My wife and I flew into Vieux Fort, and decided to stay our first night there before striking out for Soufriere. The Kimatrai was a short (and cheap) taxi ride from the airport, and easy walking distance to restaurants, beaches, etc. Clean, quiet, cool (window AC unit), relatively affordable, and a nice little bar/restaurant downstairs - a cool late night hangout for the locals, good conversation, and a decent continental breakfast (included).

I wouldn't stay for an extended period of time - had much more fun in the budget guesthouses of Soufriere and Gros Islet - but if I were staying overnight in Vieux Fort again, I would stay here.

Located in the Southern tip of the beautiful island of St. Lucia this affordable hotel is a valid option for travelers on the budget. 2 BR suite air-conditioned, no luxury but all the basics $62 per night! Huge balcony with the view of the local port, the sea and the town as well as in the distance Pitons. Good restaurant on premises - considered best in Vieux Fort. 7-10 min by taxi to one of the 2 airports of St.Lucia. 5 min by taxi to the beach. The town itself has a real not touristy atmosphere. A good place to stay for people with realistic expectations. It is not a trendy resort but an interesting hotel giving you an inexpensive access to the island. The only minus ( for my husband) - loud roosters in the morning. Real pluses great price and beautiful views from huge balconies.

We spend one night at Kimatrai Hotel - after flying in to St Lucia from Europe. Arriving in the evening and very tired. So we were very tired and that was probably to our advantage. And the Kimatrai Hotel.

After the 5 minute drive from the airport (very close to the international airport, which is good reason and logic in choosing Kimatrai) we arrived only to find that the whole hotel was book to a conference. So - they had no room for us. "All full", as they said - the ladies that came to meet (not greet) us.

But - we had actually booked from home. On their own website. And a reciept to verify. After showing them that the attitude was much better. They must have realised it had happened (seems as if they had tried it before) and sort of apoligized, found us a room (..) and asked if they could bring us something to eat, as obviously all areas of the hotel was busy with the folks at the conference.

We had some bread for out daughter (age 3) and then went directly to bed. During the night we did wake once or twice to hear the music and singing from the party the conference had until late hours .. but we simply went beack to sleep. The jetlag for once coming in handy.

We had been told there would be breakfast from 7am. And breakfast was included in the room we had booked. We went downstairs at ten to 7. And the place was a big mess. They had ended the party and .. left. And no one had been around since, before we arrived.

After a while the first person showed up for work. "Do you want breakast?" she asked. "Well, yes please .." we replied and tried to find a table to sit at. We walked around the hotel a while - while a few more people showed for work - but it took them an hour to bring us something.

When it came - breakfast was toast with jam, fruit, coffee and tea. The coffee was terrible - but the weather was good, the view likewise (overlooking the very southern seaside of St Lucia), birds singing and we had just begun our holiday .. so we actually choose to ignore the mess we sat in and just wnjoy the morning.

And also - we wondered what it would be like at Kimatrai on a more regular day to day stay. We were on out way up north so we would not find out. But - to people flying into/or from St LUcia - we can't really just say "don't go there". Because we think/hope it could be a good place to stay. If you are flying in or out (can't really see other reasons for staying in Vieux Fort, it's a pretty dull place compared to most of the rest of St Lucia).

And - if nothing else - the place was great potential. It must have and perhaps it shows better .. when there is not a conference on. For the price - it is right. Simple rooms, spacious (from what we could see) and that great location (view-wise).

Or perhaps it's just really bad all togehter. Kinda hard to know from the other reviews. They seem to disagree a bit.

Bottomline: we think we came on a "bad day", but had somewhat good service when arriving and leaft again with a feel that it really can be an okay place to stay. If in Vieux Fort, that is.

If you like the idea of a blood stain mattress or the thought of having to go up 4 flights of stairs with baggage, then the Kimatrai Hotel is what you are looking for. Sounds appealing dose it not it ? This God forsaken, hell hole is anything but a hotel. I have no idea what the other people are writing reviews about.. perhaps they are joking? This sham of a place was yet another disappointment to this terrible island called St.Lucia. This hotel was wildly unorganized lost our "reservations" . . as if they need reservations, no one was there when we were. I wounder why ? Hmm . . could it be the air conditioner was not working properly or maybe the fact that the mattress and sheet's came with complementary blood stains and what appeared to have sweat marks . When I informed room service I was told the room was just cleaned. Well if that is cleaning, I would love to see what it looked like before. Please save your self the trouble of coming to this hotel, because you will be sorry. Your wallet will be lighter and you will be wonderfully uncomfortable.