When it’s time to pack your bags for Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, there’s one essential question: how do you choose the best hotel in Saint-Gilles? With its picture-postcard beaches, its lagoon protected by the coral reef, its filaos whispering in the wind and its sunny terraces, Réunion’s best-known seaside resort has more than one argument under its belt.
So, how do you choose between accommodation with a view, a family room just a stone’s throw from the water and an eco-responsible hotel in Réunion? Don’t panic. We’ll help you make sense of it all – with a few discreet Reunion hotel bargains thrown in for good measure.
1. Choosing the right hotel in Saint-Gilles, a question of atmosphere
Seaside or lively town centre? To each his own tempo
Are you more interested in lazing in the sun or enjoying a cocktail in town? For a seaside break in Saint-Gilles les Bains, opt for a hotel close to the beach in Réunion, or even a hotel near the Hermitage, where the white sand is the carpet and the lagoon replaces the swimming pool.
But if you prefer a livelier atmosphere, with Pei restaurants, galleries and a craft market, then a well-located hotel in Saint-Gilles, close to the town centre, will be your ideal base.
Our advice: opt for hotels accessible to Saint-Gilles les bains Réunion on foot or with a good bus network for headache-free exploring.
Comfort, yes… but without the fuss
Let’s make no mistake: a successful stay also means a good bed, discreet air conditioning and a shower that flows like the Cascade Langevin. Choose an inexpensive hotel in Saint-Gilles, with air conditioning, free wifi, parking if you’re coming by car, and ideally breakfast included (with homemade jam, péi fruit and hot viennoiseries, of course).
For families, opt for a family room in Saint-Gilles, with space for everyone, even the cuddly toy.
2. For an unforgettable stay: think welcome, values, services and comfort
Accommodation in Saint-Gilles, yes. But local, please!
Sleeping in a comfortable bed is great. Sleeping in local accommodation in Réunion is even better. Choose an establishment that promotes local culture, short circuits and local products. A hotel with a restaurant in Réunion offering rougail saucisse or civet zourite for lunch? We say yes!
And if the hotel is also careful about its footprint, sorts its waste, saves water and supports local artisans? Then you’ve set your sights on an eco-responsible hotel in Réunion!
Leisure, weekends away and ti simple moments
Whether you’re coming for a holiday in Saint-Gilles les bains, a weekend away to unwind, or for a leisure break in Réunion, think of the activities around the hotel: walks in the marine reserve, diving in the lagoon, transparent kayaking, a visit to the Saint-Gilles aquarium, sunset from the Roches Noires beach, or a simple aperitif at sunset.
And don’t forget to keep an eye out for Réunion’s great hotel deals: last-minute offers, half-board packages or special offers during the week. You could well find a cheap hotel in Saint-Gilles, with the best value for money in the whole of the West!
3. One last piece of advice before you book…
Nowadays, there’s nothing easier than booking a hotel in Réunion online. But take the time to read the reviews, look at the photos (the real ones, not the overly retouched ones), and compare. Some hotels even offer direct booking on their website, with exclusive advantages and promotional codes.
And don’t forget: the best hotel in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains isn’t the one with the brightest 5 stars. It’s the one where you’ll feel at home, with your feet in the sand, your heart light… and your soul a little more Creole.
Focus on Exsel Hotels in Saint-Gilles: two atmospheres, one desire to do things right
In Saint-Gilles, Exsel Hotels each cultivate their own style, but all have one thing in common: to make you feel at home, only better. Here are two addresses to keep in your travel diary (or in your favourites, let’s be modern).
Hôtel Exsel Alamanda: tropical, cheerful and with its feet almost in the water
Just a stone’s throw from the Hermitage lagoon, Hôtel Exsel Alamanda doesn’t try to do too much. It focuses on the essentials: a hotel with a swimming pool, a lush garden, cheerful colours, functional rooms opening onto a sumptuous garden, and a team at your service. On top of that, the hotel has the Clef Verte label, so you can enjoy a wonderful stay while helping to preserve the environment.
In the morning, you lie in bed in an air-conditioned room in Saint-Gilles, head for the restaurant to have breakfast by the pool, and then head for the beach, less than 5 minutes’ walk away. And in the evening, when the filaos begin to dance gently in the breeze, we sit down on the terrace of the Le Grain de Sable restaurant. What’s on the menu? Cuisine that honours Reunion’s terroir, with local produce and a menu featuring a wide range of dishes to satisfy every taste.
For a weekend in Saint-Gilles, a leisure break in La Réunion or a family holiday, l’Alamanda ticks a lot of boxes: free wifi, local accommodation, a hotel in a great location in Saint-Gilles, activities around the hotel, a hotel with a restaurant in Saint-Gilles and even special offers at certain times of the year.
Hôtel Exsel Ermitage: calm, comfort and tranquillity just a stone’s throw from the lagoon
A little further north, close to the Hermitage lagoon and the expressways, Hôtel Exsel Ermitage cultivates a more peaceful, gentler atmosphere, while also being awarded the Clef Verte label. People come here to recharge their batteries, read under the palm trees, savour the passing of time – and fall asleep to the sound of peaceful silence in the evening.
The hotel does not have its own restaurant, but it is ideally located just a stone’s throw from the must-visit La Marmite Saint-Gilles. Here, Pei cuisine is served just the way you like it: an all-you-can-eat buffet of steaming Creole curries, crispy samoussas, just the right amount of sticky rice and tasty cocktails. A generous address, true to the island, perfect for discovering the local flavours of Réunion.
And what about practicalities? Family room, parking, cheap hotel in Saint-Gilles, hotel with swimming pool, good value for money, not forgetting the proximity of the lagoon… A perfect combo for a gentle stay in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains.
In Saint-Gilles, the best choice of hotel is yours
There’s no such thing as the best hotel in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains. Above all, there’s the one that’s just like you: the one where you wake up to tropical birdsong, the one where you’re served a ti punch with a wink, or the one where your little ones can run barefoot in the garden.
From hotels with their feet in the sand to accessible and well-located accommodation, not forgetting more confidential or committed addresses, the offer is as rich as our island is beautiful. But if you’re looking for a safe bet that’s local, human and rooted in its environment, the Exsel hotels in Saint-Gilles have everything you need to turn a simple stay into a lovely memory.
✨ L’Alamanda, for its tropical lightness and sunny Le Grain de Sable restaurant.
🌿 L’Ermitage, for its serenity, proximity to the lagoon and the generous cuisine of La Marmite Saint-Gilles just a stone’s throw away.
So, ready to book a hotel in Réunion online for your next stay in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains? Take the time to feel the atmosphere, to leaf through the pages, to imagine yourself in this little corner of happiness between filaos and turquoise sea.
And above all… don’t stay away, Saint-Gilles y atann aou!
