Service, staff, room & food is maximum a 3 star hotel - the only positive point is the great location… 2 years ago we have spent Xmas in So Sofitel in Bel Ombre and we were so delighted, we have even extended our stay by one week and spent also the New Year’s Eve and our Wedding anniversary there. With the staff from Bel Ombre who took such great care of us we are still in contact. Back in Mauritius, we wanted to see something else, that is why we changed the properties. We are Diamond members with Sofitel, because we are staying in Accor 5* hotels everywhere we go and we were never so disappointed like we were now. Usually we always get upgraded to a better quality room – here, when we arrived, they have given us the worse room – 105 with the view at a WC building of the pool, we have even not seen the sea, although as per the booking, we have booked the “Sea view” suite… Mrs Priya – the front dest Manager - though assured us, we have got a very good “just renovated” room… The suites are not at all at the level of the 5* hotels, the furniture is minimalistic, not really of quality or design, the finitions are very bad, the air-conditioning not properly working - just the price is 5*… Again, nothing to compare with the amazing So Sofitel at Bel Ombre… 2 years ago, every day the staff made us a little surprise to make our stay more enjoyable, here, everyday we had some bad surprises till our departure. It started even prior to our arrival – usually one week before, the hotel send us an email to coordinate our reservation – this time we got nothing, so 3 days before our flight, we wrote to the hotel if there are some festive reservations to make in the restaurant – we have got the reply that nothing is needed. But of course it was… Upon our arrival, again Mrs Priya have assured us to reserve a good corner table for 2 for the Xmas Gala dinner. When we arrived the evening to the main restaurant, even before the official start, both corner tables were taken, the restaurant Manager Mr Vishel told that Mrs Priya did not inform him and they wanted to give us the last corner table by the pole and beside the washrooms! When we refused, and ask Mr Vishel to find a solution, he refused, being very rude with us, he insulted us telling we can leave if we are not happy and all the waiters afterwards ignored us… One of the corner tables got empty after a short while, but the staff took there other clients, without proposing us to sit there what we have reserved with Mrs Priya. She was not anymore in service and would be back only after 2 days. So for us, it was the ever worse Xmas experience for such expensive price! We did stay only to drink the expensive bottle of wine we have ordered and paid 2 days ago to assure we have it for the Gala dinner. We have not eaten the gala dinner, that is why also we did not sign the invoice. When we have tried to speak with the hotel Management, Mr Parvesh Jungmohun and the hotel Manager Mr Kamal Nundloll – they did not apologize, in the opposite, they were again very rude with us, telling it was our choice not to eat and that even if we did not sign, we need to pay the 260€ - a tiny amount of the total invoice for the 7 nights stay, they even told they will call the police and do not let us to catch up our flight. So we needed to pay, but we definitely consider, it was not correct and was wrongfully invoiced. On top of everything, it was our 10th wedding anniversary that day, what we have mentioned while booking with the hotel when booking our 7 nights suite stay… Unprecedented with any other hotel where we were always respected as valuable guests, and totally unacceptable taking in account we are the highest Diamond level members in Accor group and paying over 1000€ per night just for the room! We had a beautiful sunny week in Mauritius having then some most delicious dinners in Flic-en-Flac which I will review, but the stay in the hotel was a nightmare in every aspect! I could enumerate all the issues we have encountered there, but then I would have to write 5 pages. Just find these few pics to illustrate my review……