Constance Tsarabanjina Madagascar

The food and management are why I gave this three stars. Meals were much better at some three- and four-star hotels I’ve tried in Madagascar. Sometimes dishes seemed precooked, and at buffets food ran out easily if you weren’t among the first in line. Giulia, the marine biologist, was very knowledgeable and explained the marine life during snorkeling sessions. The staff were great, and the hotel’s setting is stunning, with pristine beaches, a great barrier reef and beautiful nature. Elena, the resident manager, came across more like the manager of a local guest house than a Constance resort. She blamed problems on staff or other guests, such as saying food was gone because other guests ate too much, without doing anything to make up for the damage. Only on our last day, after I had expressed my disappointment, did she ask how things were going. A kind word earlier would have been nice, including for younger guests who can’t afford a helicopter ride.

The accommodation was lovely, and the staff, especially Onisoa and Eric, were AMAZING. They went WAY above and beyond to make our trip special. But the cigarette smoke from the lounge DIRECTLY BELOW the dining area ruined every meal. On our last evening it was so thick that we had to take our dessert away and eat it in our room. It’s shocking that, at this price, you can’t enjoy a meal without that revolting smell. Shame on Constance for exposing its staff to secondhand smoke throughout their workday and putting their health and wellbeing at risk. I really wanted to give this place more than two stars, and the review isn’t a reflection on the staff. The food WOULD HAVE been great if not for the smoke. Had I known before booking, I’d have gone elsewhere. I won’t return to another Constance resort until they wake up and smell the lung cancer.

The island setting at Constance Tsarabanjina is a hidden gem: quiet, private and surrounded by pristine white-sand beaches and crystalline blue water. There are only 24 standalone lodges. We spent seven nights there and were captivated by the natural beauty. Still, the dining experience undermined what could have been an idyllic escape. At this price and five-star rating, we expected consistently fresh, well-cooked food and smoother restaurant service. We’ve tried other resorts around Nosy Be on previous Madagascar holidays, and they were cheaper with better food every day. The menu was limited and repetitive, and much of the food was low quality. The fish tasted off or bland, unlike the fresh seafood we expected at a high-end island resort. Many guests, including us, ordered plain pasta or white rice to fill up and avoid the fish and other poor-quality dishes. With an active fishing community on the island, we expected fresh grilled and raw fish each day. Instead, the “fresh” fish had an off taste and was poorly cooked. Large shrimp or crab were available only for a substantial extra charge. Breakfast was disappointing too. There were only a few types of fruit each morning, and none was chilled. Dinner desserts, like pumpkin cake, showed up again at breakfast the next day. On our final day, the omelette chef found that two of the six eggs were already brown inside. We left Tuesday morning without breakfast because the eggs had expired. Restaurant service was confusing, and our main courses were forgotten twice. We skipped lunch twice because of it, then skipped it again after we complained on Monday morning, as we were so tired of the food. My dad also had stomach issues. We raised the concerns on our last few days after giving things a chance to improve and not wanting to spoil the whole holiday. Our Sunday dinner was our second-to-last, and we asked the waitress to speak with Elena, the resort manager, but she avoided us. The next afternoon she sent one non-committal WhatsApp message, with no tangible changes. Management later said we hadn’t raised things in time, but we really did try during our last days. Lucas, the resort director, listened when we spoke to him and made a noticeable effort to improve service on our last day. Our final dinner on Monday was better than average, though the average was very low, and nothing special. The five plates we ordered were exactly what the dinner menu offered, including starters and main courses, nothing beyond what we were entitled to. The team had 24 hours to make a special effort before our Tuesday departure, but that did not happen. Lucas was kind to us at dinner, and we appreciated that. I’m writing this because the team replied to my TripAdvisor review claiming we received special treatment at our last dinner. That is absolutely not true, and I can’t reply there. I find that very impolite and unprofessional. Many other Italian guests felt the same way. I hope they’ll leave reviews or share feedback with their travel agencies. Any five-star manager should have handled this more carefully instead of trying afterward to minimize and deny customers’ reviews online.

The staff made us feel so welcome, and the food and drinks were delicious. We came for our honeymoon with high hopes, but the beautiful setting, untouched coral reefs, and pristine beaches went way beyond them. We’re already hoping to return. Huge thanks to everyone there for such a memorable stay.