When you really need an overwater bungalow
July 6th 2008 09:06
The pressure was on from the beginning – how to recreate the feeling of the year-long overseas working holiday we had for our honeymoon, for the 10th wedding anniversary, with two kids, no time and a reduced budget.
The other factor was the mandatory overwater bungalow.
We had three nights available without the children thanks to kind grandparents, so the first challenge was to find the closest overwater bungalow to Australia. New Caledonia and Vanuatu have resorts with overwater bungalows, both within a three hour flight of Australia. So far, so good.
The Coral Palms Resort, formally Escapade Island Resort, on the Ilot Maitre, just off Noumea, reopened in 2003 after an extensive renovation. French speaking New Caledonia appealed to us, taking us back ten years to our honeymoon in Paris, without the travel time.
The flight to Noumea with Aircalin aclimatised us to all things French – real butter, coffee whitener and French wine.
Stepping off at Noumea’s Tontouta International Airport, we realised we were in for a treat – French food and wine mixed with Island timetables and attitudes.
Our transfer to our Noumea hotel, The Nouvata Park, was a two hour tour through the back streets of the city – dropping off various people right at their doorsteps.
The warm tropical air and occasional shower did not deter us from walking down the Esplanade to search for a meal. We chose the very French “pizza” restaurant and as was our ‘foodie’ experience in France 10 years earlier, Italian food was a safe bet.
Bright and early the next morning we caught a cab down to the local market at Port Moselle. We were proud of ourselves, ordering a pain au chocolat and croissant at the café, until we found them for half as much at the bakery stall next door. We managed to use our school French to buy enough food to provide lunches at the Resort; our attempt to save money.
The showers turned torrential just in time for our arrival at the dock at Port Moselle where we were supposed to catch the boat to Coral Palms.
We made our way on to the Resort’s dedicated boat and met our captain, Sebastion. We waited... and waited for the boat to leave the dock.
The very gallic Sebastion spoke at length to the French-speaking passengers. Eventually he came over to us.
“The boat cannot go today. Maybe tomorrow,” he said.
“But we have paid a lot of money to stay in an overwater bungalow.”
“Oh well. You would not want to be on the island in this weather. Go back to your hotel and maybe you can go tomorrow.”
At this, I promptly burst into tears. Years in the planning, how could the holiday have gone so wrong?
We sat on the boat for an hour, holding onto a vain hope. Then, Captain Sebastion said we could set off, after all. The relief…
The fifteen minute journey was bumpy but the brand new boat coped with the big swell and we arrived safely at Coral Palms Resort, welcomed by friendly staff with golf buggies. The cocktails on arrival at reception were a lovely touch too. Captain Sebastion was already a dim memory.
I was holding my breath as we were taken to our overwater bungalow. The “run of outs” I’d had with a few recent holidays where the website was much better than the resort, was in the back of my mind.
The sun came out as we entered one of the 25 overwater bungalows and we were speechless. The view was magnificent and the fit-out of the suites, first class. The service was different to Australian resorts- less polished, but more sincere.
I called reception to ask for milk and also assistance with our personal hydraulic stairs to take us from the bungalow into the crystal clear water below us.
“I will call the man in charge of stairs and milk, immediately,” said the receptionist. And he did.
We stayed two nights, eating our (included) breakfasts in the restaurant and one dinner there as well. The food was excellent and service delightful. The other night, we dined in, eating a delicious meal in our idyllic bungalow above the Pacific Ocean. Our waitress came to our room to take our order.
The staff to guest ratio was high in March. We almost had the place to ourselves, until a group of Japanese tourists arrived.
Our favourite barman told us that October was probably the best month to come, but the weather is pleasant all year round. We had torrential rain one minute and bright sunshine the next, but the view from our bungalow was amazing in all conditions. Coral Palms Resort met all the criteria for our 10th anniversary getaway and more. Bring on the 20 year holiday!
Snapshot
Getting there – Aircalin flys daily to Noumea. Airfares range from $500-$600. Package deals are available from Air Caledonie Holidays.
