Le Meridien Noumea Resort and Spa

We spent a week there, had no problems, and really enjoyed our stay despite being a little unsure what to expect after the change from Marriott. The staff were friendly, and both the pool and our room were clean. The room was in good condition, though we did find a couple of hairs in the shower, which is why I gave it 4 stars. A few small things could be improved, but we were still very happy with the week.

Our stay was pleasant, but the slow restaurant service and mould in the room took away from what should have been a five-star experience. Service may simply move at that pace in New Caledonia, but the mould was disappointing at this price. The room was generally cleaned daily, though one service was missed, and mould like that clearly builds up over time.

The pool area was in poor shape, with very few loungers. Locals could pay to use it, so on weekends there wasn’t room for hotel guests, and requests for another umbrella were refused because of a limit. The bathroom facilities by the pool were disgusting and needed regular cleaning. In the room, water wasn’t provided every day and the air conditioning didn’t work properly. The hotel and facilities are no more than three stars. It’s understaffed, and the one restaurant open in the evening serves a basic menu of lunch items.

I expected a five-star stay at Le Méridien, but it was awful from the start. Marriott no longer manages the hotel. There was no electricity when we arrived, the room smelled bad, and an electrician had to escort us in because we weren’t given a key. The roof was damaged, there were cockroaches, and we were told not to use the balcony or close the door because of safety concerns. We cancelled a holiday worth over $10,000. The hotel and Marriott promised a refund, but neither has responded. This place isn’t worth two stars, maybe half a star just because the building is still standing. I’d strongly advise against booking here or travelling to New Caledonia at this time.