InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort

InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

The InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort, a Michelin Key Selected property, generally receives positive feedback from guests, offering a luxurious escape on the island's northwest coast. The resort is celebrated for its stunning ocean views, well-maintained facilities, and dedicated staff, though some aspects, particularly regarding the beach for swimming and consistency in dining, have drawn criticism.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The overall sentiment for InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort is largely positive, with many guests describing their stays as "amazing" and "paradise-like." Review scores frequently highlight excellent staff performance, comfortable accommodations, and enjoyable dining. However, a minority of reviews indicate areas for improvement, such as occasional maintenance issues and a less-than-ideal beach for swimming.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently praise several key aspects of the resort:

• Service & Hospitality: The staff, from reception to concierge and restaurant teams, are frequently lauded for being friendly, helpful, welcoming, and very well-trained. Specific mentions include Mr. Kevin Ritoo (chef concierge), Rikesh (breakfast staff), and Vipin for their outstanding assistance.
• Views & Ambiance: The resort offers incredible views of the Indian Ocean, particularly from ocean-facing rooms and restaurants. The physical environment, with its lush greenery and tranquil Tombeau River nearby, contributes to a serene and relaxing atmosphere.
• Amenities & Facilities: The resort boasts excellent facilities including two heated infinity pools, a well-equipped kids' club, a full-service spa, and various land and water sports. Guests appreciate the spaciousness of the resort, allowing for comfortable relaxation even when full.
• Design: The resort emphasizes a contemporary style, providing modern comforts within a luxurious setting, with some architecture paying homage to the island's heritage.

3. Room Quality

The 210 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites are generally described as spacious, comfortable, and clean. Ranging from 480 to 640 sq ft, rooms offer ample space to unwind. Many rooms feature stunning views of the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean or lush tropical gardens, often with furnished balconies or terraces. Bathrooms are spacious and often come with luxurious bathtubs and separate showers. Suites offer an extra touch of luxury, some with separate living areas and personal butler service. Guests recommend choosing rooms on the 2nd floor or the left-hand side of the hotel for breathtaking vistas. While most feedback is positive, some guests have reported occasional maintenance issues, unpleasant odors, or rooms feeling slightly dated.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort is generally rated as excellent, offering a variety of cuisines across its four restaurants and two bars.

• Restaurants:
  • Senso: The international buffet restaurant, serving lavish breakfast spreads and themed dinners with live cooking stations. While breakfast is widely praised for its variety, some guests find the buffet repetitive for dinner after a few days or note long lines at live cooking stations.
  • Noble House: A beachfront Thai-Vietnamese Asian fusion restaurant, open for dinner, offering three-course menus.
  • Veda: A contemporary Indian fine-dining restaurant boasting eight chefs, each with a different specialty, also open for dinner with three-course menus. Indian cuisine options are particularly praised by guests.
  • Segala: A Mediterranean restaurant featuring Italian-, Spanish-, Greek-, and Turkish-inspired dishes, serving all three meals.
• Breakfast: The breakfast spread is described as wide-ranging and delicious.
• Bars: Talipot Bar, the lobby bar, offers panoramic sea views and a refined selection of drinks.
• Overall Food Quality: Food is generally excellent across the board, especially at the à la carte restaurants. Some guests have noted that the quality of food at the main buffet restaurant can be mediocre compared to the à la carte options, and drinks at the pool bar can be disappointing.

5. Service & Staff

Guest feedback consistently highlights the exceptional service and friendly demeanor of the staff. Many describe the staff as helpful, welcoming, cooperative, and very well-trained in all services. Specific team members are often mentioned by name for their outstanding assistance. The concierge service is also praised for assisting with inquiries and organizing transportation and tours. There are a few isolated comments about slow service in certain areas or staff having difficulty understanding requests.

6. Location & Accessibility

The resort is nestled amidst lush greenery in Balaclava, on the northwest coast of Mauritius, overlooking Balaclava Bay and the Indian Ocean.

• Neighborhood: It offers a serene escape with the Tombeau River flowing nearby, providing opportunities for leisurely walks, bird watching, kayaking, and canoeing.
• Attractions: The resort is conveniently located close to the capital, Port Louis (approximately 20 minutes drive), and within easy reach of northern touristic zones. Nearby attractions include Pointe aux Piments Public Beach (1 km), Rivulet Terre Rouge Bird Sanctuary (6.5 km), L'Aventure Du Sucre Sugar Museum (6.6 km), and Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (7.4 km). The hotel's concierge can arrange personalized outings and curated excursions to places like Le Morne Cultural Landscape, Casela Nature Park, Chamarel Seven Coloured Earth Geopark, and island hopping tours.
• Transport: The resort is about an hour's drive from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. The concierge is also helpful in organizing taxis for days out. Free parking is available.

7. Value & Pricing

The InterContinental Mauritius Resort Balaclava Fort is generally considered good value for a luxury resort, especially when considering all-inclusive packages. While restaurants can be pricey when not on an all-inclusive plan, the all-inclusive package covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner at various restaurants, along with drinks including South African wines, cocktails with local spirits, mineral water, and soft drinks. It's noted that February is often considered a low season, potentially offering better rates. The average price for a weeknight was recently around $503, with weekend nights averaging $262.

8. Common Complaints

While overall reviews are positive, some recurring issues and criticisms have been noted by guests:

• Beach Quality for Swimming: The coastline directly in front of the resort is often described as rocky and not ideal for swimming, though it's lovely for relaxing and water activities. Boats are available to take guests to better snorkeling spots.
• Maintenance Issues & Odors: Some past guests have reported occasional maintenance issues in rooms and unpleasant odors, specifically a slight smell of mold in some cases.
• Buffet Repetitiveness & Crowding: The main buffet restaurant, Senso, can feel repetitive after a few days, and long lines at the egg station during breakfast have been mentioned.
• Slow Service: While overall service is excellent, some guests have experienced slow service in specific areas.
• A La Carte Reservations: Getting same-day reservations at the à la carte restaurants can sometimes be difficult.
• Minibar Exclusion: All-inclusive rates do not typically include stocked minibars in the rooms.

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