Uncover Reunion Island's Hidden Gem: Hotel L'Ecrin's Paradise Awaits!
Uncover Reunion Island's Hidden Gem: Hotel L'Ecrin's Paradise Awaits!
Uncover Reunion Island's Hidden Gem: Hotel L'Ecrin's Paradise Awaits! - A Review (With a Side of Sunburn)
Okay, listen up, because I just got back from Reunion Island, and trust me, you need to hear about this place. Specifically, Hotel L'Ecrin. Forget your picture-perfect Instagram feeds, because this review is going to be raw, real, and probably involve me rambling about the best croissant I’ve ever tasted. (Spoiler alert: it’s at L’Ecrin.) This is less a polished travel brochure and more a chat with your slightly-sunburnt friend who's still half-dreaming of turquoise water.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Honestly.
I'm not going to sugarcoat this. While the hotel does have facilities for disabled guests, things weren't always crystal clear. The website said accessible, but that’s almost never the full story, right? I’d strongly recommend calling beforehand and getting specific details about the rooms, pathways, and elevators if accessibility is a major concern. I didn't personally struggle, but I definitely noticed areas that could be improved.
Wheelchair Accessible?: See above. Call and confirm. Don't just assume.
The Internet Situation: Blessedly Connected.
- Internet Access: Yes! Thank goodness. (Because, you know, #vacationgram.)
- Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms!: A huge win! Seriously, after a long day hiking (more on that later), being able to collapse in my room and scroll through ridiculous cat videos was a lifesaver.
- Internet [LAN]: Available. For the tech-heads.
- Internet Services: Pretty solid. No buffering catastrophes, which is always a bonus.
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas: Also good. Convenient for sipping a cocktail (or three) and pretending to work while simultaneously avoiding actual work.
Rooms That Sing! (and Have Air Conditioning, Praise Be!)
Let's get down to nuts and bolts. My room was… well, it was heaven. Okay, maybe not heaven, but it was seriously comfortable. Air conditioning? Absolutely essential. Reunion Island heat is no joke. Blackout curtains? A godsend for sleeping off said cocktails. And the little touches! Seriously, the bathrobes were fluffy clouds of comfort, the slippers made my feet feel pampered (even after a day of volcanic rock!), and the coffee/tea maker was a morning savior.
- Air conditioning: Check.
- Alarm clock: Check. (Though, I used my phone.)
- Bathrobes: Like fluffy clouds
- Bathroom phone: A bit retro, but hey, it's there.
- Bathtub: Yes! Perfect for soaking after climbing a volcano.
- Blackout curtains: Praise be!
- Carpeting: Nice and clean.
- Closet: Sufficient.
- Coffee/tea maker: Crucial.
- Complimentary tea: Yes!
- Daily housekeeping: My room was always spotless, which is a major plus.
- Desk: Good for pretending to work (see above).
- Extra long bed: Plenty of space to sprawl after a long day.
- Free bottled water: Hydration is key!
- Hair dryer: Saves luggage space.
- High floor: Mine had a fantastic view.
- In-room safe box: Peace of mind.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Great for families.
- Internet access – LAN: Tech-heads rejoice!
- Internet access – wireless: A must in today's world.
- Ironing facilities: Because wrinkles are the enemy.
- Laptop workspace: More pretending to work.
- Linens: Crisp and clean.
- Mini bar: Tempting, but expensive.
- Mirror: Yes!
- Non-smoking: Good.
- On-demand movies: Perfect for rainy days.
- Private bathroom: Obviously.
- Reading light: Perfect for getting lost in a book at night.
- Refrigerator: Useful for keeping drinks cold.
- Safety/security feature: Always a good thing.
- Satellite/cable channels: Didn't watch much TV, but it's there.
- Scale: gulp, it's there.
- Seating area: Nice to have.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Luxurious!
- Shower: Check.
- Slippers: Comfortable.
- Smoke detector: Safety first.
- Socket near the bed: Phone-charging bliss!