Where to stay - in Noumea, The Nouvata Park Hotel from $260 a night.
- Coral Palms Resort Overwater Bungalows from $950/night.
The other factor was the mandatory overwater bungalow.
We had three nights available without the children thanks to kind grandparents, so the first challenge was to find the closest overwater bungalow to Australia. New Caledonia and Vanuatu have resorts with overwater bungalows, both within a three hour flight of Australia. So far, so good.
The Coral Palms Resort, formally Escapade Island Resort, on the Ilot Maitre, just off Noumea, reopened in 2003 after an extensive renovation. French speaking New Caledonia appealed to us, taking us back ten years to our honeymoon in Paris, without the travel time.
The flight to Noumea with Aircalin aclimatised us to all things French – real butter, coffee whitener and French wine.
Stepping off at Noumea’s Tontouta International Airport, we realised we were in for a treat – French food and wine mixed with Island timetables and attitudes.
Our transfer to our Noumea hotel, The Nouvata Park, was a two hour tour through the back streets of the city – dropping off various people right at their doorsteps.
The warm tropical air and occasional shower did not deter us from walking down the Esplanade to search for a meal. We chose the very French “pizza” restaurant and as was our ‘foodie’ experience in France 10 years earlier, Italian food was a safe bet.
Bright and early the next morning we caught a cab down to the local market at Port Moselle. We were proud of ourselves, ordering a pain au chocolat and croissant at the café, until we found them for half as much at the bakery stall next door. We managed to use our school French to buy enough food to provide lunches at the Resort; our attempt to save money.
The showers turned torrential just in time for our arrival at the dock at Port Moselle where we were supposed to catch the boat to Coral Palms.
We made our way on to the Resort’s dedicated boat and met our captain, Sebastion. We waited... and waited for the boat to leave the dock.
The very gallic Sebastion spoke at length to the French-speaking passengers. Eventually he came over to us.
“The boat cannot go today. Maybe tomorrow,” he said.
“But we have paid a lot of money to stay in an overwater bungalow.”
“Oh well. You would not want to be on the island in this weather. Go back to your hotel and maybe you can go tomorrow.”
At this, I promptly burst into tears. Years in the planning, how could the holiday have gone so wrong?
We sat on the boat for an hour, holding onto a vain hope. Then, Captain Sebastion said we could set off, after all. The relief…
The fifteen minute journey was bumpy but the brand new boat coped with the big swell and we arrived safely at Coral Palms Resort, welcomed by friendly staff with golf buggies. The cocktails on arrival at reception were a lovely touch too. Captain Sebastion was already a dim memory.
I was holding my breath as we were taken to our overwater bungalow. The “run of outs” I’d had with a few recent holidays where the website was much better than the resort, was in the back of my mind.
The sun came out as we entered one of the 25 overwater bungalows and we were speechless. The view was magnificent and the fit-out of the suites, first class. The service was different to Australian resorts- less polished, but more sincere.
I called reception to ask for milk and also assistance with our personal hydraulic stairs to take us from the bungalow into the crystal clear water below us.
“I will call the man in charge of stairs and milk, immediately,” said the receptionist. And he did.
We stayed two nights, eating our (included) breakfasts in the restaurant and one dinner there as well. The food was excellent and service delightful. The other night, we dined in, eating a delicious meal in our idyllic bungalow above the Pacific Ocean. Our waitress came to our room to take our order.
The staff to guest ratio was high in March. We almost had the place to ourselves, until a group of Japanese tourists arrived.
Our favourite barman told us that October was probably the best month to come, but the weather is pleasant all year round. We had torrential rain one minute and bright sunshine the next, but the view from our bungalow was amazing in all conditions. Coral Palms Resort met all the criteria for our 10th anniversary getaway and more. Bring on the 20 year holiday!
Snapshot
Getting there – Aircalin flys daily to Noumea. Airfares range from $500-$600. Package deals are available from Air Caledonie Holidays.
Where to stay - in Noumea, The Nouvata Park Hotel from $260 a night.
- Coral Palms Resort Overwater Bungalows from $950/night.
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