This is my 1st trip report (3rd visit in 4 years) and will make it 2 wks every year from now on. My wife (Diane) and I (early 40’s) didn’t do much but relax, eat and have the odd beverage. We previously traded for timeshare @ the Atrium and Sunterra Flamingo. Wanted to try Orient Beach area so we stayed at L’Hoste (This may be a long report, hope it’s not too boring).
Saturday
Used Unity Car Rental (TTOL). They were excellent. They had a sign with our names on it and we were whisked to the lot. The lot is really a dirt lot, but don’t let that bother you. The staff was great and so was the price. We were stuck in traffic near the road leading up the hill (Cole Bay?) for 15 minutes (not a car was moving in either direction from Marigot or up and down the hill). This was about 11:45am. We then turned around and “scooted” through some side streets to get around the problem and drove through Marigot and Grand Case instead. Not sure what the problem was but we overheard it took someone over 2 hours. We checked in (very quick () and were on the beach by 1:30.
After we found gravity all day, we went for drinks @ the La Playa Beach Bar. After a few Caribes and a good tip, we asked for a “rum punch something”. They said we will give you a special drink. We were told it was on the house. We asked for another one and received a strange look as if to say “you really want another one”? The charge was $12 each. Now I understand his look. After the second drink, relaxed was an understatement.
We decided on La Fish Bar (TTOL). Quaint, inexpensive and very good. As usual, we look for the special and it was a salmon and mango kabob with caramel dipping sauce on the side with rice and vegetables ($14 each). It was excellent. The host/server/bartender was great. Ended it with a coffee “to go” next door in the “courtyard”. Sat and watched the kids having a great time.
Sunday
Headed to La Fish Bar (8am) for coffee and toast and headed for the beach to let gravity take over until 3pm. A beach day consists of reading, walking, tanning, cooling off in the ocean, napping and a cool beverage (not necessarily in that order).
Arrived at SSBB? (Sunset Beach Bar) around 4pm. We found a place at the bar and we were happy to see Enrique (Henry) working the bar. We met Enrique and his girlfriend Sophie when we stayed at the Atrium (Enrique worked the bar at night at Indiana Jones and Sophie was the [censored]’t manager to the owner Jeff). They made our stay on our 1st trip.
Enrique and the other bar tenders kept us “liquefied”. By 9pm, we had enough. Back to Orient and a takeout pizza from Tap 5 (TTOL) – very good
Monday
Couldn’t sleep and decided to go down to the beach @ 5:45am to see the sunrise and walk the beach – it was extremely relaxing and the sunrise was great. Back to the beach by 9am and gravity until lunch. Decided on La Playa but thought the prices were high for lunch (I wanted a burger and it was 11 euro). Left and decided to finally visit Baywatch (I understand they are closed on Monday’s). Two doors down were Pirates. I had the cheesburger/bacon ($8 – decent) and my wife had the curried chicken wrap (excellent). Back to the beach for more gravity and Caribes and a walk to Coco Beach. It looked like a more intimate setting of all the beach restaurants. Decided to try it for dinner.
Coco beach is cute, open and close to the water. Service and food was excellent. As usual, we had the specials. Diane had the grilled sea bass w/sweet potatoes and wild rice (excellent) while I had the veal, sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, something called ravioli and something w/duck liver (excellent). After dinner, they set down a bottle of caramel flavored rum (homemade) with 2 shot glasses. We sipped a shot (ok maybe 2 or 3). It was excellent and a great way to end the dinner
Tuesday
Woke up early for the sunrise and a walk. This time I stopped at Baywatch. I finally met the often-mentioned Andy. I asked if they were open for breakfast and he said not until 7am (it was 6:30am). He said have a coffee on the house, but you have to fix it your self. I brought Diane back for breakfast and had the special (eggs on top of corn beef hash etc). It was excellent, especially the homemade hot sauce. Gravity the rest of the day (lunch was left over pizza from Tap 5).
