Zilwa Attitude

We’ve just returned from the best holiday ever at Zilwa Attitude Resort in Mauritius, and I can confidently say it was the trip of a lifetime! This holiday gave us everything we hoped for: relaxation, fun, and unforgettable family memories. The Resort and Facilities Zilwa is a beautifully rustic resort, perfectly blending natural charm with comfort. Unlike modern, marble-heavy hotels, its unique style makes you feel like you’re on a true tropical island escape. The resort boasts stunning pools, private beaches, and gorgeous views that are even better than the pictures in the brochure! The resort has so much to offer. The kids’ club was a highlight for us, as it gave our three daughters a fantastic time while allowing my husband and me to enjoy quality time together. The spa was another treat; I had two incredible massages at very reasonable prices that left me feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The boathouse also offers a range of activities, which we enjoyed when they were available (more on that later). Overall, the facilities were excellent. Our Accommodation We stayed in a Family Lux Room, which far exceeded our expectations. The room was spacious, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a large balcony. It was perfect for our family, providing plenty of room to relax after busy days. Dining Experience The dining options at Zilwa were diverse, and we were particularly impressed with a couple of standout restaurants: • Lor Disab, the beach restaurant, was absolutely outstanding. Dining there as a couple in the evening was magical, with divine food, a stunning setting, and perfect service. • The Thai restaurant was another favorite, offering excellent food in a beautiful setting. The large buffet restaurant was good for variety, but we did encounter some challenges with service there (details below). Shoutouts to Exceptional Staff We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to several staff members who made our stay truly special: • Fatima and Zainab at the kids’ club were incredible with our daughters, creating an unforgettable experience for them. • Sharmila, my masseuse, gave me a fantastic 90-minute treatment that was one of the highlights of the trip. • Zalfah from Lor Disab was so kind, attentive, and efficient, especially with our daughters. She made dining stress-free for us and always went the extra mile. Room for Improvement While our experience was mostly fantastic, there were some issues that detracted from the overall experience: 1. Service Inconsistencies: • Some staff were absolutely incredible, but unfortunately, there were others who were noticeably unmotivated. • The buffet restaurant service was particularly slow. It often took multiple requests to get basic items like water, tea, or coffee, which was frustrating. • This inconsistency also extended to the boathouse, where trips for snorkeling and other activities were frequently canceled—even when the weather and sea conditions seemed fine. 2. Stray Dogs on the Property: • While I understand the island’s culture, seeing stray dogs roaming the resort was unsettling. We even found dog mess on the beach and saw a dog eating off plates at one of the restaurants, which was unpleasant. Final Thoughts Despite some service hiccups and the stray dog issue, Zilwa Attitude is a breathtaking resort that gave us an incredible family holiday. The stunning location, excellent facilities, and standout staff members like Fatima, Zainab, Sharmila, and Zalfah made this a trip we will never forget. With a little improvement in service consistency and management of stray animals, this resort could easily be perfect. Thank you, Zilwa, for an amazing holiday—Mauritius and Zilwa now hold a very special place in our hearts. Rating: 4/5 Read less

We had a wonderful 12 night stay at the Zilwa Attitude. I have so much to say so this review is a long one! We stayed 13-25 December 2024  (2 adults and one 7 year old) in a Beach Front room (room 1622) which was on the 3rd floor. We also had a friend with us who was in a superior room (2112). The only differences between the rooms are the views - they are the same size with the same sized beds etc. our view was absolutely stunning - a panoramic view of the lagoon. Could not have asked for a more beautiful view!  The room itself was very comfortable, big king sized bed, spacious (even with our son on the sofa bed). It was cleaned daily by Anand who is the sweetest man and could not do enough for us and always checked if we had everything we required. You can restock your mini fridge yourself for free with water, beer, Fanta, coke etc from the small bulk shop and there are other items there that you can purchase for a small supplement. Resort The resort is maintained to a high standard with staff always sweeping leaves, cleaning up and tidying. The staff will serve you drinks to your sunlounger! It's set on a beautiful lagoon with far reaching views and palm trees dotted lazily about the shore. The only thing to note here is that the water is *not* clear - it's quite murky/sludgy so do not come with expectations of crystal clear water. However it was lovely and warm and super shallow so perfect for little ones to splash about in and the view is just perfect. The pools are lovely and cool (not cold) and are not chlorinated so our son spent hours upon hours splashing about. Even though the hotel was busy, we never struggled for sunloungers. Spa The spa here is really very excellent. I went three times when I was here! I must mention Natasha who not only was a pleasure to deal with but gave two of the most fantastic massages I have ever had.  She is a real asset to the hotel and spa. Food One thing about this hotel is that you will definitely not go hungry! Plentiful breakfast buffet serving both continental, pancakes, waffles, cooked (eggs on demand which is lovely - no claggy fried eggs!) as well as local fare.  