Gæstebruger
24. oktober 2024
Lux St Gilles is a beautiful colonial hotel situated in the upmarket St Gilles area of Reunion Island. Set on extensive grounds with an adjoining beach and lagoon protected by coral reef, Lux is probably one of the few beachfront hotels in Reunion where swimming is possible with no fear of shark attacks. As it's right on the west coast, sunsets are probably the best time to enjoy the beach. Sadly, as other reviewers have noted, there ends the superlatives. The property is dated and in dire need of refurbishment. Rooms are small and tired, not quite what you might expect of 5 stars in 2024. We were unfortunate to have extremely noisy neighbours who were audible from indoors as sliding doors were not soundproof, but guest relations officer Nathalie kindly and swiftly moved us to a quieter part of the hotel. Dining options varied – from the very average though adequate buffets at La Cuisine to beach-front La Plage which offered very good grill and pasta selections, which we found enjoyable. L’ Orangine, the high-end restaurant was over-rated in my view and had limited options for diners with allergies or intolerances, particularly dairy intolerance. Nearly all the dishes at L’Orangine require supplements even if you are on half/full board or all-inclusive, be warned. The Bar also serves food but we did not try it. All four restaurants have to be pre-booked for dinner and this should be done at the start of your trip because as many as two of the four restaurants can be closed each day. With the lack of – and difficulty in recruiting – hotel staff as an understandable constraint, the standard of service and hospitality suffer. The staff on duty frequently appeared to be rushed off their feet. Of the handful who do try their best and stay cheerful while at it, Ludovic at breakfast service was exemplary. He is a true professional who delivers exceptional “Lux” service. He made English speakers feel at ease and kindly remembered my breakfast order and how I liked my coffee each morning. Henry at L’Cuisine dinner noticed I had lost my napkin and without my asking for it, brought wipes. These small gestures go a long way to help guests relax and feel cared for. There is a small gym on premise but it is unmanned and you are meant to wipe the equipment before and after use (perhaps switch the A/C on yourself too). Quite a difference from other Lux hotels in Mauritius where you have one-to-one attention from on-premise trainers. Again, not quite what you might expect in “first-world” France and a 5-star hotel. There is no spa but treatments can be booked and are offered at beach-front cabanas. There are no water sport facilities that I could see – perhaps the sea is too rough for sailing or other sports. There are lots to see on Reunion Island itself – such varied landscape, amazing views and deep history – so much so that we found our 5 days not quite enough. Thankfully, Melvyn at concierge helped us plan our time. However, we did have to ide
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