Headed to Grand Case for Harmony Nights It was very interesting. Decided to eat at Talk of the Town (TTOL). It truly is very simple – paper plates and but the grilled Lobster was good (they only had the smallest size available). Tried a blood sausage (I’m used to Italian/German) and it was actually good.
Wednesday
Slept in for a change and to the beach by 9:30 for more gravity. Salami and fresh baguette from the store was lunch.
Traveled to Marigot late afternoon (a quick walk around) and ended up at Bamboo Café (TTOL). We were the only ones there but that was perfect (just like our own backyard). It’s a nice open-air patio bar. Had the seafood buffet at Claude Mini Club. Not much from below, but once upstairs, it really cute with a great view. Dinner was very good, but I would consider it more of a regular buffet w/seafood (smoked salmon, snapper filet and lobster – lots of it). The meats were roast chicken, beef, pork and lamb. The bill was only $100 – not sure if they missed the bottle of wine but a good price.
Thursday
Could resist Baywatch and had breakfast in the morning. A few bloody mary’s on the beach at 11am and gravity all day. Finally, Peg Leg for dinner. Sat at the bar and had our choice of beers. Diane was able to have the Strongbow (cider beer). We enjoy the pub atmosphere (our 2nd time A Peg Leg) before having dinner on the patio. The large cocktail shrimp were fresh (excellent). We both had the filet mignon. (excellent).
The price was very reasonable. Back to L’Hoste.
Friday
The usual – gravity. Before settling in – both of us went for a walk at 9:00. Upon our return, we noticed our bag was missing. We took the 3rd row from the water and being so early, there was nobody in our row or behind us. Just before our walk, we luckily remembered our money belt (cash/ room keys and photo copies of our ID). I asked the staff at La Playa and L’Host if they had seen our bag. The staff at La Playa were very concerned and there was a small buzz going on. After 10 minutes, one of the employees found the bag near the trees beside La Playa. It was definitely ruffled through. Nothing taken (only had an old watch, coolers for the beer, magazines suntan lotion and a disposable camera with 2 pictures left on it). As mentioned the staff was great and their efforts are much appreciated.
Once the drama settled, it was gravity. Baywatch was busy for lunch so back to Pirates. I had the pork sandwich (good) and Diane had the Mahi Mahi Sandwich (very good). This is a decent lunch spot along w/$2 beers – you can’t go wrong.
Before dinner, we had a few cocktails @ Bikini Beach. We decided on Planet Orient for dinner (TTOL). The menu is limited but we knew what we wanted. The staff was excellent. We wanted a bottle of white but I know little of French wines. Our waiter sensed it and suggested a bottle for us (moderate price). I had the chicken ceasar w/frog roi (can’t spell it) on toast (very good). Diane started with the tuna carpauccio. (excellent). My main course was Lobster risotto (excellent) and Diane’s was pasta carbonarra (again – can’t spell today). I had a taste and we agreed it was the best we had ever had. A nice touch after dinner was the shot of apple sour liqueur they gave us on the house.
Saturday
Going back home. It rained during the night up until we left at 12:30 (a few passengers were late and we waited 40 minutes). Stopped at Rick’s for breakfast (very good). The staff was excellent – especially our waitress (young average height girl).
A comment on the Hotel
L’Hoste – It’s a 3 star. Understand that and you will be OK.
Good – 1) Close to the beach, 2) good staff 3) nice quaint pool area (nobody really used it because of the beach), 4) rooms cleaned well every day.5) Good size rooms.6) overall “island” feel staying here compared to the larger timeshare’s.
Bad – 1) yes the water from the shower goes on the bathroom floor (we lived with it)
2) no sharp knife (only butter knives), no spatula’s etc…, no coffee maker, no toaster, no bottle opener (we brought one). I don’t expect to cook much but this part was a disappointment. 3) the view from our patio was not the greatest but it could have been worse
Overall – Very good for a 3 star.
Can’t wait until next year (2 weeks this time with another couple coming for 1 week) Just looking for a time share to buy the 2nd or 3rd wk of April and we’re all set.
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