Hotel Lux Ile de la Réunion - ex Grand

The hotel is located on the beach of the Hermitage, 2.5 miles south of Saint-Gilles and 22 miles from the airport at Saint-Denis. For the transfer, you should plan about half an hour or an hour and a half depending on traffic.

The hotel was renovated most recently in 2006. The work involved the renovation of the rooms and the establishment of a spa centre.

A hotel facility of high reputation in the region, the Villas du Lagon are associated with a wide range of activities. Without a doubt, this is the right address for those who do not want to vacillate between sports and relaxation. The size of this hotel complex (17 acres) and the allocation of the accommodation (in the form of villas) define easily the areas devoted to activities and those reserved for relaxation. As for its location, the hotel enjoys one of the best locations on the beach of the Hermitage. Note, however, that this place, even if the lagoon offers an underwater spectacle (to discover with fins, mask and snorkel), it is not appropriate for swimming because of coral and sea urchins that live there. To have a swim, go some 655 ft farther north, to an area less "rich" in submarine fauna and flora... and therefore more accessible with bare feet.

A building dating back to 1999 and renovated in 2006, the Villas du Lagon is a complex of 23 luxury bungalows with the allure of traditional Creole houses. You can reach down the entrance by a large classy avenue, lined up with shops on both sides. Rimmed by a crank, the most important building houses the reception. Equipped with rooms reproducing ancient models from the times of the Indian Company, it manages to strike a balance between intimacy and spaciousness. On the outside, a lagoon pool of 10,760 ft² offers a wide space for swimming or walking along the beach. On the edge, close to the park shaded by many tropical plants, all facilities needed to relax in the best conditions of comfort are found, from teak deckchairs to canvas sunshades. As for the sports areas, it is possible to do tennis and archery or rent a mountain bike to travel through the hotel park and up the path that runs along the beautiful beach for several miles.

Among the 173 hotel rooms, almost all overlook the lagoon (attention, the sea view is partially blocked by vegetation). The other rooms (about a dozen) overlook the gardens. Spacious (about 323 ft²), they extend to a terrace on the ground floor and a balcony on the second floor furnished with a table and two chairs made of wood. In take advantage of the space, it is best to choose a room on the ground floor, because the terrace overlooks the park directly. You can take this opportunity to sit in the garden furniture on the lawn, if you wish to. The furniture inside the rooms is both modest and refined, with a focus put on light wood. The equipment includes air conditioning, a mini bar, a kit for tea and coffee, telephone for direct international dialling, satellite television (broadcasting 13 channels). The bathrooms, carefully designed, have a bathtub, a hair dryer and personal skin care products.

The main restaurant serves meals buffet style. The meals are organised after a specific theme that changes every day. You can thus enjoy the local cuisine of La Réunion or dishes from Asia or the Mediterranean. Colourful and tasty, the dishes offer a pleasant trip into the gourmet world. Located under a "guétali" (roof shingles supported by a colonnade), the restaurant looks onto the swimming pool and the gardens. In order to treat yourself with good food, the restaurant serving a la carte offers refined dishes in an elegant setting (mahogany wood chairs, tablecloths and white napkins folded in the form of boats). Finally, a restaurant located on the edge of the lagoon allows you to have a quick snack from the grill or a dish of salad, while enjoying the gorgeous view.

The Villas du Lagon overlooks the beautiful beach of the Hermitage. Spacious, with fine sand descending gently into the lagoon, it is bordered by filaos whose shade adds to that of the many sunshades provided to laze under. Deckchairs, mattresses and towels are also available on the beach. As for water activities, you can do sea kayaking and snorkeling - after all, equipment for these sports is also provided. As for the clear water of the lagoon, it is exactly as you would want it for a holiday: a gradation of blue stretching far to the horizon. Beware of coral debris on the beach (it is forbidden to pick up any) that can hurt your feet, including in the water. To access areas that are more appropriate for swimming, you must leave the hotel and stroll around 330 feet along the beach.