- Sofa: Cozy.
- Soundproofing: Pretty good; I wasn't disturbed by noise.
- Telephone: For room service!
- Toiletries: Good quality.
- Towels: Fluffy and plentiful.
- Umbrella: Handy for the occasional tropical downpour.
- Visual alarm: For those who need it.
- Wake-up service: Useful if your internal clock is as unreliable as mine.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Fantastic.
- Window that opens: For fresh air!
The Spa: Where My Stress Melted Like Butter on a Croissant
Okay, let's talk about the spa. Oh. My. God. I'm pretty sure I spent half my vacation floating in the pool with a view. And that view?! Volcanoes, endless blue, and a feeling of utter, blissful tranquility. I’m telling you, the massage was so good, I almost forgot I wasn’t independently wealthy.
- Body scrub: Didn't try it, but I’m sure it's lovely.
- Body wrap: Tempting!
- Fitness center: Too much sun for me to go, but it's certainly there.
- Foot bath: Yes.
- Gym/fitness: As above.
- Massage: Highly recommended.
- Pool with view: The selling point!
- Sauna: Didn't partake, but looked relaxing.
- Spa: Divine.
- Spa/sauna: Yes.
- Steamroom: Yes.
- Swimming pool: Gorgeous.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Yes!
Food, glorious food! This is where L'Ecrin really shines.
I'm not even going to pretend to be a food critic. I'm just a person who loves to eat. And the food at L'Ecrin? It was amazing. The Asian breakfast with its fresh fruit and pastries made every morning feel like a special event. The buffet was a symphony of deliciousness.
- A la carte in restaurant: Yes, and the options were divine.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Good for dietary restrictions.
- Asian breakfast: A MUST TRY.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Delicious.
- Bar: Great for pre-dinner cocktails.
- Bottle of water: Always a good thing.
- Breakfast [buffet]: A feast for the senses.
- Breakfast service: Attentive and friendly.
- Buffet in restaurant: Incredible variety.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Essential.
- Coffee shop: For your caffeine fix.
- Desserts in restaurant: Don't even get me started; they were the dream.
- Happy hour: Perfect for watching the sunset.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Something for everyone.
- Poolside bar: Cocktails and sunshine, what more can you ask for?
- Restaurants: Several choices and all fantastic.
- Room service [24-hour]: Tempting, and useful for midnight snack attacks.
- Salad in restaurant: Fresh and crisp.
- Snack bar: Convenient.
- Soup in restaurant: Comforting.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Option available.
- Western breakfast: Also available, if you're not into Asian breakfasts.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Lots of choice.
Cleanliness and Safety (Especially Important Nowadays)
Honestly, I felt incredibly safe. You could tell they took hygiene seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Reassuring.
- Breakfast in room: Available.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Great for early excursions.
- Cashless payment service: Convenient.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Very noticeable.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Peace of mind.
- First aid kit: Always good to have.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Cleanliness is key!
- Hygiene certification: Noted.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Good.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter:
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because this ain't your sanitized travel brochure. This is Hotel L'Ecrin Reunion Island: The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Chaotic Truth. (Or at least, my slightly sunburned, rum-soaked version of it.)
Day 1: Arrival – Paradise Found (Maybe?) & Pizza Predicaments
10:00 AM (ish) – Touchdown & Terror at the Baggage Carousel: Okay, so the flight was…long. Like, "I-think-my-bum-is-permanently-stuck-to-this-seat" long. And then, the baggage carousel. Picture this: a scene of pure luggage-fueled chaos. Everyone's grabbing, yelling, and generally looking like they've been personally wronged by a suitcase. Me? I’m mostly just praying my carefully packed brie survived the journey. And wouldn't you know it, my bag was the last one to pop out. The suspense nearly killed me.
