Coucher De Soleil

The gardens were beautiful, full of unusual trees and birds, and the little gold dust day geckos were hilarious to watch. The main downsides were mosquitoes, so bring proper repellent. I wouldn’t bother with the wristbands advertised on social media, they didn’t seem useful. Our room was cleaned daily, with fresh towels. It had a double bed with mosquito netting and a washroom with a toilet, shower, and basin. Breakfast and meals are served uphill by the main reception. Breakfast was toasted French bread with jam, honey, butter, coffee, and fruit juice. The staff were polite and glad to help. French is a bonus, but if you make an effort, you can get by.

We came in May and the mosquitoes were everywhere, hundreds of them, and they nearly drove me mad. The surroundings were ugly, with what seemed like a local fishing port instead of a beach, and dirty water. It wasn’t an ideal holiday spot, unless you’re up for a challenge, as we were. The accommodation itself is very cheap. There’s a nice garden full of turtles and simple wooden bungalows with baths. They’re clean, though very plain. The staff are friendly. The rum was extraordinary, with lots of varieties, and my favorite was pineapple and passionfruit. There are some good restaurants nearby.

A very affordable stay in a great spot, with friendly staff and owners. It’s a good budget choice if you don’t mind wooden walls and no air-conditioning.

My main gripe was the mosquitoes slipping through the bungalow’s wooden boards. The net really needs to be fitted properly. The hotel itself is charming and reasonably priced, with a lovely sea view from the terrace. The bungalows are very basic but clean, and the staff were really pleasant. Breakfast was decent, included in the room price, and available until noon. A winding staircase and footpath take you to the heart of Ambatoloako in about five minutes.