'Imagine begging after paying Rs 3.5 lakh': Indian tourist recalls facing racism at luxury Mauritius resort

Indian family faced shocking racism at a top Mauritius resort (AI-generated representative image)

Travelling is a dream for many, a chance to see new places and enjoy time away. But sometimes a holiday can quickly turn into a difficult experience. Recently, influencer Sachin Awasthi shared how he and his wife, Deepshikha Mishra, were detained for 38 hours in South Korea without any explanation. His story went viral, and many others online have shared their own travel experiences and encounters.

Responding to Awasthi’s story, one social media user highlighted the risks of travelling to unfamiliar countries. They warned that racial bias can affect safety and treatment, “Everyone should watch the vlog posted by Sachin Awasthi. And avoid travelling to unknown countries for your own safety. Racism is at its peak in many countries for reasons known unknown to us.”

Another user then shared their own troubling experience in Mauritius, saying it was the worst case of racism they had faced while travelling. The user wrote, “Watched the video and it gave me chills. As an Indian, I have faced many instances of racism, but the worst experience was in Mauritius.”

The user had chosen Mauritius to celebrate a new job and give their parents a luxury holiday experience. They spent around Rs 3.5 lakh on a stay at a Mauritius resort, hoping for a relaxing and memorable trip, which the user described as ‘a big mistake’

Their trouble began on Easter Sunday when they tried to reserve a table for lunch. Despite being asked to wait 15 minutes, no staff member followed up, leaving the family confused, “By 1:45 pm, no one reverted back (We thought they forgot and directly went to the restaurant).”

At the restaurant, they found no tables and received a strange response from a staff member. A European family later explained that the resort was hosting an Easter lunch, but the Indian family had not been informed:

“We were very hungry and asked a staff member what was happening today? He first asked if we are guest of this property and then went inside without answering, which felt very weird. Then a kind European family told us that the hotel is arranging Easter lunch and all guests were invited. (I was wondering why we weren't informed, but thought who cares),” the user shared.

Hours passed, and the family were still waiting. Feeling desperate, the mother approached a housekeeping staff member for help. The user went on to explain, “My mom then went to an old housekeeping lady and literally begged if we could have lunch somewhere. (McD was far away, a cab was not available, and we had no options other than the property). For the first time, I felt bad. This is not the experience I wanted. Imagine begging after paying Rs 3.5L.”

Eventually, they were shown where the Easter lunch was taking place, but the service continued to be disappointing. They described a clear difference in how staff treated them compared to other guests, “What we saw shocked us. They had both the tables and the food. Anyways, we were very hungry, so we went to the buffet and ate some rice with butter and French fries. When French fries were finished, I went to the chef to ask if he could get me some more, to which he bluntly said, ‘French fries are over, there may be some leftover potato wedges, you can have that’. I felt bad and left. Then a white-skinned boy asked the same to the chef, and he refilled the fries.”

The family raised their concerns with the duty manager, but said their complaint was not taken seriously, “I was stunned by the racism. I highlighted this immediately to the duty manager and how offensive it was. But nothing happened. No apology, nothing. All he said was, we have noted your feedback.”

Reflecting on the experience, the user said it left them feeling humiliated despite paying the same price as other guests, “After paying the same amount as the other guests, I felt treated like a third-world guest. Why did I not share this then? I was literally afraid for my safety. The country is very beautiful, the localities are amazing, but the property does not like Indians.”

Other travellers shared their reactions and experiences. Some disagreed with the account and said Mauritius had always been welcoming, while others shared similar encounters.

Watched the video and it gave me chills. As an Indian I have faced many instances of racism but the worst experience was in Mauritius.

I had landed a new dream job and wanted my parents to experience luxury in the tiny island country. So booked Anantara Iko resort for ₹3.5Lac… https://t.co/uiJy8hXYWz — Starcommander (@Starcommander10) February 22, 2026

One user recalled generally positive experiences with local hospitality, “Surprised to hear of your bad experience. I've been to Mauritius thrice, including one for an extended period of two months. I've always found the people to be very warm and hospitable, and in fact more friendly once they know you're from India.”

Another described a problem at a different resort, which was eventually resolved after formal complaints, “Visited Mauritius last September and got bad vibes from a receptionist at Sofitel. She didn’t give me the good-view room I had requested days before arrival. She also made me come to the reception around 10 pm to settle something like Rs. 500 after I had already checked in and settled in my room (my Rs 1.5 lakh stay was fully paid; it was just some tax component). As she started getting on my nerves, I immediately complained, including posting on Twitter, and sorted it out by the next morning. I didn’t see her at the property after that, and the rest of my stay was peaceful. Never let anyone ruin your vacation, and never take arrogant hotel staff lightly.”

A third user shared a similar incident abroad, highlighting that discrimination while travelling can happen anywhere, “Faced something similar while travelling via Germany, they stopped me to catch my flight intentionally saying that they need to verify some docs, once I missed my flight, booked a return ticket and sent me back to London, almost for 26 hours I was jumping around airport desks.”