I could write a very long manifesto on this hotel and their lack of hospitable and functional customer service. But, I will *try* to keep this brief-- I'm not sure if I can.

We had booked directly with the staff for our June stay in February and had worked out all our details for arrival. They had been coridal and quick to respond to all our e-mails which gave us all positive feelings. We paid a night plus about 20 euros, give or take, of our stay ahead of time to reserve the room. All signs go.

Upon our arrival, we found that there were two cars in the teeny parking strip in front of the hotel and that it was absolutely, positively deserted. We were aware that the hotel restaurant would be closed during our stay, but from our first glances, it really seemed that the hotel was truly closed altogether.

There was no sign that clearly marked the reception on the property and we walked the entire hotel property, asking "Y-a-t-il quelqu'un? Hello?!" several times. We also knocked on several doors that seemed like they could be the reception, but no one answered. We had arrived around 3:45- 4:00 p.m. after we had said we'd be there at 4:30. So, we went into town and waited. No big sweat at this point, just puzzlement on our half that we had not seen a soul there.

We came back. Still no one. We began to get worried as now it was well after 4:30-- it was nearing 5 p.m. and the sun sets early. The road to the hotel/into the town from the national road is a bit treacherous if you're unfamiliar with it, so we needed to be somewhere before dark.

So, we went back into town and talked with the proprietors of the local press shop who helped us track down someone at the hotel by making personal phone calls for us. (Their phone number was misprinted in our guide book and it was our fault that we didn't write it down ourselves from the hotel website. We were informed by the owner's son later that they were suing the guide book in question due to this and that they had made other misprints on their property.)

Thank God for the press shop's hospitality, because they were the only ones to offer us any in this situation. The press shop owner was surprised-- and told me so-- that the person who answered the phone didn't seem to be concerned. He told the person on the phone that we would be there immediately.

We showed up again....and there were still no open doors or signs of anyone! So, at this point, my husband lost his cool a little bit and screamed "Hello?! Where are you?" at the top of his voice. Magically, Bastien (one of the owner's children) appeared and was slightly angry that we were, I quote "making such a racket. Is there a problem?"

At this point, I explained in French ( which I speak fluently-- so no communication problems) that yes, there was a problem and we were upset.

From here, I will tell you that he flew into a pack of lies by saying he'd been there from "4-ish" on and we just didn't know where to find him. He also said that he was on vacation himself (what gumption to say that one!) and that was why he wasn't in reception (what a novelty to do your job, right?). He also called his wife on the telephone to have her come out from where they lived on the hotel property to prove that they couldn't have heard us if we were calling out (again, not useful at this point).

What this boils down to is that his mother (Helene) was on vacation in England and he was left to run the hotel (which didn't have more than a few occupants) and he felt entitled to do his job lousily.

What I truly didn't appreciate is that he was entirely condescending and did not say sorry even once! What true arrogance, even after *we* apologized for yelling to get someone's attention. Everything was our fault or our misperception. No apologies! None!

He also insinuated at one point that it was our fault that there was no one originally since we had said we were arriving at 4:30. Yet, I had an e-mail from his mother days before (which is how I knew she was in England) and she did not say a word about that there wouldn't be anyone around until our so-called scheduled arrival time. That in itself really takes precedence over the rude treatment-- why were we not told that it was important to really arrive at that time?

We ended up checking in and staying a night in the room he'd "cleaned himself that morning." He must not know how to properly sweep a room of dust, sand and pubic hairs in the bathroom. Also, there was no hot water either in the evening or the morning. The bed was a piece of foam rubber covered in sheets-- terribly, terribly uncomfortable. The kitchnette they displayed on their website was a rusted out heap of odds and ends on the balcony.

We had left it that we would speak to him in the morning on whether or not we would be staying and he had said he'd been in reception from 7 to 11 a.m.
We arrived in the reception towards a quarter of 9 a.m. to find a maid, who went to search for him. She came back and said that he was sleeping since no one was answering the door or the phone. We left him a note with the maid, asking for an e-mail confirmation that all charges were rectified and that we would not be charged anything further. Of course, that never came.

Bottom line apart from our personal situation is this: the rooms are shabby and the stairs to the beach have been under construction for some time now (also not noted anywhere in reservation or on their website). This hotel-- staff attitude aside-- is really nothing better than a 1 1/2-2 star propery.

We loved this small hotel and its restaurant. The hotel itself is full of character and furnished lovingly with antique furniture and ornaments. The restaurant is really excellent and the food served is of an exceptional standard. You can dine either on the covered verrandah looking out to sea or in the restaurant - either place is very romantic. Pre-dinner cocktails are served in the very elegant lounge/bar area. There is an excellent wine list and also a wonderful selection of after-dinner vintage rums - Sebastian is very knowledgeable and can advise you on which ones to taste. Infact Sebastian and his mother are both extremely helpful and both speak excellent English.

The bedrooms are basic but comfortable. The bathroom was small but there was lots of piping hot water for showers. The airconditioning was very efficient and there was a large covered terrace leading off the bedroom with a table and chairs and limited kitchinette.

The beach is very close, some 5 minutes walk away and there are two further restaurants on the beach and another excellent restaurant at the foot of the hotels' steps to leading to the beach.

The hotel is also situated in the natural park of the Caravelle Peninsula where there are a number of walks through attractive scenery.

We thought this hotel represented exceptional value for money and we really enjoyed our stay there. We will certainly be going back again.

We have been here for one week in February. The Hotel from their website seemed lovely; it’s a 2-star hotel, more pricey than usually in Martinique (84 euro for a standard studio). They qualify themselves as a "hotel de charme", well you can definitely say this for the restaurant and the reception, but not for the rooms. Our room was terrible, with basic and very old furniture. The big terrace had a camping kitchen and a rusted fridge, there was a double bed plus a bunk bed with "randomly" picked furniture, giving us the feeling of being in a (expensive) hostel; we can say that at least 5 of the 14 rooms of La Caravelle are like the ones we were in. There are more renovated rooms also, offered at the same price, and we found this unacceptable, given the very low standards of our studio. Absolutely overpriced. Not too far from there, you can find a 3 stars hotel with a pool for the same price.

It was my first trip to the French Caribbean (and make no mistake, Martinique is FRENCH!), and I came across this great little place. The owners are so kind, speak great English, and are wonderful cooks in the kitchen! They retired to Martinique from France. The hotel is basic, but fine. I think they have installed air conditioning since my visit, althought the weather is so perfect you may not want, or need, it. The only problem you might have with the hotel is that it is a bit far from a town, but not far at all from a strip of tourist resorts; it sticks out on a little finger of the island, and is really in a lovely spot. Martinique itself is lovely, cosmopolitan, and without so many of the troubles (poverty, drugs) that plague much of the Caribbean (and so is Guadeloupe, another, even lovelier French island). Say what you will about the French, but their Caribbean possessions shine far above the British, ex-British, Dutch, American, and ex-Spanish possessions. Martinique and Guadeloupe are fantastic vacation spots.