When it opened in November 2018, SALT of Palmar became the newest addition to the trail of hotels scattered along Mauritius’ east coast and it leads the way for the development of eco-tourism in Mauritius. SALT has the desire to bring the natural environment and local Mauritian way of life to the forefront, allowing their guests to immerse themselves in the local culture while relaxing in luxury. I was lucky enough to stay there in the summer of 2019 and I was really struck with how the resort combines luxury with sustainability. From its food to its activities, here are just a few things that impressed me…
EAT
All food is homegrown, seasonal and with a zero-waste ethos, meaning you can enjoy your Mauritian Creole dish guilt-free. As a vegan, I am always apprehensive with food menus, however SALT knocked that doubt into touch straight away with a dedicated plant-based section on their menu. The chef even told me the menu isn’t limited to this list, either! The kitchen surpassed their promise and created a number of beautiful vegan dishes for me throughout my stay, with my favourite being a selection of freshly made curries. To demonstrate just how local all of their produce is, SALT provides a map in the menu, showing where all the fruit and vegetables are grown and livestock is kept.
At first, I will admit I was slightly disappointed when I heard they had disposed of the traditional breakfast buffet, knowing how much I love to over-indulge on holiday. However, I was honestly blown away by their breakfasts, from the selection of delicious acai bowls, smoothies, avocado on toast (with a twist) and cooked breakfasts. The cherry on the top was SALT’s bakery, which served freshly made bread and cakes all day and where you could even make your own fresh peanut butter! I can confirm, I did over-indulge.
PLAY
One thing that makes SALT stand out, is its commitment to encouraging guests to leave the hotel and immerse themselves into the local culture, investing back into the local community. They encourage guests to visit markets, take guests into the local town by bicycle and run skill-swap activities, which allow guests to exchange their talents with locals and vice versa.
The best part is that after your adventure into the local town, you’ll return to the hotel to relax by the pool or on the beach, surrounded by the beautiful Indian Ocean.
Yet another difference that SALT brings to the traditional hotel room is they have abandoned the idea of TVs in the room. Instead, each room is provided with a selection of books for reading and you’re encouraged to visit the resort’s library.
SLEEP
SALT has also revolutionised the idea of a hotel key. It has ditched the traditional room key or swipe card – here, you use the resort’s own SALT app on your mobile to unlock your room door.
Inside the bedrooms, all bathroom amenities such as shampoo, conditioner and body wash are all home-made in reusable dispensers, further demonstrating their commitment to a plastic-free lifestyle.
