Review Anelia Resort and Spa Flic-en-Flac Mauritius: Is It Worth It for Families?
- minna
- 21 hours ago
- 4 min read
Before our stay at Anelia Resort & Spa, we had actually never stayed in an all-inclusive hotel. We had planned two weeks in Mauritius with a three year old daughter, featuring six different accommodation stops and a lot of moving around. Anelia was booked for days four to six on the west coast. By that point in the trip, the idea of checking in somewhere that would feed us and entertain us were we could simply relax for three days sounded great!
It turned out to be exactly the right call. For the price point, Anelia is a well run, family friendly resort on Flic-en-Flac beach with good food, attentive staff, and enough going on that nobody in the family runs out of things to do. We arrived slightly tired from the first few days of exploring and left three days later completely rested and ready for the next part of our road trip.
Here is our honest review of what an all inclusive stay at Anelia looks like with young kids.
Location and Arrival
Anelia sits on Klondike Road in Flic-en-Flac, directly on the beach on the west coast of Mauritius. Flic-en-Flac is one of the most popular beach areas on the entire island, featuring a long stretch of white sand, calm lagoon water, and spectacular sunsets most evenings. The town itself has restaurants, shops, and a relaxed feel that is noticeably different from the more tourist heavy north. When we checked in our daughter was immediately handed something cold to drink, which was a nice touch.
Inside the Rooms
We stayed in a room with two double beds and a sea view balcony which was spacious, comfortable and clean. The balcony overlooked the ocean and became our favourite spot for morning coffee before heading down to breakfast.
Cots are available at Anelia for younger children and babies, and can be requested at the time of booking. The number available depends on your specific room type, so always confirm this when you book if you need one.
The rooms are air conditioned and feature a minibar, a flat screen TV, and a private bathroom with a shower.
The food
Anelia offers three restaurants, a burger bar, and a fantastic Saturday beach BBQ, all included in the all inclusive rate. The main buffet restaurant handles breakfast, lunch, and dinner on most days. The spread impressively covers both Western and traditional Mauritian cuisine throughout.
Our daughter can be a fairly picky eater, but she managed perfectly well at every single meal. The variety at the buffet is broad enough that there is always something straightforward (like pasta or fresh fruit) sitting right alongside the more interesting Mauritian dishes and freshly barbecued fish and meats.
The food overall was consistently good and well above what we had expected from an all inclusive at this price point. We ate very well for three days without having to think about a single bill, so my husband was always going up for more!
The Pools and the Beach
Anelia has 2 outdoor pools. There is a large main pool and a separate children's pool. Unsurprisingly, this is where our daughter spent most of her pool time. She made friends on the first afternoon with a little girl her age, who coincidentally was another Swede so we became friends with her parents too. They spent most of the next two days playing together, which was probably the highlight of her trip!
The beach at Anelia offers sheltered lagoon swimming. The water is calm, with a ladder for easy access and you are not dealing with crashing waves or strong currents. We used our snorkels here but the main thing we could see were sea urchins.
Activities and Evening Entertainment
Kids playroom: There is a dedicated indoor space for younger children with age appropriate toys and games. This was incredibly useful for the middle of the day when the sun was simply too strong for the pool and we needed somewhere contained for her to play.
Glass bottom boat tours: These short tours go out over the reef so you can see the fish and coral below without getting wet, and they are fully included in the all inclusive rate! The only caveat is that they book out very quickly and are dependent on the conditions. We unfortunately did not manage to do one because we only discovered the booking system late into our stay. If this is something you want to do, ask at the front desk on the day you arrive and book your spot immediately.
Traditional dance performances: In the evenings, the resort puts on Sega dancing, which is the beautiful traditional Mauritian music and dance. Our daughter was completely absorbed and even attempted to join in, but eventually settled for dancing on the sides whilst watching them!
The On-Site Spa
The spa is located on site and can be booked separately from the all inclusive rate. At six months pregnant during this trip, I was limited in what facilities I could safely use, but the treatment rooms looked beautifully equipped. For families where the adults want a genuine spa afternoon while the kids play, this is a brilliant option without ever having to leave the resort.
Is Anelia Worth It for Families?
For a mid range all inclusive in Mauritius, Anelia offers great value. The food is good, there are enough facilities to keep the kids entertained and the staff are warm and welcoming to families.
It is not a five star luxury resort and it is not priced like one. It is a well run, family oriented all inclusive on a gorgeous stretch of beach.
Check availability here. Rates start from around £95 per night for room only, or from around £150 per night for the all inclusive option.
For our full day by day route across the island, read our 2 Weeks in Mauritius with Young Kids guide. For other fantastic accommodation options, our Where to Stay in Mauritius with Kids guide covers the best family hotels across the west coast alongside the north, east and south or if you want some really unique recommendations for accommodation check out 5 Unique Places to Stay in Mauritius with or without Kids (That Are Not Beach Resorts)
