La Suite Villa

We'd phoned ahead to reserve a table and mentioned our small dog, but the head waiter still refused us because he said our beagle puppy was “too big.” He said it was for the other guests, though there was only one other party, seated at a far table. Such a shame, since the restaurant looked nice and the rest of the staff were welcoming. We took our money elsewhere.

The view from our balcony was a real highlight. We had the ocean view king room, called the marshmallows, and its jacuzzi bath was lovely in the evenings. We'd sit with wine, looking toward fort de France and the city lights across the bay. After touring the city, soaking in the warm, salty bubbling water felt wonderfully relaxing. The rooms are small and cosy, each with its own quirky name and look, and ours even came with marshmallows. The hotel itself is a pretty little French boutique place, full of art and colour, with a chic, modern interior. Staff were polite and friendly, and the views and ambience are great. You do need a car to get around town. But our room had several problems. The phone didn't work, so we couldn't reach reception or staff; they replaced it the next day. Reception closes after 7pm, so restaurant staff handle room problems at night, and nothing can be fixed until the following day. There was algae in the coffee machine's water, which was disgusting, so I had to wash it before using it. The panels around the bed were broken too. Worst was the awful sewage smell from the shower every day. We reported it, but it was never fixed. We ended up spraying air freshener and spending a lot of time away from the room. My partner and I were disgusted. For four nights we paid £1600 before meals, and I wasn't happy paying that much for a pretty room that stank every night. The restaurant food was lovely, but the portions were tiny and the prices were so high they didn't make sense. I spent more at the hotel than I would at a 4 star hotel in London. The bar was good, but overpriced as well. Maybe other guests had a good stay; if the smell had been sorted out, we wouldn't have minded the price. One more thing: there's no lift. Carrying a heavy bag upstairs is difficult on the spiral stairs, and it could be dangerous if you're not careful.

Erwin was amazing at going the extra mile to sort out quite a few problems, and the staff were helpful in general. The restaurant was fine for breakfast and dinner. The villas are due for an extensive renovation, which is overdue. The pool is really just for photos, too small for a swim. It's a bit out of the way, with a long walk down a steep hill to BOut and no taxis after 1600. Still, it's a very good place to start a trip to Martinique.

The restaurant's fixed-price choices on Sunday night were sea urchin or chicken liver at $50, so neither worked for us. The server was gracious about it and recommended a great place in town. That was the start of some of the best hospitality we've ever experienced. Everyone here is so welcoming. Getting in was easy, reception was friendly, and parking is free. The hotel is 20m from the airport.