Hotel Les Filaos

Located in the shopping district of Hermitage, 3 minutes from the beach, 10 minutes from Saint-Gilles and around 30 minutes to an hour from the airport.

A selection of water sports activities are offered on Hermitage beach (for a supplement).
Guests can make free use of the tennis and squash facilities at a club 984 ft from the hotel.
Free Wi-Fi.
Guests can use masks and snorkels provided by the hotel.

Guests arriving at the hotel have to cross a large, unattractive car park to reach the small reception, with its rather retro, Creole-style decor, complete with fluorescent curtains and rattan furniture. However, when you get there you will be met with a smile, and this is when you really start to feel like you're on holiday! Beyond this entrance area, which also serves as a lounge and buffet breakfast room, lies a garden, with a canopy creating something of a dining room and just alongside this, a spacious swimming pool surrounded by deckchairs and parasols. The pool is located at the foot of the 2-storey white concrete building housing the guest rooms. Its rather unattractive appearance is concealed to a certain degree by a few palm trees, but after all, you're only going to be there there to sleep. Beyond the pool you'll find a small garden where Joël's bar is open from 4:00pm to 11:00pm. Be careful not to overdo in on the flavoured punch!

The hotel has 44 rooms, including 16 maisonettes with a kitchenette. The standard rooms are located on the ground floor and first floor whilst the second floor is taken up by the studios. This is hardly ideal since these are often occupied by families with children, but there is no lift. The bedrooms themselves are fairly basic and can accommodate a couple and possibly a child, whilst the maisonettes consist of a lower level with two single beds and a higher level with a double bed in the roof area, where it gets very hot (the air-conditioning is a must!). There is also a kitchenette with a refrigerator, electric hob and crockery. All the rooms have a small television, perfect for catching up with the news but a little small to enjoy a film, and a furnished balcony offering views of the mountain or the pool, depending on which way you are facing. With regards to decor, simplicity really is the key word here, with tiled flooring and one coloured wall to brighten the place up. The main drawbacks here are the noise from the street (primarily traffic) and the bathrooms, which are rather worn and only have a shower.

Breakfast is served as a buffet near the reception and consists of a selection of pastries, orange juice (in a carton), a few yoghurts and cereals and one or two savoury items. It is nothing outstanding, but is perfectly decent nevertheless. Once you've made your choice, head for the terrace, or perhaps the canopy-covered area if the weather is not great. Dinner consists of a single set menu with a full range of Creole specialities, from curries to acras!

Hermitage beach is 492 ft from the hotel and is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, complete with white sand lagoon, but once again, the waters are very shallow here and you'll have to be careful not to hurt your feet on the coral. No facilities are provided here for hotel guests.