In sum, we were wowed by the beauty of this hotel and the service provided, but ultimately, it was more than we needed, especially for the price.

First, perhaps we're more sensitive to the price since we're coming with a dollar that's weaker than the euro, making everything just that much more expensive. That said, we spent so much time driving through the rest of the island -- up to see the nearby volcanoes and waterfalls, but also much further up the coast to Deshais and such -- that we were hardly ever in the hotel. Since it was a bit cool and oftentimes rainy, we never partook in the infinity pool and never walked the gardens.

Though it was a bit expensive for our taste (and we splurged, given that it was our honeymoon!) the view is superb. The rooms are lovely and come with their own air conditioning unit and at least a modicum of privacy - you split the quaint cabin with one other set of guests, and the cabins I saw were all set up on a hill, just a short ways from the main building with the pool. Simon, who runs the place, actually offered us the suite in the historical main building, which typically costs more since it has two bedrooms, but since we had no need for a second room and wanted our privacy, we stayed up top. Even so, this was not the secluded honeymoon experience I imagined, as most of the guests appeared to have kids in tow. I was imagining gardens and rainforest so thick that your entire cabin would be surrounded, but alas, not the case.

Speaking of management, Simon was usually on hand to answer questions, was pleasant to speak with and gave good recommendations. Once or twice he was a bit elusive in the morning, where he seemed to have somewhere to be while we had a million questions that we wanted answered in detail .... but then again, he runs the place! Of course he's busy. Thankfully, he spoke English, so there was no threat of miscommunication. His assistant (I cannot recall his name) was also friendly and competent, making us restaurant reservations elsewhere when we needed him (though there definitely was a bit of a language barrier here, since he's just learning English and we only know a bit of French!)

As far as food goes, they cook up a nice breakfast of either eggs and ham (or at least some pig product) or French toast (HIGHLY recommend), and lay out a spread of fruit cups, fresh juice, bread, butter, jam, Nutella and coffee. Dinner is pretty good and convenient, which is why we opted for it twice in three nights. However, though it IS good, it also is a bit on the expensive side. I suppose they can charge that amount when there are so few options in town, and it is so nice to be able to simply walk from dinner back to your room. The two nights we were there they served fish as the main course, and fish as the starter (sushi one night, sashimi the next). Dessert on the second night was my favorite - so layered French pastry that I got the feeling was prepared in a great big casserole dish and then cut into pieces.

Bottom line is that I would not return again, as it was too much for the value we got out of it. Perhaps great for families (with well-behaved children!), but as a honeymoon couple, it simply wasn't as romantic as I'd hoped.

We arrived in the dark of night, so, in the morning were stunned by the abundant tropical gardens and breath taking ocean views. We couldn't have imagined a more beautiful spot for a get-away. Simon, the host, is gracious, talented, smart, and funny. And every meal he served was absolutely delicious, a wonderful combination of island and French cuisine. And though we forgot to warn him we were vegetarians, at the last minute he created beautiful and delicious alternatives to the menu that even the carinvores envied! Our room was also perfection, an extremely large comfortable bed, ceiling fan, optional ac, beautiful bathrooms, and gorgeous window views. We can not wait to return again!

We had read some bad reviews before our holiday, so the reality was a delight! Everything was just right - a friendly welcome, a lovely room in beautiful gardens, excellent food. THere was a beautiful infinity pool with great views. The whole ambience was relaxrd and informal - just what we were looking for.

My husband and I stayed at Jardin Malanga for 3 days over the 2010 holidays. It was hard to find, but worth the effort. The plantation house and bungalows are on a old banana plantation and the property is at a high elevation and was often in the clouds which we found really nice. When there were no clouds, the view was amazing. The hotel manager, Simon Fabre, is an excellent host and also does all the cooking. His passion for cooking shows in his use of fresh ingredients (many from the property) and creative spices. We loved everything he prepared! Our room was gorgeous and romantic with a big soaking bath tub with a window that looked out on the best views. We had a porch all around us. The town of Trois Rivieres is not all that big and there is not a lot to do there or a lot of beaches, but it is close to the Ferry terminal to go over to Terre du Haut where Pompiere Beach is a gem. The hotel also has a wonderful pool overlooking the mountainous view and just made us feel secluded and romantic. In looking back, it was the favorite part of our trip to Guadeloupe. Also, Simon speaks English and was able to advise us on other travel related plans we had and was very helpful in every way. We would definitely go back, but it is only for those who want to relax and can amuse themselves, not for those looking for lots to do. It is also quite a ways out of town so you really need a car to stay there.