Baobab et Palmiers

Baobab et Palmiers is a small lodge of furnished holiday accommodation in Étang-Salé, arranged around a century-old tropical garden. Five bungalows and gîte-style units give you a base with more independence than a conventional hotel: you can make your own coffee, eat when you choose and retreat to your own terrace rather than queue for a dining room.

The setting suits divers who want the west and south of Réunion within reach, but prefer to sleep away from the busier coastal towns. Couples get the quiet of a private unit and a shared pool; families get accommodation, outdoor space and practical facilities that make a longer stay easier. The team speaks French, while the website is also available in English.

You are in L'Étang-Salé, on Réunion's west coast, at 36 Chemin Du Cap. The sea and the black-sand beach of Étang-Salé are about 5 minutes away, with the Étang-Salé forest alongside it. This is a useful distinction: the lodge is close to the coast, but it is not a beachfront address.

Super U, a pharmacy and takeaway food are also about 5 minutes away, while restaurants in the surrounding area include La Langue dOc and Moustache et Béret, each roughly 1 mile away. Orizon Reunion is about 1.5 miles away, and the Golf Club of Bourbon is about 3 miles away. A car is recommended if you want to explore properly rather than spend your holiday negotiating the island one lift at a time.

These are self-catering units rather than anonymous hotel rooms. Expect a private entrance, a terrace, a dining area and a kitchen equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, coffee machine, kitchenware and a washing machine. That combination matters when you return sun-warmed and hungry: cold drinks are close by, breakfast does not depend on a timetable, and damp holiday clothes can be dealt with without turning the bathroom into a laundry room.

Couples can keep things simple with one of the king-bed rooms, including the garden-view option for a more compact stay. If you are travelling as a family, the larger pool-view accommodation gives you room to spread out, with a king-size bed and single beds rather than everyone negotiating for the same mattress. Family rooms are available, and selected bungalows can have a baby cot and high chair.

Air conditioning, a fan, mosquito net and soundproofing cover the less glamorous but more useful side of a night's sleep. The units are on the ground floor, with a private bathroom, shower and free toiletries; some accommodation has a garden view and some looks towards the pool. Free WiFi runs throughout the property, and the flat-screen television is there for the evening when the legs have voted against going anywhere.

The formula is accommodation only. There is no hotel restaurant or bar to build your day around, so the kitchen in your unit does the useful work: coffee in your own time, a quick meal after diving and provisions kept in the refrigerator for the next morning. It is less polished than a full-service resort, but considerably more flexible.

The garden has a shared barbecue and an outdoor dining area, giving you a way to eat outside rather than shut yourself indoors. For supplies, Super U is about 5 minutes away; for an evening out, restaurants around L'Étang-Salé are within a short drive. Nearby options include La Langue dOc, Moustache et Béret and Les Bons Enfants. L'Ambassadeur is about 3 miles away, while Roasted Coffee Estate is about 5 miles away.

The shared outdoor swimming pool sits among tropical vegetation, with sun loungers around it. It is the obvious place to spend the afternoon when you have no appetite for another excursion but are not ready to go indoors either. A sun terrace, garden and outdoor furniture keep the day firmly outside.

The beach of Étang-Salé and its black sand are about 5 minutes away, and the adjoining forest is a recognised natural area. Hiking is available in the surrounding island landscape, while longer outings can take you towards Saint-Leu, Saint-Pierre, the three cirques, Piton de la Fournaise and the island's other trails. The Golf Club of Bourbon is about 3 miles away, and Saga du Rhum is about 6 miles away.

For a slower evening, the property has a jacuzzi that can be booked for private use, as well as the communal barbecue in the garden. There is also a shared laundry facility for longer stays. Nothing here requires a timetable, which is often exactly the point.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 18:00, and check-out from 10:00 to 12:00. You need to give the property your expected arrival time, and key collection is arranged in advance. Private and express check-in and check-out are available, so this is worth sorting before setting off rather than arriving with luggage and a fading phone battery.

Free private parking is on site, behind an electric gate, with a space for each unit. Pierrefonds Airport is about 6 miles away by road, while Roland Garros Airport is about 46 miles away by road. An airport transfer is not offered by the property, so a hire car is the practical choice for airport access and for exploring the island.

The grounds are enclosed and the accommodation is on one level, with secure private parking. WiFi is free throughout the property, laundry is available, and cash is accepted. Children of all ages are welcome, but extra beds are not available; cots can be requested for children aged 0 to 2. Pets are not accepted, and quiet hours run from midnight to 08:00.