Initially we booked 4 nights here with a plan to extend our stay or move on somewhere else. We were a bit concerned with some of the negative reviews but it definitely looked our sort of place - a small property with stunning beachside location that offered a limited facility all-inclusive. Well, we arrived after the 12 hour flight from London to be told they were overbooked and we’d been “upgraded” to their sister hotel, Preskil Island Resort (see separate review). Our brief view of Astroea Beach left us wanting more and so after assurances from Southern Cross that we would not be overbooked again, we decided to spend the remaining 5 nights of our Mauritius holiday here. Accommodation We booked a 2 bedroom bungalow and were allocated 205 which has a direct sea view and easy access to beach. It looks like rooms have been spruced up with comfy, but firm beds and a newish sofa in the lounge. There is a mini bar fridge, included on the all inclusive package (beer and soft drinks topped up daily). The bathroom had a new loo and washbasin but the tiles seem to be have been part painted in emulsion by a small child or visually impaired person. The grouting is pretty grim too. The electric shower is an instant Triton heater so water pressure is compromised . There is no hot water into the bungalow so I had to boil the kettle in order to shave in the wash basin, but this was no real hassle. There was an air conditioner in each bedroom which was effective, albeit noisy. Despite some poor decoration in the bathroom, everything was kept spotlessly clean. Food and Beverage We loved the small, part-open restaurant directly above the beach. Breakfast had a selection of fruit, cereal, pastries, bread etc with a toaster for the bread. There was a bean coffee machine if you wanted something different to the filter coffee and tea was served in a teapot, essential for us Brits. There was a number of hot items for order including great omelettes, eggs, sausage (chicken), bacon and crepes. Lunch was a good choice menu of salads, pasta, burger, fish and paninis. The choice of all-inclusive items was more limited and did not seem to have a logic as to why they were included or not, but we loved the fish “burger” which was actually a large fillet of sea bream. Dinner was 3 courses with a choice of 2 items for each course, which you selected at breakfast time. This was absolutely fine by us and avoided food waste. All food was freshly prepared (with love) and cooked to order from the tiny kitchen, so this could take time, which was absolutely no problem when you had the amazing view and you are on holiday. The all inclusive drinks were good for the price point. The wine was Cape Bay South African which was perfectly OK. Phoenix lager was on draft and there was even large glasses (0.6l). Double measures of spirits were no problem on request and there was a selection of cocktails. You signed for drinks and your meals at the end of each session. Beach and grounds Stu
40 Reviews