Radisson Hotel Saint-Denis, La Reunion sits just across the waterfront in the heart of Saint Denis. Its stunning views of the water and nearby mountainside give guests here a front-row seat to the landscape of what makes this French island so attractive. Whether coming here for work or vacation, these are my favorite reasons for staying at Radisson in Saint-Denis.
The pool
With views of the waterfront and neighboring street, the main swimming pool is ringed by plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas. There is an adjacent smaller pool for kids. From here, you can watch the buzz of city life pass by, or enjoy a drink and light bite from the next-door restaurant.
This patio is a popular spot for locals to get together for a short business meeting or to go out to eat for its great views. I also noticed a lot of guests co-working on laptops and enjoying a drink by the pool.
The rooftop
Sunset Lounge is the tapas bar on the hotel’s top floor. it is another popular feature of this hotel drawing in plenty of locals and tourists. With expansive views of the entire city and ocean from this perch, it is a perfect spot to watch the sunset.
On the menu is a variety of cocktails and mocktails, plus a great wine list. The drink list has local inspiration like the “Golden Creole” with local rhum and pineapple or the “Poussiere de Volcan” with vodka, lemon juice and tamarind syrup. There’s also a variety of tapas and light desserts. They include things like crispy and spicy shrimp, tuna tataki and truffle croquettes.
The restaurant
I was especially surprised by the all-day dining restaurant, Le Célimène. It has an Art Deco-style décor with views of the pool and street facing the beach. At breakfast, the buffet features hot and cold items, including a selection of French breads, pastries and cheese. Later in the day, the menu shifts to a decidedly more upscale arrangement.
Expect dishes like foie gras, locally caught lobster, beef filet and chou chou, a local dish made with heart of palm. There is also Moulard duck breast roasted with lemon zest and dates, quail with mushrooms, foie gras and thyme butter or Moroccan style grilled lamb. All of this is complemented by a lengthy wine list or cocktail selection from the lobby lounge bar.
Don’t worry about the calories because there is an all-hours fitness center with modern workout equipment. If you are feeling peckish, there is always a refreshment station by reception that has apples, candy and bottled still or sparkling water.
The rooms
Comfortable and spacious, the rooms here have great bedding with duvets and power outlets on either side of the bed. I especially liked the coffee makers in the rooms that include both Nespresso and instant coffee options (espresso is too strong for me).
The most premium rooms and suites come with furnished balconies overlooking the waterfront. But, all other rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that take in either the waterfront or the cityscape with the mountains in the background.
Bathrooms come with robes, eco-friendly toiletries in pump bottles and excellent shower pressure. In French fashion, the toilet is separate from the bathroom itself.
The loyalty program
Radisson Rewards has global scale across nearly a dozen different brands. Radisson, its namesake brand, includes hotels in business destinations as well as resort locations. This Radisson covers both as it sits on the beach with a great pool, but also targets business travelers using its function rooms with natural light facing the pool. The rooftop bar can also be booked for special events.
When staying here, members can earn or redeem Radisson Rewards points for their stay. That means anything you charge to your room, from drinks at the bar to a spa treatment, will earn points that you can then redeem on your next trip.
What makes a loyalty program so valuable Is the variety of brands in the program. You can stay at more affordable brands like Country Inn & Suites by Radisson or Park Inn by Radisson and then redeem your points at luxury hotels like Radisson Collection in Bilbao, Spain or Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya, Livingstone Resort in Zambia.
As the brand expands, especially in the higher-end brand space, there are a growing number of opportunities to earn and redeem your points. VIP elite status members get special perks like space available room upgrades, and complimentary breakfast for two each morning of their stay.
