Sheraton New Caledonia Deva Spa & Golf Resort

My accommodation, dinner, and breakfast were charged twice, leaving a duplicate payment of 46580 CHF / AUD$638.96 marked as pending on my credit card. I was told the investigation would take a month, and the pending charge had my card blocked while I was on holiday. The paperwork and responses have been a mess: my card receipts say Ste Hoteliere De Diva, Hotel Sheraton Noumea charged my card on the Monday after my Saturday 16/5 stay, and Marriott directs you to an online billing query that only sends an automated email promising a reply within seven days. There are better things to do on holiday than chase this up. The facilities also need maintenance. The spa pool was empty with tiles missing, and the pool deck was cordoned off because it was rotted. From other reviews, it seems to have been this way for over six months.

After the hotel cancelled my confirmed booking for no apparent reason, I called to check on a random email saying it was being cancelled. They assured me it was still in place, but it had in fact been cancelled. Both I and Marriott central reservations contacted the hotel several times to find out what was happening, and a response finally came a week later, two days after the deadline to cancel the alternative accommodation I'd booked so we wouldn't be left without a place to stay. Awful experience. Save yourself the hassle and find another hotel. I'd give zero stars if I could.

The resort is an architectural wonder, and the huge bungalow was beautifully decorated. It had a mini fridge, AC, a very nice bathtub, a separate shower, and a huge bathroom. The private deck opened onto the beach, with a table, chairs, and a super comfortable padded couch lounge. The pool was very nice, but repairs to the outdoor area are badly needed. One side of the deck was blocked off because wood boards were loose or broken, and many tiles in the large round “hot tub” were loose or missing. The water was barely warmer than the pool. There isn't a nice swimming beach here: the white sand is lovely, but the water in front of the hotel is shallow and dark with sea grass, and nobody was swimming. Beautiful but deadly sea snakes come up on the beach about an hour before sunset, so watch where you step. They won't bother you if you don't bother them. Food was mediocre for the price. The steak ordered medium came extremely well done, while the medium rare steak was barely cooked. Chicken in the salad was completely dry and overcooked. Breakfast was good, with an omelette bar, but the same every day and no lox (salmon). Service was okay, though most servers don't speak English. We had to ask for silverware and other forgotten things, and our entrees arrived after the mains. There were no hand towels or washcloths in the rooms. We enjoyed ourselves, but there's room for improvement.

The golf was the highlight for us. The area is stunning, and the staff there are amazing, so drop by whatever your level. The beach is great too, and on every decent-length walk I saw a ray within three meters of shore. The hotel itself is beautiful and the staff were always dedicated and smiley, responding quickly when we let them know we needed something. I thought the restaurant's food and service were great, and the prices weren't especially higher than places around or in Noumea. Just check the opening hours, since you might not expect to have to plan meals like that at a 5-star hotel. I was surprised there was no age cutoff for the children's breakfast price. At check-in, when I asked whether a four year old or a one year old would have to pay, the staff member said yes for both, but couldn't tell me an age even if she had children herself. That first impression put us off the policy, so we skipped breakfast. There is no kids club anymore, just a small kids area in the sand. It was all working when we arrived, but by our last day the slide needed to be put back together, and the area could use some cleaning. Happy spotting!