Travel Seen is excited to feature one of our newest Been & Seen hotels: the innovative SALT at Palmar on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.
Breaking boundaries, SALT is a unique proposition, a lifestyle boutique beachfront property, delivering a 5-star experience that focuses on sustainability and locality for adults only.
Mixing modern amenities and analogue details, this hotel encourages guests to immerse themselves in island life and care for the environment, yet with no compromise on luxury.
In each room is a Roberts radio and Yogi Bare mat, alongside homemade snacks and locally-sourced toiletries in eco-packaging. There’s a library packed with Mauritian books and the SALT Bakery serving fresh pastries, home-roasted coffee and island-grown teas.
But there’s also 100% Egyptian cotton linen on the beds, a rooftop cocktail bar and free high-speed Wifi throughout the hotel.
In The Good Kitchen expect meals cooked six ways: wok, tandoor, grill, smoke, bake and slow. Snacks and drinks can be served on Palmar beach and there’s 24-hour in-room dining too.
And guests are greatly encouraged to get out and explore the island, with “cultural immersion activities” to choose from.
With its zero single-use plastic and zero food waste policy, use of local suppliers and showcasing Mauritius in every detail, SALT at Palmar is just the ticket for a luxurious holiday with a conscience that really promotes this beautiful Indian Ocean island.
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Stay
The 59 rooms offer clean, white spaces with pops of Mauritian colours: bright blues, sunshine yellow and rusty reds reminiscent of the island’s Salt Flats in Tamarin.
Regardless of which you pick expect: a king size Carpe Diem bed, 100% Egyptian cotton bed linen and towels, a yoga mat, Roberts radio and rain shower in the bathroom.
The unique toiletries in each accommodation are all natural and produced locally, while the dry amenities are packaged in stone paper.
Little details provide a real sense of place, like the homemade snacks and a beach basket made from recycled plastic which is hand woven on the island.
Rooms vary in size and amenities from the entry-level Garden View Room to the top-level Best On Beach.
Eat
SALT at Palmar is a real foodie’s hotel. As with everything here the focus is on locality and sustainability. So expect lots of big Mauritian flavours and the chance to have a go at cooking yourself.
“Food is a huge part of Mauritian culture. It says it all about this island’s story. It’s African. It’s Indian. It’s Chinese. It’s French.”
The main restaurant has interactive dining stations and is open for three meals a day. All of the ingredients come from local farms and support farming communities on Mauritius.
At Salt Bakery there’s tea and artisan breads served with homemade nut butters and jams – a dreamy place to start the day. And in the day there are Mauritian snacks and drinks served at The Beach.
For cocktails there’s The Rooftop Bar where guests head to for a pre-dinner aperitivo and The Pool Bar boasts craft beers brewed on the island.
Explore
The hotel is located on the eastern shores of Mauritius close to Belle Mare, 70 minutes transfer from the international airport.
On its doorstep is a stunning white sand beach and lagoon, and guests are actively encouraged to get out and explore further thanks to the This is Mauritius guidebook written by locals; cultural immersion activities; and convertible car hire that’s available.
SALT at Palmar can organise bicycle hire and sunrise horse riding from the hotel. On the list of organised activities is An Exploration of Mystical Le Morne, Deep within the South of Mauritius and Life in the Sugarcane Fields.
On land you can experience one of the island’s tropical golf courses. Or at sea a day on the water sailing along the coast is certainly worth the time.
Why here?
Take a dip – a palm encircled pool with extra comfy sun beds and a stretch of white sand beach offer more than enough space for guests to find a quiet spot to relax.
Chill out – like everything at SALT the spa does things differently. SALT Equilibrium is all about the healing power of salt. There’s a Salt Room with halotherapy. “No nasties” manicures and pedicures. And freestyle massages tailored completely to you.
Work up a sweat – there’s plenty to keep guests active on both land and water. Included with each stay is kayaking, snorkelling with a guide, aquagym, stand-up-paddle and transparent-bottom kayaks and boats.
Book worm – a celebration of Mauritian life is to be found at the library. A great place to find a holiday read that will ensure the reader falls even further in love with the island.
Our take
SALT wants its guests to “take home more than a tan” so has created a Skill Swap. If you’re up for learning something new or have a skill you can teach, the Skill Swap will match you with a local to share their, or your, skills with.
One of the biggest problems facing the food industry is waste and at SALT guests can take part in the hotel’s Food Scrap Regrowth experience to learn more about how they can play their part in reducing food waste.
