Situated on Réunion’s sunny west coast, the town of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains is a dynamic seaside resort not to be missed. The town offers a perfect balance between entertainment and relaxation. With its protected lagoon, heavenly beaches and turquoise waters, it’s an ideal place to recharge your batteries. There’s also plenty to keep you entertained, with lively markets, trendy nightclubs, restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisine and a host of activities including snorkelling, paddle boarding and transparent boat and kayak trips. Saint-Gilles will charm you as a family, as a couple, with friends or even on your own. It’s impossible to forget the moment you set foot in Saint-Gilles.
Top 7 hotels for a relaxing day out
1. Exsel Alamanda
Ideally located close to Hermitage beach, the Exsel Alamanda hotel is perfect for a relaxing day under the filaos. Its friendly atmosphere and welcoming facilities, such as its outdoor pool and tropical garden, promise the perfect moment of relaxation. Take advantage of the hotel’s restaurant, Le Grain de Sable, to sample local and international flavours. The menu is varied, with traditional carris, burgers and pasta to suit all tastes. The rates for relaxation days at the Exsel Alamanda hotel are certainly the most affordable in Saint-Gilles les bains.
- From 10.30am to 6pm
- 7 days a week, subject to availability
- Price : €30/adult and €20/child (3 to 12 years)
- Lunch with credit
- By reservation only on +262 33 10 10
2. The Archipelago
The hotel is located close to the white sandy beaches between Saint-Gilles-les-bains and Boucan Canot. You’ll love its exceptional setting, with its Creole charms, for an authentic experience. The on-site restaurant offers generous cuisine combining Creole flavours, local produce and must-try classics. You can choose to dine indoors in the air-conditioned dining room or on the poolside terrace.
- From 11am to 6pm
- Subject to availability
- Price : €45/adult and €29/child (3 to 12 years)
- By reservation only on +262 24 05 34
3. Boucan Canot Hotel
For a 4-star luxury hotel experience, the Hotel Boucan Canot is an excellent option. Set on a cliff, this hotel offers breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. With its bistronomic restaurant, swimming pool and elegant rooms, everything is designed for a moment of pure well-being.
- From 10am to 6pm
- Monday to Friday, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
- Price :€55/adult and €25/child (3 to 12 years)
- Towel hire: €4/towel
- Reservations required on +262 33 44 44 or on the website
- No access to private car park
4. Dina Morgabine
The Dina Morgabine hotel is located in La Saline-Les-Bains. It is an ideal location, 5 minutes from the lagoon and 10 minutes from the Port of Saint-Gilles-Les-Bains. The hotel boasts a 25-metre swimming pool, heated in winter, a restaurant serving refined cuisine combining traditional Reunionese dishes with modern touches and, last but not least, an exceptional range of spa treatments. Let yourself be charmed by this relaxing day out in a natural and peaceful setting.
- From 9am to 9pm
- Price : €135 / adult
- Pool access, 1h (sauna, hammam, jacuzzi), 50 min (personalised massage)
- Lunch with welcome cocktail
- By reservation on +262 61 88 88 or on the website
5. Relais de l’hermitage
Facing the beach, this hotel offers panoramic views over Saint-Gilles and the ocean, with a warm and friendly atmosphere. With access to its two swimming pools and its restaurant ‘La Case Vanille’, the Relais de l’hermitage is the perfect choice for a lazy day. The proximity of the town centre also means you can combine relaxation and discovery after your day out.
- From 10am to 6pm
- Monday to Sunday, subject to availability
- By reservation on the site
- Price : free entry for children (under 4)
The 3 prie offers :
- Monday to Friday excluding local school holidays
40 € for adults
20 € pfor children (aged 4 to 12)
- Monday to Friday during local school holidays
45 € for adults
20 € for children (aged 4 to 12)
- Weekends and public holidays
50 € for adults
20 € for children (aged 4 to 12)
6. Exsel Ermitage
Do you just want to take a break in the morning instead of all day? The Exsel Ermitage hotel has the solution for you. A morning break in the heart of L’Hermitage, close to all the activities, such as the beach at L’Hermitage lagoon, shops and restaurants. A great way to get up in the morning and start a wonderful day. Want to extend the experience before an afternoon at the Hermitage lagoon? Head to La Marmite restaurant, just across the beach, and enjoy its all-you-can-eat buffet: carris and rougails cooked over a wood fire in the pure Creole tradition.
