Princesse Bora Lodge & Spa

Spent a lovely week here although I would not class our room as luxury. It was the middle tier room. We found it dark and oppressive - in definite need of a regular maintenance programme - e.g. the old and rusty fixings in the bathroom, and the old bathroom basin surround (which was wood) was worn and grubby and years past it's prime. However we did not come all this way to spend the time in our room. The bed was very comfortable and the shower was powerful with plenty of hot water. It was very quiet and we had no problem getting off to sleep. We asked to be shown an Executive Suite and the difference in standard between the Luxury Villa and the Executive suite is huge. The staff were lovely, very friendly and helpful - they worked hard. We did a couple of really good trips and our drivers/guides from the hotel were great. The food was very good and the pizza's were a real hit. The location is stunning. Wifi is available at reception and by the lounge (near the restaurant). Evening meals were often served in the outside dining area on the beach - it was a treat to dine with the waves lapping the sandy shore. Our main dissatisfaction was that no complimentary water was available considering guests to Madagascar are advised not to use tap water (even to clean their teeth). Given that the hotel has its own water distilling/bottling plant this would be a straightforward offering for a facility that was sold to us as "luxury". All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable stay and we found Ile Sainte-Marie delightful.

The best hotel I have ever stayed in, anywhere, and I have been to over 50 countries! The location was awesome, with magnificent views of the beach from our private terrace or from the bed, which faced the water. Floor to ceiling windows allowed for fantastic views. The bungalow was beautifully designed and had everything we needed during our stay (including a very friendly cat). This hotel is really the epitome of luxury. Double sink and rain showers, a gorgeous tub which can be used for a bath in essential oils which the staff will prepare for you, and turn down service complete with mosquito netting. The restaurant served a huge variety of fresh food. The infinity pool was beautiful and warm. The staff was super friendly and accommodating. And the spa...oh the spa...I had at least one service a day! I highly recommend the gommage, facial, happy feet massage, and of course the full body massage. I can't recommend this hotel enough!

This resort is quite an oasis, I had such a great two week holiday here and thoroughly recommend it. The resort is well kept, has a great pool, restaurant & bar with views of the beach, and an onsite shop. There is a fabulous onsite spa with a varied spa menu, skilled staff and excellent fragrant products made on the premises. There is also an onsite dive centre, where you can learn to dive, and who organise all aquatic trips. The onsite restaurant served excellent food, some of which they grow themselves and the bar/restaurant staff were friendly and attentive. There is a jetty out into the water, where you can sit and have a drink before heading to the beachside bar/restaurant, with tables inside or on the sand. The bar/restaurant vibe is relaxed and several nights there was great local live music in the bar/restaurant. I stayed in a family bungalow, which was large with a very comfortable bed, tastefully furnished, serviced daily by the lovely housekeeping ladies and spotless. It was a thirty second stroll to the beach and I could hear the waves at night. During the day there is plenty to do and I took a trip most days - you can snorkel on the beach in front of the resort, take a car trip with the resort drivers, take a boat trip with the resort boats or catch the local transport into the town. I took boat trips to the nearby very beautiful Isle Au Nattes (dont miss it) and to the sand islands off the coast in the Indian Ocean for snorkelling (dont miss it), took car trips to locations around the island (a couple of great places are owned by the resort), and took local transport into the town for shopping and restaurants. I felt safe the whole time and did not see any bad incidents during my time there - the locals were friendly and polite. Bring lots of sun protection (it's hard to buy locally) and bring lots of insect protection (I didn't need it at the resort, but I did on trips). The resort staff in all departments were excellent and when I had a medical issue, the staff recognised my need and the director of the island's hospital appeared out of nowhere, sorted me out and contacted me every day until I was better. There was a very visible and delightful customer liaison officer at the resort, who was constantly checking that things were going well for guests and addressing any guest queries/concerns. Special mention goes to the Resort Manager, Monsieur Francois, a super chilled, friendly and professional individual, for whom nothing was too much trouble, who attended to all issues/feedback immediately and who was everywhere, keeping the resort running to a high standard. Thank you all.

Princess Bora has all the bases to be a luxury resort but it lacks the attention to details and a proper maintenance (beach area was terribly old and dirty). The only really good service is the Spa (only reason for the 2/5 score), well kept and with lovely staff. Other than that it doesn’t deserve more than 1 star. The first day one of the bedrooms was given to us with dirty towels left from the previous guests…after apologies and new towels we were all set hoping it was only a silly mistake. We were so wrong. Locker batteries died in most of the bedrooms and were eventually replaced only the day before our departure even though we had asked many times before. Lunch service is just terribile in every way, the second day we had to wait for more than 1 hour with waiters laughing at us when we asked what was happening. Once again some cold apologies after an upset talk with the “directors”. Third lunch, always long waiting time, a plate comes with a hair in it. The waitress takes it (the hair not the plate), doesn’t even say “I am sorry”, and goes to the director who sees it and leaves the restaurant without saying anything. Not a single apologie or the option of remaking the dish, just terrifying. Table tennis and beach volley were services that the hotel should have offered but where unavailable for no apparent reason. Staff was after all available with some exceptions but really slow in every way possible (be ready to wait even for a bottle of water). One last world goes to the “directors” whom we wouldn’t have realized worked there if they hadn’t shown us the property the day of our arrival. Not a single time they came to ask how it was going (perhaps to most table they did maybe they just didn’t like us?) and the last day after all of the problems we had they didn’t even say goodbye or apologize. Bill was paid (even the plate with the hair in it…) in full and off we went to the airport. Princess Bora was such a big disappointment even though Saint Marie is such a beautiful island.

We spent two weeks in this wonderful resort, in a fantastic location on a very beautiful island. Hospitality, staff, rooms, restaurant, all of a very high standard. Despite the unfavorable season (in Madagascar it is winter and rainy in July, but it's the right time for whale watching), we were able to enjoy everything the resort offers, including excellent diving with which we made beautiful dives and whale watching forays, always in total safety and lots of good humor. Really highly recommended!