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Metro Checks In to the Riu Palace, a beachside hotel in the shadow of Mauritius’ most famous peak.
Mauritius is exactly how you picture a tropical island to be: turquoise waters, lush greenery and volcanic peaks.
And, you can witness it all from the Riu Palace, a TUI hotel in Le Morne, one of the island’s most popular locations.
What’s the vibe? Paint us a picture
Step inside the Riu Palace and the cool, earth-toned lobby makes an impressive first impression.
Then, your eyes adjust and you realise you’re facing picture-perfect ocean views. It’s quite the sight after a 12-hour flight in economy.
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The hotel hugs 500m of shoreline, and you’re pretty much always in view of the ocean.
The main buffet restaurant, La Riviere, and late-night bar, Le Morne Bar, are also perfectly positioned for sea views and you can, of course, pay extra for a room that faces the water.
There’s an inside-outside vibe about the place.
Many of the walkways are also open-air, so you don’t miss a second in the Mauritian sun.
The easiest way to walk the length of the hotel, though, is by taking the beachside path, also a great spot for a morning run. All of the restaurants have outdoor terraces, and even the gym has floor-to-ceiling windows so you can work out in air con, but still enjoy the outdoors.
The hotel itself is connected to another: Riu Turquoise.
While the Riu Palace is the adult-only half, Turquoise is family-friendly, complete with a kids club, sports bar and stage for entertainment.
The two sides are divided by a locked door, which can only be opened by those staying in Riu Palace – which I’ll admit, does feel a bit Hunger Games.
Riu Palace doesn’t feel luxe, exactly, but the stunning views and gourmet restaurants mean the hotel more than deserves its 4T rating, TUI’s equivalent of four stars.
Any standout features?
Each morning, you can step outside your door — or for a coffee on your balcony — and take in the views.
The hotel sits at the foot of the breathtaking Le Morne mountain.
While it’s an easy hike, one member of staff tells me they’ve had to rescue tourists after nightfall on more than one occasion.
The peak served as a refuge for escaped slaves in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the story goes that after slavery was abolished, a group of soldiers went to Le Morne, to let the slaves know they were free.
Only, upon seeing the authorities, the slaves assumed the worst — and rather than risk being recaptured, jumped off the mountain to their deaths.
In 2009, the Slave Route Monument was placed at the foot of the mountain, in memory of those who perished there.
Being able to view the mountain from the hotel felt like a gift — and a reminder that there’s so much more to this beautiful island than sunbathing and cocktails.
Aside from the stunning scenery, inside the hotel itself, the adults-only pool was always a popular spot.
Big enough so that guests have enough room, but not so sprawling you feel like you’re in a crowd of Brits abroad, the pool had a fun, yet laid-back atmosphere.
And, crucially, a swim-up bar.
What if you don’t just want to sunbathe?
The hotel has several activities on offer, including an array of watersports, from parasailing and kayaking to windsurfing.
If you book with TUI, a rep will visit the hotel during your stay. They can help with booking experiences and excursions, chosen from the TUI Musement offerings. From bike tours to visits to national parks, there’s a ton of options on offer.
A £97 full-day catameran cruise with Oceané Cruises Mauritius was one of the activities I went for — and a highlight of the trip.
We passed stunning waterfalls before dropping anchor for a BBQ while bobbing on the turquoise sea.
Finally, there was a stop at Île aux Cerfs, an uninhabited island where we enjoyed some R&R on a deserted beach.
But my favourite? For £133, I was up at the crack of dawn for a dolphin watching excursion with Adrien’s Dream, a small tour company operating out of the seaside town of Flic en Flac.
Unlike the other tour operators setting sail that morning, Adrien did things differently.
Instead of following the crowd, we ventured further out into the open ocean. With no other boats in sight, a hydraphone phone was used to listen to the clicks of dolphins underwater.
While other tourists were jumping in to swim with the animals — a practice that is strictly forbidden — I was relieved to be on a responsible tour that aims to protect the marine wildlife on the island.
And finally, for guests luckier than me, why not take to the skies in a helicopter and catch a glimpse of a nearby Underwater Waterfall?
The spectacle (which costs £315 to see in this way) is an optical illusion: the conversion of currents in the sea make it appear as if there’s a waterfall in the ocean.
Sadly, it can only be seen from above, and on my chosen day, the tropical Mauritian climate wasn’t on my side.
Can you eat and drink at the hotel?
Riu Palace is an all-inclusive hotel, and there are seven restaurants (including a la carte options, which come at an additional charge) across Palace and Turquoise.
There are various cusines on offer, from Asian fusion to a steakhouse restaurant, which was always packed with guests.
While I wouldn’t necessarily make a point of eating at buffet restaurant Le Riviere for your evening meal, it serves a solid breakfast, with lots of options, from eggs cooked to order to pastries and even curries.
The best restaurant, though, has to be Asian a la carte restaurant, Kaori. The vibe is like London’s Duck and Rice, with dark interiors and vibey low-lighting.
Stand out dishes include the beef teriyaki, prawn skewers and a delicious pad thai. I was stuffed by the time the meal was over, but didn’t want to stop eating.
Le Morne Bar was a great spot for an after-dinner digestif, with a buzzy atmosphere and genuinely good artists serenading holidaymakers. Staff were friendly and attentive, too.
Word of warning, though, if you enjoy your morning coffee, don’t get it from the standalone coffee bar. It was a flat white in name alone.
Okay, what are the rooms like?
The rooms won’t blow you away here, but they have everything you need for a comfortable stay.
The aesthetic is calm, with light wood furniture and grey decor. Beds are huge, and every room has not just coffee, but tea-making facilities too (an important plus for this Brit).
It’s worth noting that, as the hotel is so spread out, getting to your room can involve quite a walk.
Corridors inevitably look the same, and it can feel like a bit of a maze, but you’ll get your bearings after a while.
How much does it cost?
TUI offers seven-night holidays to Le Morne, Mauritius with rooms at the 4T+ Riu Palace Mauritius on an all-inclusive basis from £1,848 per person.
This price is based on two adults sharing a Junior Suite with Balcony or Terrace with flights departing from London Heathrow on 9 October 2025 with 46kg hold luggage per adult and transfers.
Everything you need to know: at a glance
Time: Mauritius is GMT -4 hours.
Weather: The average daily temperature in October hits highs of around 27°C , dropping to 25° in June. February is the wettest month.
Adaptors: Some plug sockets will work with standard UK plugs, however, type C plugs, with two round pins, are also used.
Visas: You do not require a visa. However, British travellers must complete the Mauritius All-in-One Travel Digital Form online or on arrival.
Check in/check out: 3pm and 12om.
Disability access? Adapted rooms are available for wheelchair users. The hotel also features lifts, wheelchair accessible ramps, and at least one pool is accessible.
Standout feature: The views and activity porfolio.
Perfect for: Couples and adult-only groups.
Not right for: Families looking to splash around — for that, head to next door Riu Turquoise.
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