Chauve Souris Relais

The setting is beautiful, with interesting local birds and nice snorkeling around the island. But I left early and booked another hotel at a similar price, where the room, breakfast, staff, and amenities were all a huge improvement. I wish I’d known what to expect here. If you want to see the island, you can swim over and snorkel from the main island instead. The property feels dilapidated and poorly run, and the person running it said they know renovations are needed. My room’s bathroom door wouldn’t close at all. A carpenter came the next day, but afterward it only shut if forced, and loudly. The bed was rock hard, with every spring noticeable, like sleeping on a box spring. I was told the other rooms were the same. A nearby club played music late, so the so-called peaceful island came with an 'unce unce unce' soundtrack. There was broken glass on the main deck. I reported it, and some was cleared by the next day, but not all. I picked up more myself and reported it again. The window had gaps and didn’t seal properly. There were lots of bugs, and the mosquito net had holes and hung loosely around the bed. I woke up with insects inside it. The water access stairs for one room were too slippery to use, and guests in that room were advised to use the shared deck anyway. The food was disappointing. Breakfast was very basic, more hostel quality: boxed juice, grocery-store yogurt cups, white bread, mediocre eggs, and no fruit. Dinner wasn’t good either. My fish was so tough it seemed as if it had been thawed in a microwave. Meals didn’t arrive together, so people waited 5-10 minutes while their food went cold. Management was the biggest problem. The place felt understaffed and unprofessional, as though they expected the setting to carry the experience. When I arrived in the rain after a rough boat transfer, my suitcase had been put in the bottom of the boat and was completely soaked. All my clothes were wet with salt water, and a simple plastic bag could have prevented it. I had no dry clothes and had to sleep in what I’d traveled in. They gave me a rusty drying rack that marked some of my things. Later they brought a washing machine, but complained about the inconvenience, which felt very unprofessional. At the very least, know what you’re signing up for. I wouldn’t recommend staying here.