Serge (I hope I’ve spelt this correctly) - who was the best and most dedicated Lifeguard I have ever met and I feel very apologetic for all the stress my sisters and I probably put him under by all the chaos we caused in the pool with the other kids when we were younger… SORRY. Kids club by the way for people with families - is SO MUCH FUN. When I used to go when I was young they had treasure hunts, muffin and pizza making, crab hunts and henna and I made so many friends. I wish I could remember each one of the Kids Club staff’s names because every single one of them deserves a mention as they made my childhood truly special. The rest of the staff here today have also made my sisters and I feel like we were 5 years old again with the world at our feet, especially Radhoa at the Plantation, who we remember from our times coming here in the past (he is running the Plantation spectacularly). Him and the Plantation team arranged a special dinner for us and told us how we are now like family. Sham too at the bar who has also been here every year we have been and FINALLY I am now old enough to have the drinks he serves - which by the way are delicious. The food served at the buffets are equally delicious, and I think it is safe to say that me and my family all go up several times for more than one helping. Sachin, who is the pool’s current main Life Guard is also doing a BRILLIANT job. Sajel in the gift shop is also lovely. The pool at the Residence is where I first learned to swim and the swings at the Kids Club is where I first learned to swing. I did my first ever waterskiing and snorkelling here and discovered Henna here too - these experiences are invaluable gifts. Everything is no less than 5 stars and the location is nothing but paradise - anyone who says otherwise is clearly wrong. It is worth every second of the 12 hours I spent in Economy Class on the plane to get here. The evening dancers are magical and the Ylang Ylang smell and wet towels you are given when you first arrive feel like heaven after the long journey. From all the friends my sisters and I have made throughout the years I can tell you for sure that we are not the only family who choose time and time again to come back here over other equally luxurious hotels each year - this one has a personal touch. If there was one thing I could improve about the hotel it would be this - please could we have Moby back in the rooms with your new video? Nostalgic I know but that old video you used to have was a classic.

Thank you so much for everything, I think its safe to say that the Residence can’t get rid of me and my family - we most definitely will continue to keep coming back again...