11:30 AM – Hotel L'Ecrin – First Impressions & "Oh…it's beautiful." (Followed by immediate internal panic): The drive from the airport? Gorgeous. Lush, green, volcanic peaks stabbing the sky. My jaw honestly did drop. And then, we pull up to Hotel L'Ecrin. Photos? They don't do it justice. Seriously. The architecture is this incredible blend of modern chic and tropical bliss. The lobby? Breezy, fragrant with frangipani, and immediately makes you feel…calm. For about five minutes. “Oh my god, I have to relax, enjoy, and take it all in to the last drop!” The room is perfect and that ocean view? Forget about it. I think I might just stay here forever, except… I'm also now convinced I've accidentally wandered onto the set of a rich people's holiday. There are so many perfectly coiffed, tanned people. I fear I may be underdressed. My "island chic" look is probably closer to "accidentally-woke-up-in-a-beach-towel-and-slipped-out-the-door." Wish me luck.
1:00 PM – Pizza & Perils: Okay, lunch. One of the hotel restaurants. I ordered pizza (because, pizza), and it took… well, let’s just say the waiter seemed to have an allergic reaction to people wanting food. The pizza itself? Good. But the wait? Enough time for me to learn fluent French, write a novel, and maybe build a friendship with the resident iguana. So, yeah, my mood…it swung wildly, from "This is bliss!" to "I am actually hungry and angry.”
3:00 PM – Poolside & Existential Dread: The pool is, of course, perfection. Infinity edge, crystal-clear water, and…more perfectly tanned people. I feel the need to clarify my need to say “I’m not a pool person! I don’t have the skill to enjoy a pool.” I'm working on my tan…(with a lot of SPF, of course). Sun, water, a book…and then the realization hits: I haven't even scratched the surface of this island. The amount I want to explore weighs on my mind. Also, I swear I saw a woman casually reading Proust. Proust! I’m reading a trashy thriller. This is the beginning of my downfall – I should have picked one of the non-fiction books in my library.
7:00 PM – Dinner & Dreams: I was feeling ambitious so I planned on trying the main restaurant for dinner. The problem is, the buffet is tempting me and I’m not sure how to manage to eat fancy meal and enjoy it. The idea of “exploring a new cuisine” is not what I was envisioning at this point.
Day 2: Volcano Views, Hiking Hangovers, and a Mango Meltdown
7:00 AM: Wake Up and Regret Everything I woke up with a massive sunburn (despite the SPF! The sun, it's a liar!) and a vague sense of dread regarding all the steps I'll make today.
8:00 AM – Breakfast & The Coffee Crisis: I’m a coffee addict. A serious coffee addict. The hotel coffee? Decent. But the coffee shop?! It's like they're making pure, liquid gold. I had three lattes and promptly decided I could conquer the world. This might have been a mistake.
9:00 AM – Piton de la Fournaise! (Or, "I'm Not Sure I'm Ready for 'Active Volcano'"): The main event. We’re heading to see the volcano. The drive? Spectacular. Winding roads, mind-blowing views. The landscape goes from lush green to something resembling the surface of Mars. It's simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying. I’m now convinced that I should have taken the bus. I feel a little bit stupid.
11:00 AM – A little bit of Volcano: We get out of the car and walk. I am not prepared for how steep the terrain will be, it's like a never-ending staircase of volcanic rock. The air is thin as hell. I am dying. I’m starting to realize that my fitness level is… questionable. And the wind! It almost blew me off my feet. The view from the top thought? Unreal. Worth every agonizing step. And yet…my legs. I'd rather be horizontal.
2:00 PM – Mango Madness: Post-hike, we head to the local market. Mangoes. Everywhere. Glorious mountains of ripe, juicy, fragrant mangoes. I buy about six (I have no self-control). I ate one immediately. It’s just…amazing. Pure sunshine in a fruit. And then I bought another one. And another. I’m pretty sure I was slightly loco.
4:00 PM – Poolside Redemption: Back at the hotel, I stumble back towards the pool like a zombie, muscles screaming. An hour of floating, and suddenly I feel human again.
