Swimming pool, spa treatment room*, fitness centre, tennis court, volleyball court, yoga*, Wi-Fi, evening entertainment
*Denotes local charge
Swimming pool, spa treatment room*, fitness centre, tennis court, volleyball court, yoga*, Wi-Fi, evening entertainment
*Denotes local charge
With its name meaning ‘blue gecko’, this white-walled, turquoise-roofed spot is more like a beautiful house, with a fabulous art collection hung throughout the property and sculptures in the gardens. After a day’s sightseeing around the island, this Relais & Chateaux hotel is the perfect place to unwind. Relax around the central pool and soak up the sea views, and in the afternoon pick a dish from the snack cart. At sunset, the chef suggests pre-dinner aperitifs to accompany cocktails on the terrace overlooking the bay of Saint-Leu. Then take a seat at a candlelit table for dinner with innovative fresh produce and local flavours, together with a bottle from the excellent wine list. Finish the evening with a coffee or a home-made ‘rhum arrangé’. With just 14 rooms, we recommend that you book this hotel early. Each room is classic in style and has a private terrace or balcony. To make the most of the space in the Grand Large Room, the lovely bathrooms – with a freestanding bath and separate shower – are open-plan on a raised platform in the room, sectioned off with voile curtains (there’s a separate toilet). If you’re staying longer, opt for one of the two Creole Suite in Villa & Spa in the gardens below the pool, which have a bedroom and living room, plus an outdoor shower and private Jacuzzi on the sea view terrace.
The sprawling tropical grounds of this lovely hotel cover three hectares and the gorgeous views can be enjoyed from most of the facilities. The hotel is well located for getting out and about to explore the island’s dramatic scenery. On the beachfront close to the hotel is the turtle sanctuary, Kelonia, where you can see these lovely creatures up close. The food here is varied, with traditional Creole dishes and international fare, and buffet-style dining as well as an à la carte menu. The à la carte brasserie, La Trattoria, serves freshly-caught fish – either grilled or as carpaccio – alongside delicious salads, pastas, pizzas and burgers, and overlooks the beautiful bay. For French cuisine with local influences, dine at Le Kotémer restaurant which has a poolside setting. Simple Standard Rooms are in the main building, while Tropique Bungalows are in the lush gardens. Guétali Rooms are housed in a new hotel-style wing further up the hillside with access to a shared pool.
Beautifully designed with respect paid to the local environment and lots of Creole charm, this is a beautiful hotel that makes the most of its elevated position. The first thing you’ll notice on arrival is the hotel’s outlook. Views of the ocean are common in this part of the world; however the panoramic, birds-eye vista from the Palm Hotel & Spa is quite spectacular. On clear days, the blues of the sea and sky meet at the horizon, while on other days dramatic cloudscapes fill the sky. And then there are the sunsets… pure bliss. As the nearest beach, Grand Anse, is a hilly 15-minute walk away, they have brought the ‘beach’ up to the hotel itself at the unique KAH Beach. This sand-floored, al fresco spot not only has uninterrupted views of the ocean, it features day beds, bean bags, a hot tub and steamroom. Between June and October, this is a great place to watch whales and hear about their habitats and behaviours from the hotel’s eco-volunteers. Nearby are the hotel’s two pools, including one heated pool, and there’s a beautifully secluded spa, AKÉA, with a tropical garden, seven treatment rooms (two for couples), Turkish bath and a Jacuzzi. As well as the restaurant at KAH Beach, there’s Le MAKASSAR, the main restaurant that is open at breakfast and dinner, and a centrally-located bar and lounge known as KOKOA where refreshing cocktails are served alongside tapas dishes. Scattered around the hotel’s tropical gardens are the villas which house the tastefully decorated rooms and suites with modern amenities such as smart televisions and a Nespresso machine. Superior Rooms are on the ground and first floors of the two-storey villas as are the more spacious Deluxe Rooms. We particularly recommend the beautiful Suites which are situated in one-storey villas that are shared with just one other suite, and feature a veranda with a sun deck and whirlpool. If you're travelling with your kids, opt for the Family Suites which have a second children's bedroom in the place of the Suite's dressing room.
Blue Margouillat
Iloha Seaview Hotel
Palm Hotel & Spa
