My family just returned from a week at L'Hoste and loved the property and location. First...one word of warning. If you are the type of traveler who wants the cookie-cutter resort experience this may not be the place for you. The rooms are spacious and clean, but certainly are far from perfect---could use some touch ups. The pool is refreshing, but certainly a step down from the typical resort pool with activities and swim up bar. The staff is helpful but very French which some Americans have trouble relating to. As far as food, I can't really say much other than we enjoyed the continental breakfast (included) in the morning and a nice lunch menu on the beach. My only negative comment...the beach bar next door to L'Hoste blasted their music at night. I'd rather hear the sound of the ocean through my window rather than bad electronic dance music.
What we really enjoyed was the beautiful location on Orient Beach, and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the entire resort all at a very reasonable price. There is a handy plaza right next door which offers a variety of stores if you need a bottle of wine or a quart of milk (expensive though) and a nice variety of restaurants if you are too mellow to make the short drive to Grand Case or Marigot. Renting a Car is must in St. Martin to explore the sights. The Dutch side really doesn't interest me...don't need a place that has a Burger King and KFC. In Grand Case, Le Cottage and Restaurant du Soleil were our favorites for dinner, but the choices are endless.
We also advise that if you've come this far...you should take the opportunity to see one of the wonders of Caribbean...the island of Saba. Google it, because it is to hard to describe, but it is an experience you'll never forget. Saba is more than an hour away by boat and only 15 minutes by plane and having gone there both ways, I definitely recommend the plane.
Finally from a disability perspective, I use a wheelchair but I can walk short distances. The people at St. Marteen airport were extremely helpful. The resort was easy for me to access, but remember I can walk a little. When using a wheelchair around St. Martin, there are not the usual curb cuts you'll find in the states and access in and out of restaurants isn't easy. But St. Martin is an adventure...in the best sense of the word. We enjoyed our entire stay at L'Hoste and would definitely come back.

The location was by far the best park of our trip. Our room was 20 steps from the beach. The beach chairs were included along with plenty of towels. The beach was the best beach we have ever gone to.

The breakfast was ok. The room was in desperate need of a renivation. It smelled terrible of mold! The furniture looked like it was from the 70's. The bathroom was very clean and did look like it had been updated. The shower was huge! No shower curtain or door, which caused a lot of water on the floor. We did use the patio once, which had a few of the back of the beach bar.

The hotel is walking distance to a little village of restaurants and shops, this was great!!! Though there is not much of a night life past dinner.

The staff was WONDERFUL! Very helpful and kept the grounds very clean. The pool was very old but was kept very clean. I even saw them washing the covers on the pool chairs.

The beach bar was overpriced and food wasn't all that great. It's much better at the Biki Beach Bar which is right next door. We rented a car, but it is VERY difficult to drive, as the roads are in terrible shape and road signs are very different from the US.

Internet access was available in the lobby and even by the pool! TV's in the room offered very few English speaking channels...BRING a DVD player, if night time TV is important to you.

For some strange reason the electricity would go out 5-10 times a day, no big deal but it was scary when it went out at night.

If you are expecting a lavish resort, this is not the place for you! If you come here plan on spending your time relaxing by the beach, without a care in the world.

We have stayed at L'Hoste several times in the past and have returned because of the location (couldn't be more convenient to the beach) and the breakfast (worth a lot). This time we were pleasantly surprised to have a room that had been completely redone - furniture, bedding, bathroom updated, etc. - wonderful! The only problem was the railing on the outside porch was rotten. Yes it's a bit musty, but that's because of all the heat and humidity. We didn't have any problem with bugs at all. We love being so close to the Bikini Beach Bar, Tai Chi restaurant, Planet Orient B. We have made many friends in the area and love to return - we will be back!!

Where to start???
Location: around the corner from Orient Beach Village and directly behind the La Playa Beach Restaurant. To get to the beach you don't even need to cross a road....just walk through the La Playa.

Room: We stayed in the middle range rooms (least expensive on the ground floor, second floor where we stayed was next, most expensive on the third floor. The room was a good size, king bed, table, coffee table, couch, 2 chairs. Extremely clean, well maintained, very comfortable. Bathroom and toilet in separate rooms. European shower...no shower door. Big sliders to terrace. Room was cleaned with replacement towels every day.

The room has a small kitchenette (2 burner stove and small refridgerator) that could use updating but this made a 100% room a 95% one (don't worry about it)

Value: Our rate included continental breakfast in the Madras Restaurant on the premises (listed on the menu at 15 Euro for 2) that included 2 large juices, 2 -1/4 slices on fresh melon, a quarter of fresh pineapple, 2 - 12 inch fresh baguettes, 2 pastries, and 2 yogurts. and all the coffee/tea/hot chocolate you want.

The room rate also included beach chairs and umbrellas at La Playa as well as beach towels.

At current prices, the breakfast was worth $23 and the chairs and umbreallas $18 -- that's $31 worth of stuff included.

Convenience: If you walk across the parking lot and through a passageway, your will be in the village where there is a small grocery, a bunch of restaurants (pizza to gourmet), small shops. There's also free WI-FI in the lobby when the office is open (most of the day)
You also have charge priviledges at the La Playa and the Madras for food an souvenirs.


Would I stay there again..... IN A HEARTBEAT (as a matter fo fact I'm loooking at that now)

Importtant Traveler tip -- Take US$. If you look at the signs at restaurants and stores and at the ads in the papers you'll find quite a few will give a 1:1 Euro to dollar for CASH. If you use an ATM on the French side you'll get Euros at the current commercial exchange. The stores set their own rates...I saw 1:1, 1:1.20, 1:1.40 ... when the commercial rate was 1:1.55. If the store doesn't give a good exchange, charge it to your credit card, otherwise pay in $$.
On the Dutch side the dollar is the de facto currency in restaurants and stores