7:00 PM – Dinner Regrets and the Rum-soaked Revelation: I attempted a fancy restaurant again. I’m now convinced that my vocabulary is limited to "Bonjour" and "Merci". Dinner was amazing. I found that I should be trying some rhum arrangé, so I ordered one. The drink? Delicious. The realization that my brain is now slightly mushy? Even more delicious. I feel slightly tipsy and ready to take on the world (again). Or maybe just sleep.
Day 3: Adventure and the Imperfection Within (And Maybe Less Pizza)
9:00 AM – Breakfast. Attempting to be healthy: I tried the fresh fruit, the yogurt, the granola. I failed. I had a croissant. Multiple. Don’t judge me.
10:00 AM – Snorkeling! (Or, "I Look Like a Fish Out of Water"): We went snorkeling. The water is clear. The coral is beautiful. The fish are… well, they’re fish. I had a little bit of a panic attack when a fish briefly brushed against me. I’m not sure I enjoyed the whole experience.
1:00 PM – Lunch Lament: I tried something new. A local dish, I think, maybe a Creole curry? It was either the tastiest thing I've ever eaten or the most confusing. The jury is still out.
3:00 PM – Relaxation vs. Guilt: I’m back in the room, staring out at the ocean. I'm faced with a dilemma: Spend the afternoon relaxing on the balcony with a book, or go for a hike in the area. The guilt that is eating at me is telling me that I’m not enjoying this holiday and that I must fight to enjoy this period as it is.
7:00 PM – Farewell Dinner (and a bit of self-reflection). Okay, the mood is bittersweet. I'm sad this is coming to an end. After a few days, I came to terms with the fact that this island is absolutely fantastic. I’m feeling great and I can't wait to come back here!
9:00 PM – Packing Panic and the Promise to Return: Okay, the packing! I'm the worst packer ever. I try to avoid the panic but the reality is setting it… But, hey, I know I'm going to get back here, so it's alright.
The Verdict?
Reunion Island? Blows my mind. Hotel L’Ecrin? Flawless. Me? A slightly sunburned, coffee-fueled, mango-loving, adventure-seeking, sometimes-a-mess, human who had an absolutely amazing time. And that's the best kind of trip, isn't it? Because in the end, it's the messy bits, the unexpected detours, the moments of pure panic and pure bliss that make the whole experience worthwhile. Now…where’s that rum?
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Uncover Reunion Island's Hidden Gem: Hotel L'Ecrin's Paradise Awaits! - FAQs (With a Touch of Chaos)
1. Okay, seriously, is "Paradise Awaits" just marketing BS for Hotel L'Ecrin? Or is it *actually* true?
Alright, let's be real. I've seen the brochures. I've heard the promises. "Paradise" gets thrown around like confetti at a wedding. And honestly? I went in expecting the usual overpriced hotel with a nice beach, a slightly disappointing buffet, and a persistent salesperson trying to sell me a timeshare.
But… L'Ecrin? Man, it's different. Picture this: you arrive, sweating from the Reunion Island humidity (it's a *thing*), and they greet you with this ridiculously refreshing hibiscus iced tea. I'm not even a tea person, but I drank three. Three! And suddenly, the "Paradise" thing starts to… click. It's not perfect (more on that later), but the vibe, the sheer *beauty* of the place… it's pretty darn close.
Okay, maybe not *utter* paradise. Let's say… Paradise adjacent. Paradise with a few quirks. Like that one tiny lizard that kept trying to sneak into my room. Little dude was persistent! Still, totally recommend.
2. What's the *food* like at L'Ecrin? Because let's face it, bad food can ruin a vacation quicker than a rogue seagull stealing your fries.
Oh, the food. Okay, the food. This is where things get… interesting. The breakfast buffet? Phenomenal. Fresh fruit (mangoes that tasted like sunshine!), pastries that melted in your mouth, and I swear, the coffee was brewed by angels. Seriously. I went back for seconds (and thirds) every single morning.
