Hotel El Kantara

Avoid this place. The facilities are old, and the bed was so old it made me itchy. I checked inside the pillowcase and the pillow was yellow, so I couldn't use any of the pillows. There was also a finger-sized corkcrouch in the room. They didn't even provide glasses or a boiler, which is usually standard.

The owners are very warm and down to earth, and the shared areas are kept really well in a pleasant garden. Rooms are basic and the buildings are a bit dated, but everything was clean. If you're out exploring or spending the day by the pool, it's enough. There's no crib, so bring your own if you need one. The pool is lovely and very clean. Men should pack swim trunks or briefs, as swim shorts aren't allowed. Breakfast is simple but fair for the price in New Caledonia, and having it on the terrace beside the pool is a real treat. This kind of hotel is hard to find in New Caledonia, and it's excellent value for money. It deserves to be better known.

The room was rustic, but at least it had air conditioning, and there was a swimming pool. WiFi only worked in reception. The location near the beach and the Three Bays Trail is the only real redeeming feature. Service could use a lot more warmth. Breakfast was two slices of industrial bread and the same amount of jam. I arrived for dinner at 8 pm, only to find the kitchen closed at 8 pm. The choices were a ham omelet or a raw vegetable salad with no dressing or butter. After recent events, I thought the establishment would be pleased to have guests back, but that wasn't how it felt. Avoid this place unless you want to see for yourself.

For three people at a beachfront hotel, 9000 francs felt like a good deal. The pool is great, and the shared spaces are well looked after. Our room had air conditioning. A small fridge or kettle would've been useful, but that's a minor thing. I love the place anyway 😍 We'll be back.