Stretching along the beach at Pointe aux Piments on the north-west coast of Mauritius, the Recif Attitude is a relaxed and simple adults-only boutique hotel of just 70 rooms. The resort occupies several low-rise buildings linked with wooden boardwalks, with the architecture bringing to mind a modern Cubist Mediterranean style with white paint and wooden features predominating. The dominant feature has to be the gorgeous rim-flow swimming pool poised just above the sand of the beach looking out over the marine reserve.

Recently renovated, the 70 modern, open plan rooms are very simple but the overall feel is calm and restful thanks to the restrained colour palette utilised. Couple Standard Rooms are tucked away in the gardens but we think the Couple Standard Beachfront Rooms are definitely worth the upgrade for their better position. Decorated in shades of beige and soft blue, the signature feature is the use of takamaka wood which is native to the island, as a decorative feature on the wall. The top choice though has to be the larger Deluxe Beach Front rooms (35m² versus the 25m² of the Standard rooms) which also offer stunning views out over the lagoon – the perfect choice for honeymooners!

Being a small resort with just 70 rooms, you obviously don’t have the same variety in terms of restaurants as the much larger resorts – that said the Recif Attitude does offer a couple of different restaurants as well as a brilliantly positioned bar. The main restaurant, the Pointe aux Piments, is located right above the beach whilst L’Ocean, specializing in sea food, is a candle-lit Bohemian beach shack where you can dine under the stars with your feet in the sand.

Being on the west coast, the Recif Attitude enjoys spectacular sunsets and the place to enjoy them (exotic cocktail in hand of course!) is at La Siréne bar – a lovely little canopy bar between the restaurant and the pool – or (even better) whilst slouched on bean bags under a lantern-lit thatched umbrella on the beach!

It’s probably fair to say that the Recif Attitude doesn’t have the best beach on the island with it being fairly small and rocky underfoot so reef shoes are advised when swimming. On the brighter side, it’s a short swim out to the reef where you can enjoy snorkelling amongst the colourful tropical fish - otherwise head out on the glass-bottomed boat, a kayak or pedal boat. Further afield, the village of Grand Baie with its boutiques and the markets of Port Louis area 20 minute drive away. Many guests though, will no doubt simply choose to spend most of their time relaxing around the stunning pool - or if even that’s too much like hard work, head off to the Spa Attitude, with its three treatment rooms and hammam, which provides a range of blissful treatments!