Paradis d'Ouvea

The room was enormous and nicely air-conditioned, and the in-floor spa bath was amazing. I’d avoid drying clothes outside, though, because the stray cats can leave behind a smell you won’t forget. There aren’t many places to eat on the island outside the hotels, and this restaurant was a good option, with fresh seafood and plenty in stock. The hotel also has lots of parking, though it’s a bit of a drive from the airport. We hired a car, and its owners met us there. In my opinion, this is the island’s best beach. The water is crystal clear, and there are ghost crabs to chase.

The staff are friendly, and the rooms are spacious. I was in the second row but could still see the lagoon from the terrace, which every room has. The beach is less than 30 seconds away. You can relax on the beach or visit the extraordinary bay with turtles and rays without needing transport. Beyond that, though, the hotel feels isolated, with no other restaurants, bars, or shops nearby. The location itself is five-star. Breakfast was okay, but could use a bit of an upgrade.

The hotel staff were really good, and the food was a strong point. Breakfast was fine, while the lunch and dinner menus were very good. You could tell the chefs took pride in what they made. The beach was wonderful too, though green algae along the first couple of metres made it less inviting to dive straight in. We walked about 2 km toward Moully to swim without it. I doubt the algae is there all year. The setting is pristine, and if you’re after peace and paradise, this place has it. Still, six nights felt too long to me. Three should be enough, since you can see all the tourist spots in a day. I’d arrange a rental car before arriving so you can pick it up at the airport. I’d also read earlier reviews asking why the room safes aren’t bolted down.

We stayed here with a couple of friends. The location is great, with turquoise water on both sides of the property. Our room was roomy and comfortable, and the bathroom had a big tub. The fridge barely worked, so we got a bucket of ice from the restaurant for our wine. Staff friendliness was mixed. A few people were super nice, while others seemed disinterested. We didn’t know French, so maybe the language barrier played a part. If you speak English, downloading French in Google Translate helped us. Food was good overall, though we really didn’t like the seafood trio starter. Raw seafood with goats cheese was a first for me, and I wouldn’t recommend it. The Tahitian Salad was flavourless too. The coconut crab was excellent, but book ahead and say how many crabs you want, since it sells out. The prawn pasta and seafood in cream were good, and my friend liked the lamb shank with its little chocolate drizzle. We skipped the buffet breakfast, but if you need breakfast, I’d suggest having it here. The rest of the island doesn’t offer much in the morning. You may be able to arrange breakfast with the local café next door, Snack Fassy, if you want something local instead of a buffet. They’re open only for lunch and dinner unless you check with them the day before. Coffee is hard to find on the island too, since there isn’t much of a café culture, so we had ours at the hotel. Bar drinks are about standard price for New Caledonia. We had a few, but also bought duty free on the way in, which I’d recommend for wine. I don’t recall seeing a bottle shop on the island. The cocktails were really good, around 1400XPF from memory. You can book a shuttle tour of the island through the hotel or rent a car. There aren’t many cars available, so book ahead. If you’re not renting, I’d also arrange an airport shuttle with the hotel in advance.