Casuarina Resort & Spa on the west coast at Flic en Flac takes its name from the casuarina trees — Mauritius's ironwoods — that line the beach outside. It's a mid-range four-star property that punches consistently above its category in terms of food, beach quality, and the warmth of service. The hotel faces a sheltered section of the Flic en Flac lagoon where the water is calm enough for young swimmers, making it a natural family choice on this side of the island. Rooms are arranged in two-storey garden blocks and a newer beachfront wing; the latter category is worth the premium for the uninterrupted sea views at sunrise, which in the west means the soft light before the sun rises above the mountains rather than the dramatic flash over the ocean that the east coast offers. The spa has a competent menu of Balinese, Thai, and Creole-inspired treatments, and the thermal circuit — steam room, sauna, jacuzzi — is a popular add-on. The main restaurant serves an extensive Creole and international buffet dinner three nights a week, with themed evenings — Creole, seafood, and beach barbecue — that feel genuinely festive rather than obligatory. Flic en Flac village with its rum shops, takeaway dholl puri stalls, and convenience stores is a five-minute walk, giving the resort a connection to ordinary Mauritian life that guests consistently mention as a highlight. Casuarina is honest, well-run value on one of the island's best beaches.