Lunch can be taken either a la carte (salads, burgers etc) or at the small poolside restaurant as a buffet which whilst smaller was excellent -lots of fresh fish. The evening buffet was fine - I wouldn't say it's superb but there are plenty of options and you won't go hungry. If you are a fussy eater you may get a little bored but if you eat most things you'll be happy.  We ate at the Indian and Thai restaurants and both were excellent - I had the best curry I've ever eaten at the Indian. It felt nice to switch up the dinner options as well so as not to get too repetitive and felt like we'd left the resort even though we hadn't. The island BBQ at Grand Zil is superb - even though this tiny island is just a few minutes away via a pontoon/boat, you feel a million miles away. The lunch again is delicious lots of fresh seafood and meat. Lying in the sea hammocks drinking a delicious rum cocktail was a memory I won't forget. On one day we required a packed lunch which was very generous and varied and with a prior booking you can also have an early continental breakfast if required (we required a 5.30am breakfast one day which was no issue!) On Christmas eve the hotel really pulled out all the stops for the buffet - steak, prawns, oysters, lobster, spit roast pork - you name it they had it and it was marvellous. The staff went above and beyond to make the evening enjoyable and had decorated the restaurant beautifully. Entertainment/activities  This hotel is set up extremely well to cater for all - a kids club (which we didn't use but heard it was very good), free watersports (such as kayaking SUP boarding etc), gym, tennis court, and a very good guest services which give you a lot of information. We did the full day (6hrs) catamaran trip the hotel offered for a relatively small supplement (around £35pp) which was fantastic - Jonson and David were superb hosts and we had the most wonderful day cruising along the coast, snorkeling, drinking lethal cocktails, listening to music and generally having a blast. They were also fantastic with our son making him feel so included. They whipped up a gorgeous BBQ lunch (again lovely fresh meat/fish and salads etc) and we all said it was one of the best days we've had in a long time. We loved it so much that we did it for a second time but hired out the whole catamaran to ourselves - a really special Christmas eve treat! We also (stupidly) did a trip with "Big John". Do NOT be fooled by some of the other reviews (like we were) - he is quite pushy/rude (certainly not the "legend" that the reviews seem to paint him as) and we paid through the absolute nose for what we are now describing as the "dirty dolphin" tour. We took a taxi all the way to the south and then a very ropey speed boat to see dolphins but there were so many boats there doing the same thing that the dolphins were essentially being herded, it felt extremely unnatural and bordering on cruel. We then taxid all the way back to the north to see sea turtles - we saw just one sea turtle again surrounded by loads of boats and it all felt very fabricated. For the price we paid I was hoping perhaps for some local knowledge and a bit more of an authentic experience than it was. It was as touristy as it comes - avoid avoid avoid! I wish in hindsight I'd done more research. We felt ripped off and would not reccomend. However I do acknowledge that he is not affiliated with the hotel so this disappointing experience does not tarnish my review of Zilwa itself, it's more a warning to future guests, do your research. Instead I would recommend befriending one of the local drivers who sit at the taxi desk out the front. We got to know Dev who was a sweetheart and gave us so much insight into the local culture and history and did not rip us off for a trip. He suggested we visit Mont Choisy beach which was just 20mins away and was a perfect suggestion for clear waters and a lovely long stretch of beach. He mentioned using the Guests of Zilwa Attitude Facebook page for tips so worth looking on there. The experience felt so much more authentic and he was such a humble and greatful man whereas I think the money has gone to Big John's head! We had perfect weather the entire time we were here - I know that's nothing to do with the hotel but December is a lovely month to visit although it is extremely HOT! Lots of parasols and shady spots though made for a pleasant experience and the rooms had Aircon and fans so we were never uncomfortable. The hotel is located in a private bay which whilst beautiful does mean there isn't really anywhere to walk - if you want a long lazy walk along the beachfront you certainly cannot do it here as it's flanked either side by other resorts/rocky areas. We did not walk outside of the hotel as the Calodyne area did feel rather run down and we weren't sure how safe it was for completely clueless tourists like us! So for those who prefer a more active lifestyle such as running etc this might not be the resort for you.  The jewel in the crown of this resort are the staff. They are all so friendly, hard working and can not do enough to help you. There are also lots of them, so even though the hotel is busy you're never waiting for a drink or food because it's a large team. They always greet you with a smile and are super friendly with the children. There are too many to name but they were all great. What you will find at this hotel: Family friendly fun, relaxing island vibe, beautiful views, good food, attentive and kind staff, good (not cheesy) entertainment, well appointed rooms with views, safe and pleasant resort with security. What you won't find at this hotel: Crystal clear waters, a long enough stretch of beach to have a long walk or jog, peace and quiet away from children (go to an adults only if kids aren't your thing!) Overall I would highly recommend visiting the Zilwa Attitude and we would definitely return.  Read less