This is a small hotel on the coast and not near to anything really. There is a shuttle bus to the local centre for a few days a week, which is free, but every time we tried to book it it was full. First of all, the beach is man-made and not natural, very hard on the feet, and it has a few islands in the middle but they are ugly!

When you arrive at the hotel they sit you down in the reception area and then before going to your room wash your feet in water, WOW, no not wow, just a thing the staff are told to do. The lady that showed us around was polite but indicated that I was pregnant, at 51 I didn't know whether to be flattered that she thought I was young enough to be pregnant or just insulted. If you go to this hotel as a couple then go for the Sandy Lane option as it is an adults only option but it still doesn't have the 'WOW' factor that you pay extra for. For a start, the rooms are all facing 'in' not sunny rooms, there is only one that has sun in the morning with a view. The bar staff in Sandy Lane were very 'pissed-off', sorry, but they really were.

The food was average. Sorry to moan, but for £2k I expected more. It was budget. I went to the Canaries earlier this year for £325 for 7 days and had better beaches and brilliant food, champagne for breakfast. Sandy Lane was very average. If you go for that option you are entitled to eat there every evening on a special menu. The menu is limited.

CORPORATE DO'S

There were three corporate events whilst we were there. All of them meant that we had no access to the beach from Sandy Lane. The hotel organised corporate BBQ's, an event for the families of the hotel, and an event which was obviously a 'prom night' with very loud music and a load of teens running around and screaming. Sorry to be a grouch, but we are paying for staying at Sandy Lane, and we couldn't access the beach which should have been a romantic experience. There was a BBQ in the way! They obviously make money for the hotel with these do's but this detracts from the 'Sandy Lane experience' which we paid extra for.

BRADLEY

If you still feel you want to go... book your trips through Bradley, a government established reresentative. The best bit of the holiday was the dolphin trip through Bradley, half the price of the hotel reps. It was an experience not to be missed. When we arrived we expected to see maybe four dolphins... there were 40 just swimming around the bay, we swam with Bubba and the dolphins, it was amazing. This was the highlight of our holiday.

The hotel over all was very nice and quite. We stayed in the sandy land rooms as it was our honeymoon. The first room we had was full of black mould and smelt really damp. We moved to another room which was better, but we could not be offered a sea view. Our room was very dark and at the first room in a block by the staircase so noisy at times!
The main resturant was much of a muchness but always found something to eat. Breakfast Was disapointing after two weeks i was fed up of seeing same foods!
Sandy lane grill the food was much better! But could do with rotating the menu, as we ate there once each week and had the same menu.
The all inclusive as very strange. No wrist bands but you had to sign for a blank bill?
As for the beach and sea. The loungers were very comfy, the beach is man made so very rough and the sea was in a cove so smelly and not clear. We never went in during our stay! There is a beach about 20 min walk from the hotel which is the dream. White sand and clear seas!!
There is an access road at the side of the hotel so you do get random's on the beach selling things. During our stay there was also development work being done to private houses next to hotel so had a lot of tractor noise ect.

While here it was my wife's birthday so they made the room over in to the fairys nest which was a nice touch. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, but also slow!

Book your trips with Bradley on the beach cheap and good!!

A really nice hotel but as for a virgin favourite I think someone has low standards! Bit of a let down for a honeymoon, no extras or special attention paid to us.

Overall Pay a bit more and stop somewhere else.

We booked this hotel to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and to have a renewal of vows service on the beach of the hotel. The staff were simply brilliant sorting out all the arrangements we couldn't have asked for more. Everything was perfect and what we had only dreamed of but the staff at the hotel made it all real. The moment that you enter the hotel you just feel that sense of paradise and relaxtion. You are greeted with a traditional foot wash set in the stunning reception lounge. Walking through the beautiful emaculate gardens of the resort leaves you on cloud nine. We stayed at Sandy Lane which words just cannot descibe - this is a setting that we will never ever forget. If you can request room 7005 the view from this apartment is to die for. Laze around the private pool area or just sip a cocktail from the sunken bar adjacent this really is the place of dreams. The food at the resort is very good, plenty of choice and always piping hot depending on your choice even for the most fussiest of persons. Make sure you have a few shots of the rum that is dotted around the bar area and at the end of your holidays remember to bring a bottle or two back. No need to put those towels out early morning there is more than enough sun loungers whether its around the main pool or the beach, and the good thing is your not on top of the next person - plenty of space to relax. The evening entertainment is a laugh and hey who could complain your in Mauritius at a pool side bar all sand with cocktails flowing.
Would we go back to this resort - you bet we would. The Staff, the food, the drinks, the gardens, the pool areas, the beach, Room 7005 - paradise all rolled into one - Veranda Pointe aux Biches. We just cant wait to go back.

Agree with much of what has already been said. As a 3* hotel, its nice, but it is at an inflated price. Although we found Mauritius very expensive anyway.

We flew Air Mauritius (horrible, very poor service esp. on way out), with some mix-up between A/M and Virgin on time of flight out, fortunately we didn't miss the flight. Virgin rep was pretty useless - my 1:1 session with him lasted less than 5 mins. He wasn't always there when he said he'd be either. However, we tend not to rely on/need rep support so wasn't too bothered.

Hotel was very welcoming - we received an unexpected upgrade to a Sandy Lane room. Comfortable bed, reasonable layout, excellent maid service - but dark, as commented by others. Quiet though - away from the kids in other parts of hotel. We loved the adults-only concept, which was MOSTLY adhered to at the pool bar and pool. However, we did see several instances of children being allowed to eat at the Sandy Lane Grill. After some comments (not just us) this seemed to improve. One loud-mouthed g*t from Manchester was the worst culprit. His approach appeared to be 'its my holiday and everyone else can just put up with it'! Nice for all the couples hoping for a romantic/kid-free dinner...!

Food at Sandy Lane was excellent, we ate there twice. Food in main buffet was very same-y, and although we never left hungry (!), it was more like stocking up on fuel, rather than our usual holiday treat of - yummy, new food to try! Some of the bar staff were excellent, others were just plain SLOOOOW! We were very pleased to be All-Inclusive, would have been very expensive otherwise.

We used Bradley-on-the-beach for our one excursion. The cat-cruise was very good, and half the Virgin brochure price. We also went up to Grand Baie on hotel shuttle one day.

Liked the free wi-fi in the hotel lobby area, for quick check of emails etc. Spa (free Virgin massage) was pleasant. Overall a good holiday - would we go back here? Probably not. But wouldn't recommend against it either. Most reviews are pretty accurate, so read them and make up your own mind!