La Creole Beach Hotel & Spa

I had a good week, even with the elevator out of order most of the time and a couple of hours without water. The other staff were outstanding, always greeting us with a bonjour or bonsoir madame and happy to help. But the receptionists were downright rude, neither courteous nor friendly. Their tone and clipped replies still make me cringe thinking back. They need customer-service training, and earlier reviews make me wonder whether the owner or person in charge cares. The common areas get too hot and are only comfortable after sundown. The hotel should invest in well-placed oscillating fans. The club has one huge fan covering part of the dance floor, but everywhere else is hot. Even the musicians who play daily have to bring their own fan. If this is meant as a marketing strategy, it's hurting guest satisfaction. Adding fans seems like a worthwhile, inexpensive improvement.

The pool and nearby beach are good, and the bed was super comfortable. But the Wi-Fi kept cutting out, and the shower design was poor, along with other issues.

For our wedding anniversary night, we were comfortable and enjoyed our time. The views and ocean sounds from the restaurants and bar were lovely, and the service was great, though meals and drinks were expensive. Breakfast was fantastic and plentiful, and the beach is wonderful. You can rent jet skis, but we didn't. I was concerned after reading reviews, so here are a few details. Staff were friendly and accommodating. A little French is appreciated, though many staff know some English, and Google Translate helped us with words we didn't know. We saw bugs outside, as you'd expect in the tropics, but only one mosquito in the room. We were on the fourth floor, which may have helped. It was hard to find room numbers at first, and the elevators only reach the third floor. The buildings need maintenance: salt air affects the concrete rebar, and with the rates being charged that should be addressed, though some work is underway. I noticed a slight musty smell in the room, but my husband didn't. With an ocean view and daily rain, keeping moisture out is difficult. It was tolerable, not overpowering. Luggage wheels made noise in the corridor, so a perforated rubber mat might help. We turned up the fan and used white noise. For us, the positives outweighed the drawbacks, and we'd recommend a stay.

Our stay at La Creole Resort and Spa was stressful, poorly organized and dishonest. We were locked out for hours when the room key stopped working, before anyone came to help. We were told the bar was open, but when we went there, they refused to serve us without explanation. Cash disappeared from our room, including the tips we'd left for housekeeping. It seemed likely that someone who wasn't even housekeeping had entered. The "all-inclusive" package came with so many restrictions and hidden rules that it felt like anything but inclusive. For decent service, peace of mind and a real resort experience, I'd strongly suggest staying elsewhere.