20 Degrees South break

20 Degrees South

Our rating: First Class

Rooms

There are 35 rooms in the hotel, decorated in a charming, fresh style, blending antiques with more contemporary elements for a relaxed, homey feel.

Each room is slightly different, but all are set within two-story buildings, and have a terrace overlooking the coconut grove that borders the sea. All have air-conditioning, television, minibar, safe and en suite bathroom, with bathtub or shower.

Please note that some of the balcony balustrades are lower than the EU recommended height. Please let us know if you have any concerns about this and do take care when using the balconies.

Location

20 Degrees South has a fantastic location at the mouth of Grand Baie, looking out over the turquoise lagoon, and nestled in a coconut grove. It has a small, rocky, white sand beach, fringed by palms. Nearby is the liveliness of Grand Baie, with lots of restaurants, shops and bars.

The hotel provides a free water taxi service four times a day on a traditional pirogue boat to Grand Baie, just five minutes away, making it easy for guests to eat out in the evenings or do a bit of shopping during the day.

Although the hotel only has a small beach, five minutes' car-ride away is Mon Choisy Beach, a long stretch of beautiful beach, perfect for strolling, swimming and sunbathing.

Food and drink

There is one restaurant at the hotel, situated 15 meters from the water's edge, with a terrace almost touching the beach.

Dining quality is superb here, under the direction of a talented local chef, with dishes created principally from the finest of the island's local produce. There is a lovely evening ambience as you dine beside the sea, soothed by soft music from the grand piano in the library.

Lunchtime snacks may consist of a delicious salad or plate of carpaccio, while dinners are à la carte, with a choice of some of the best seafood on the island. Dining is also possible on board the MS Lady Lisbeth, a 17-meter, 1920s teak boat, carefully restored to its former glory. Every evening, the boat departs with a maximum of eight guests for a private dining cruise inside the bay.

Please note, there will be a formal dress code required whilst dining at the restaurant in the evenings. Despite this, the hotel are very flexible with dining, allowing you to finish a bottle of wine the following evening & even swap your inclusive dinner (if on half board) for lunch should you choose to dine out one evening.

Families

The hotel is only suitable for older children, who must be 12 years or older to stay.

The hotel has two pairs of charm rooms, with interconnecting doors. A third bed can also be put in to certain rooms for an adult or a child.

Facilities and activities

Despite its smaller size, the hotel doesn't lack facilities. There are two swimming pools, and the hotel's position on the edge of the lagoon, at the mouth of the bay, means it's a good location for water sports for both novices and those who are more experienced. Water sports, such as wind-surfing, dinghy sailing and sea kayaking trips, are included in the cost of your stay, while waterskiing, big-game fishing and diving can also be arranged at an extra cost. 

The hotel also offers one hour-long complimentary snorkeling trip every day to the nearby reef. It also has a selection of complimentary bikes you can borrow, so you can easily cycle around the area.

Local excursions

The hotel runs regular afternoon snorkeling trips off the islet of Coin de Mire. Trips to local attractions like Pamplemousses Botanical Garden and Sugar Museum and the capital, Port Louis, are interesting, and only a short distance away.

The village of Grand Baie is just a short complimentary boat ride away, in a traditional Mauritian pirogue that departs three times a day. This is the nightlife hub of Mauritius, with a variety of bars and restaurants for a casual drink, or a fancy night out.