Constance Tsarabanjina

The natural setting is stunning, with pristine beaches, a great barrier reef, and beautiful surroundings. The staff were great too. Giulia, the marine biologist, knows a lot and explained the marine life during our snorkeling sessions. My three-star rating mostly comes down to the kitchen and management. I’ve had much better food at 3-4 star hotels in Madagascar. Some dishes seemed precooked, and at buffets the food ran out quickly if you weren’t near the front of the line. Elena, the resident manager, came across more like the manager of a local guest house than a Constance resort. When things went wrong, she blamed staff or other guests, such as saying the food was gone because others ate too much, without taking action to make up for it. She only asked how things were going on our last day, after I’d already said I was disappointed. A kind word earlier would have been welcome, including for younger guests who can’t afford a helicopter ride.

The accommodations were lovely, and the staff, especially Onisoa and Eric, were amazing. They went way above and beyond to make our trip special. The food could have been great too, but meals kept being spoiled by nauseating cigarette smoke coming up from the lounge directly below the dining area. On our last evening it was so thick that we had to take dessert to our room. I wanted to give this place more than two stars, because this isn’t a reflection on the staff. But at this hefty price, having to eat with that revolting smell is shocking. I’m also appalled that Constance exposes its staff to secondhand smoke throughout their workday, putting their health and wellbeing at risk. If I’d known before booking, I would have stayed elsewhere. I won’t return to another Constance resort until they deal with this.

The island itself is wonderfully peaceful. With just 24 separate lodges along white sand beaches and clear blue water, Constance Tsarabanjina feels private and quiet. The setting is a real highlight, but the dining experience seriously let down our seven-night stay. The fish often tasted off or had no flavor, and the menu was limited, repetitive, and low quality. We expected fresh seafood given the island’s active fishing community, but the “fresh” fish was poorly cooked. Large shrimp and crab were available only for a substantial extra charge. We often ordered plain pasta or white rice just to have something to eat. Breakfast was disappointing too: there were only a few kinds of fruit, none chilled, and dinner desserts such as pumpkin cake appeared again at breakfast. On our last morning, the omelette chef found that two of the six eggs were already brown inside. We left without breakfast because the eggs were expired. Restaurant service was confusing, and our main courses were forgotten twice. We skipped lunch twice, and skipped it again on Monday because we were so tired of the food. My dad also had stomach issues. We first raised our concerns on Monday morning. We didn’t get any special treatment that day, and our Monday dinner was only better than the usual poor standard, not special. The five plates we ordered were all from the dinner menu, including starters and main courses, and were no more than what we were entitled to. We left Tuesday morning, so the team had 24 hours to make a special effort, but that didn’t happen. Lucas, the resort director, was kind and attentive at dinner, and did make a noticeable effort to improve service on our last day. We appreciated his kindness. We didn’t complain during the first few days because we hoped things would improve and didn’t want to spoil the whole holiday. But eventually we made it very clear that we were upset. On Sunday, our second-to-last dinner, we asked the waitress to speak with Elena, the resort manager, but she avoided us. She sent one non-committal WhatsApp message the following afternoon, with no tangible changes. Attempts to raise the food problems with her went nowhere. Management may say we raised our concerns too late, but we really did try during our final days. Many other Italian guests felt the same, and I hope they’ll review the resort or share feedback with their travel agencies. I’m writing this because the team replied to my TripAdvisor review saying we received special treatment at our last dinner. That simply isn’t true, and I can’t reply there. I found that response impolite and unprofessional. A five-star manager should have handled our concerns more carefully instead of minimizing them and later denying customers’ reviews online. This is a hidden gem for its setting and serenity, but the meals undermine what could be an idyllic escape. At this price and star rating, I 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 while offering better food every day. If you can look past the subpar meals, it’s still one of Madagascar’s most peaceful island getaways.

Our honeymoon here was the best experience of our lives. The virgin coral reefs and pristine beaches were even more beautiful than we’d imagined, and the location surpassed our already high expectations. Everyone was kind and welcoming, and the food and drinks were delicious. Huge thanks to all the staff for such a wonderful stay. We already want to come back, and I couldn’t recommend it more.