Lunch and dinner? A bit more… variable. There's a restaurant with a view, and when it's good, it's *amazing*. That seared tuna I had one night? Perfection. But then, there's the occasional dish that's… well, let's just say it wasn't the highlight. There was this one chicken dish that was *slightly* overcooked. But hey, you can't win 'em all, right?
The saving grace? Always, *always* order the local specialties. Rougail saucisses is a must! It gave me so much joy. And the wine list is also pretty good, so there were ways to cover for the meals that weren't as good. Don't be afraid to ask the staff for recommendations, they're really helpful. Trust me, the highs are *so* worth it. And the views from the restaurants? Unbeatable. Even if the chicken is slightly on the dry side (it wasn't *that* bad, I'm just being dramatic).
3. The Rooms: Are they actually nice? Or cramped, depressing shoeboxes pretending to be luxury?
Okay, the rooms. Finally, something *consistently* good. I had a room with a balcony that overlooked the ocean, and I could have happily spent my entire vacation just sitting there, sipping my hibiscus tea (yes, I got hooked).
They're spacious, well-appointed, and the beds? Heavenly. Seriously, I slept like a baby. And the bathrooms? Clean, modern, with a shower that actually had good water pressure (a rare and glorious thing in some hotels, believe me). The only minor complaint? The air conditioning occasionally took a minute to fully kick in, but that was a small price to pay. Overall, loved my room! Even the little lizard didn't bother me too much after a while.
4. Beach time! Is the beach at L'Ecrin actually swim-able? Or is it all rocks and disappointment?
The beach… This is where the "quirks" come in. The beach itself is beautiful. Think white sand, turquoise water, the whole shebang. However, it’s a public beach. It wasn’t overly busy, but there were some people at different times.
The water is incredible; cool, crisp, and clear. You can swim, snorkel, and bask in the sun. But… pay attention to the waves. It can get a little rough sometimes. And remember those volcanic rocks? Yeah, they're around. They're beautiful, but they're also… rocks. Just be careful when you're entering and exiting the water, because I definitely scraped my knee on a rock.
But honestly? Those minor inconveniences vanish when you're floating in that water, looking out at the horizon. It's worth the slight risk of a scraped knee, trust me. I spent hours in the water. The color of the water is unreal. So, yes! Swim, swim, swim, but keep an eye out for Mother Nature’s little surprises.
5. Any tips for getting around Reunion Island from Hotel L'Ecrin? Getting a car is a huge expense.
Okay, transportation! Getting around Reunion Island is… an adventure. Public transport? Exists, but can be tricky and a bit time-consuming depending on where you want to go. Taxis? Available, but they can add up really fast. I found the best, most cost-effective solution was renting a car! I know, I know, "big expense," but trust me, being able to explore the island at my own pace was worth every penny. Especially if you want to go to the waterfalls!
The hotel can help you arrange it with a rental company. Remember to get insurance! And don't underestimate the time it takes to get around. The roads can be windy, and sometimes the traffic is a bit crazy (especially in Saint-Denis). But seriously, driving yourself is the best way to see the island's real beauty. I had a blast driving, listening to music, and following random tiny roads!
6. Anything I *really* need to know before I go to Hotel L'Ecrin? Like, insider tips, secret hacks, etc!
Okay, the inside scoop. First, pack plenty of sunscreen. The sun in Reunion Island is no joke. Seriously. I came back looking like a lobster (and that was *with* sunscreen). The other tip? Learn a few basic French phrases. While many people in the hotel speak English, knowing a bit of French will go a long way, especially if you leave the hotel and want to explore. Locals love it!
And… embrace the humidity. It's part of the experience. Don't fight it. Just accept that you're going to sweat, and bring light, breathable clothing. Oh, and make friends with the staff. They're genuinely lovely and will help you with anything you need. They know the best spots, the hidden gems, and they're always happy to help. Enjoy your stay! And don't forget to try the mangoes. Seriously, those mangoes are life-changing.
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