Hotel Residence Golf Village

Hotel Residence Golf Village is set on a beautiful, four-acre property, where pathways curve between well-landscaped lawns dotted with palm trees, flowers, and other plant life. Reception is located in a small, white bungalow beyond the parking lot. Guests check in at an open-air wooden desk. Similar bungalows house the hotel’s various rooms, studios, and villas. The pool is lovely, but the rooms and restaurant look straight out of the 1990s.

Guests are a mix of couples and families, most of whom are interested in playing golf at the nearby Golf International de St. Francois. People tend to not hang around at the hotel during the day, nor is there anything going on at night, making the atmosphere pretty dull.

Still, it's one of the more affordable properties in and around St. Francois, with the kitchenettes adding an extra savings potential for those who like to prepare their own meals.

Hotel Residence Golf Village is set on a landscaped, 10-acre property in a quiet area called Les Hauts de Saint-Francois. The hotel is surrounded mainly by private homes, and a few other hotels. The shops and restaurants of downtown St. Francois are about a 15- to 20-minute walk from the hotel, and the nearest beach, Plage des Raisins Clairs, is about a 20-minute walk away. The hotel offers free shuttle service to town and the beach throughout the day, but guests will need to walk or rely on pricey taxis in the evening. Golf International de St-Francois, an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, is less than a 10-minute walk away.

Pointe des Châteaux is a 15-minute drive away, while Sainte-Anne can be reached in less than 30 minutes. Pointe-a-Pitre International Airport is 50 minutes away by car.

The 56 guest rooms at Hotel Residence Golf Village could use an update. Sea-foam green wicker furniture and white-tile flooring are found throughout, and the white walls are decorated with a few bland pieces of art depicting countryside scenes. Beds are covered in drab burgundy or dated floral duvets, neither of which pair well with the busy printed drapes. All rooms have terraces or balconies furnished with plastic patio furniture and drying racks, and some have lounge chairs. Terraces and balconies have views of the hotel’s green grounds. Mini-fridges come standard, as do small flat-screen TVs.

Studios include kitchenettes with full-size or mini-fridges, two-burner stovetops, microwaves, and a good range of cookware and cutlery. Some kitchenettes are set in the room, while others are found on the balconies. Villas offer the same kitchenettes, but they're located in separate living areas.

Big bathrooms with faded blue, green, or gray tiling have shower/tub combos and older fixtures. Off-brand bars of soap and bottles of shampoo, as well as towels, are provided.

Like much of the rest of the resort, features fall a bit short of expectations. Hotel Residence Golf Village has a large outdoor pool surrounded by a stone-tiled deck. There’s an elevated, square whirlpool at one end. Seating is a mix of plastic white lounge chairs and comfier brown ones. A number of lounge chairs are sheltered by a white tent.

A free continental breakfast featuring fruits, pastries, and cold cuts is served in the hotel’s open-air restaurant, which overlooks the pool. With light-wood furniture and old-fashioned, mismatched fabrics, this dull restaurant looks past its prime. There’s a bar area but its not staffed, and the restaurant serves only breakfast.

Two small bungalows across from reception house a souvenir shop (which was closed during our visit), and a coffee vending machine. A volleyball net, ping-pong table, and pool table can be found on different areas of the hotel’s wide lawn. Free Wi-Fi is available, but the signal gets weak in the rooms. The hotel offers a free shuttle service to downtown St. Francois and the beach. Free parking is available on-site.