Habitation Saint Charles

The villas' pools were really nice and fun, and the rooms were luxurious, comfortable, and very nice. There are lots of rooms, all with air conditioning. Bathrooms were clean, and the shower had very reliable hot water. It was a comfortable, pleasant visit.

We only stayed two nights. They moved us to a much better room for the second one, though it still didn't feel like a four-star hotel. The breakfast was average, and the pool was a shallow display pond for kids, not really usable by adults. I booked months ahead expecting a four-star room, but room no. 5 was awful, barely worth one star. The furniture was old, worn, and broken, and dust, hair, and yellow stains covered the floor. The balcony door wouldn't shut, so cockroaches and other insects could get in. The shower was blocked and leaked all the way into the bedroom. In the toilet, the pipework was exposed because its cover wasn't screwed on. There was no closet, and hardly any decor. A four-star place shouldn't have rooms in that kind of condition. It felt like a complete scam.

HSC is a great base for seeing almost anywhere on the island in under an hour, and it was nice to have some English spoken, since our French isn't very good. John at reception and Jochim were great, and owner Bernard stayed engaged with guests. The bartender also knows how to make a good drink. We had the two-bedroom room we booked for three nights, though I'm not sure whether it was a villa or a regular room. The bedroom had much-needed cold air conditioning. The grounds were lush and well maintained, as you'd expect on a Caribbean island. We enjoyed breakfast there each morning and ate dinner on site two of the three nights. The food was all great, and they made simple things like butter pasta and fries for the kids. The pool was refreshing too.

We spent four nights here for our honeymoon and loved having Habitation Saint Charles as a quiet base for exploring Basse-Terre. It's tucked away, but easy to get around from, and the grounds are huge and lush. The restaurant and bar served great food and drinks. Our room was enormous, with massive beds and a comfortable living room. The bathroom had a great shower and double vanity, and we also had a plunge pool that felt perfect after a long day out. The main pool was lovely too, with a gradual slope that made it easy to lounge. Thanks to everyone who made our honeymoon so special. We hope to come back with friends and family!