- From 8am to 12pm
- Price : €19/adult and €12/child (3 to 11 years)
- Buffet breakfast
- Pool access
- By reservation on +262 24 50 25 or by email: reservation@ermitage.re
7. Akoya Hôtel & Spa
To end on a note of luxury in an idyllic setting, this is one of the hotels to discover if you’re a fan of massage or facial treatments for a pure moment of well-being. You’ll find a range of packages for children and adults, including instant relaxation, pearl of well-being, pearl of beauty, and duo or group packages to share. For the pearl of well-being package:
- From 10am to 6pm
- Every day, subject to availability
- Price : €149 (weekdays) and €169 (weekends)
- 50-minute treatment of your choice (facial and massage or relaxing massage)
- 30 minutes access to the Spa facilities (hammam, sauna, jacuzzi)
- By reservation only on +262 61 61 62
Why choose Saint-Gilles for a relaxing day out ?
Saint-Gilles, the jewel on Réunion’s west coast, is an ideal destination for a relaxing day out. Here are just a few of the reasons why you’ll want to set down your suitcases (or your towel!) in this corner of paradise:
A great climate
With its generous amount of sunshine all year round, Saint-Gilles guarantees perfect weather for a day in the fresh air, whether on the beach or exploring.
Dream beaches
From the unmissable Hermitage lagoon to the lively Roches Noires beach, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to enjoying fine sand, snorkelling or just sunbathing.
A variety of activities
Explore the seabed by diving, or go out to sea to see dolphins and whales (in season) with Le Grand Bleu. The more adventurous can even try their hand at paragliding for a panoramic view of the coastline.
A shooting natural setting
Between the turquoise ocean and the palm trees lining the beaches, Saint-Gilles offers a postcard-perfect backdrop for a relaxing break.
A little shopping and strolling
The town centre is bursting with small boutiques, local craftsmen and colourful markets to bring back a unique souvenir of your day.
A local gourmet break
Feast on local specialities such as curries and fresh fish dishes in the many seaside restaurants. The local markets also offer exotic flavours for those keen to discover new things.
Some restaurants :
La Marmite restaurant
Located opposite the Hermitage beach, this Exsel Hôtels restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat buffet of Creole curries cooked in 14 wood-fired kettles.
It’s the perfect opportunity to sample Creole specialities and discover Réunionese culture. Open Monday to Saturday from 7pm to 11pm and Sunday from 12pm to 2pm.
Go by Le Cap Méchant
Located on Hermitage beach, Cap Méchant also offers an all-you-can-eat buffet for lunch and dinner. The restaurant serves Creole dishes but does not specialise in them.
You can also enjoy salads, pastas, pizzas and exotic desserts. In short, a wide variety of flavours from near and far. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Le Grain de Sable restaurant
At the heart of the Exsel Alamanda hotel and opposite its swimming pool, Le Grain de Sable restaurant is an invitation to relax and travel.
Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere overlooking the swimming pool and the hotel’s lush garden for lunch or dinner with friendly service. Open every day from 7am to 11pm.
Saint-Gilles is the promise of a day combining idleness, discovery and simple pleasures.
Don’t wait any longer to book your dream day at one of these hotels and let yourself be carried away by the charm of Saint-Gilles and its lagoon.
If you’re also a nature and hiking enthusiast, take a look at our articles on the Cirques in Réunion or the Must-See Walks in Réunion, where we’ll share them all with you!
Source : OT de l’ouest
