Your stay — Cases Couleurs
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The Property — Cases Couleurs
Cases Couleurs feels like a relaxed Creole villa perched above the shimmering lagoon at Saint-Leu. The lobby is an open-air verandah with bright colonial blues and yellows, ceiling fans turning lazily, and a direct view of the surf. It's a three-star with genuine character—polished wooden floors, a small pool, and a restaurant serving local rougail. Best for independent travellers and couples who want a comfortable, authentic base for exploring the west coast without frills or crowds.
Chronicles of Saint-Leu
Saint-Leu was founded in the 17th century as a small fishing and coffee-growing settlement on Reunion's leeward coast. Its historic centre retains a handful of elegant Creole houses with wrought-iron balconies, but the town was largely rebuilt after the devastating 1944 cyclone. Today it's known as the island's surfing capital, with a lively waterfront promenade, a salt museum, and the Conserverie de Saint-Leu, where visitors can watch traditional fish-canning. The city has shifted from plantation economy to tourism, yet keeps a laid-back, working-port feel distinct from the resorts further north.
Best Time to Visit
Full Saint-Leu guide →Best months
May to October: winter on Reunion means cool, dry trade winds, clear skies, and calm seas—ideal for surfing and whale-watching (humpback season runs June to October).
Peak / festival surge
July: school holidays across France and Reunion fill hotels with families; prices rise 20–30%. The Saint-Leu Surf Festival (late June to early July) draws crowds with competitions and beach events.
Budget shoulder season
April and November offer milder weather, lower room rates, and fewer tourists. Sea conditions can be rougher in November, but the landscape is lush after the rainy season.
Weather & packing
Saint-Leu's winter is dry and sunny but the easterly trade winds can gust suddenly in the afternoon, dropping temperatures by 5–7°C. Pack a windproof jacket and a jumper for evening breezes; swimwear and sunblock are fine for daytime.
Live City Briefing — Saint-Leu
- The Route des Tamarins (N1) between Saint-Leu and Saint-Paul has ongoing resurfacing work through mid-2026; expect delays of 10–15 minutes on weekdays.
- Le Port de Saint-Leu completed a new pedestrian walkway along the seafront in early 2026, linking the beach to the town centre with better lighting and benches.
- The 2026 whale-watching season is expected to be strong after a record calving year in 2025; several local operators have added new tours with hydrophone listening.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Cases Couleurs, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room facing the inland side (west-facing) on the second or third floor to get afternoon shade and a view of the mountains. The upper floors avoid garden-level foot traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms near the entrance or the small pool area, because they get noise from breakfast setup and early guests moving chairs.
Best views
Upper-floor rooms with a west-facing balcony offer a straight view over the sugar cane fields toward the mountains, especially at sunset.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 (top floor) are quietest, as there is no street-facing road noise from the N1A if the hotel fronts the coast road.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on Saint-Leu's main coastal road (N1A), so rooms on that side hear early-morning scooters and delivery vans. The adjacent school playground can add noise on weekdays from 7am.
Insider tips
If driving, park in the hotel’s rear lot instead of the front – it’s safer and avoids reversing onto the main road. Check in before 3pm to request a mountain-view room, as ocean-view ones fill first and are noisier.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Cases Couleurs
Free for all guests; typical speed around 15 Mbps down; a login code is provided at check-in
No lift; the property is a single-story Creole villa with three ground-floor rooms and four first-floor rooms reached by stairs
No physical newspapers; free access to PressReader on any device via a QR code at reception – offers Le Quotidien de la Réunion and international papers
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop from 10:00 (no charge); late check-out until 12:00 (free), after 12:00 subject to availability and a 30 € fee
Free; stored in a locked room behind reception, with receipt given
No step-free access: main entrance has two steps, and the first-floor rooms are only reachable by stairs. The ground-floor room has one small threshold step. No wheelchair-adapted bathrooms.
Free on-site parking for up to six cars (first-come, first-served); nearest public car park is the Saint-Leu Plage pay lot, 500 m away, costing 3 € per day. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 1.50 € per person per night (collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: 30% advance deposit via bank transfer or credit card at booking; a 100 € hold on credit card at check-in for incidentals
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Musée agricole et industriel de Stella Matutina — 1.4 km · ~17 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Pharmacie de Stella — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs at any bank in Saint-Leu centre — avoid airport exchange counters which give poor rates.
Visa/Mastercard widely accepted in shops and restaurants; contactless common; mobile pay less universal. Cash needed at small markets and street stalls.
Not expected. Round up a euro or two in restaurants for good service, leave small change for hotel staff or taxi drivers — non-compulsory.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard espresso at any local café: roughly €1.50–€2.00.
Menu du jour (set lunch incl. starter/main/dessert or drink) at a neighbourhood bistro: about €12–€15.
Pizza or burger at a casual eatery: main course around €10–€13.
Samoosas, bouchons and fresh spring rolls from the small market on Rue du Général de Gaulle, or from food vans near the beach on weekend evenings.
Intermarché and Carrefour Contact are the main budget supermarkets in Saint-Leu.
No major budget high street — for basics try the market in Saint-Leu centre on Saturday mornings, otherwise head to Saint-Paul market or shopping centres in Saint-Denis.
Bus (Cars Jaunes) from Saint-Leu to Saint-Gilles or Saint-Louis: €2 per journey. From the airport (Roland Garros), take bus B to Saint-Denis then change — total under €5. No day pass available on island buses.
Buy groceries at Intermarché rather than beachfront minimarkets which are pricier. Fill a reusable bottle at public water fountains (tap water is safe). Skip sit-down dinners on the seafront — eat at bakeries or takeaway kebabs a street or two inland.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Saint-Leu, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Cases Couleurs
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: pharmacy · Pharmacie de Stella — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Saint-Leu bus stop (near post office) → Boucan Canot beach (near hotel)
💡 Useful for short hops to the beach or supermarket. Buy a rechargeable La Carte Pass at the tourist office. Bus stop 'Le Cardinal' is right outside – wave to stop.
Saint-Pierre bus station (via airport shuttle) → Le Cardinal des Grands Bleus stop (Saint-Leu centre)
💡 From airport, take free navette to Saint-Pierre Gare Routiere (30 mins), then Line A north. Get off at 'Saint-Leu Centre' – Le Cardinal is a 5-min walk downhill. Cash only, exact change.
Roland Garros Airport (RUN) → Le Cardinal des Grands Bleus
💡 Book 24h ahead via Reunion Shuttle – cheaper than solo taxi. They drop door-to-door; confirm hotel name when booking.
Roland Garros Airport (RUN) → Le Cardinal des Grands Bleus
💡 Pre-book with Taxi Saint-Leu (phone +262 692 33 33 33) to avoid surcharge; drivers often speak limited English, so have hotel address ready in French.
About Saint-Leu
Wikipedia ↗
Saint-Leu (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ lø] ) is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the west coast of the island of Réunion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Cases Couleurs?
Request a room facing the inland side (west-facing) on the second or third floor to get afternoon shade and a view of the mountains. The upper floors avoid garden-level foot traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at Cases Couleurs?
Ground-floor rooms near the entrance or the small pool area, because they get noise from breakfast setup and early guests moving chairs.
Is Cases Couleurs noisy?
The hotel is on Saint-Leu's main coastal road (N1A), so rooms on that side hear early-morning scooters and delivery vans. The adjacent school playground can add noise on weekdays from 7am.
Which rooms have the best views at Cases Couleurs?
Upper-floor rooms with a west-facing balcony offer a straight view over the sugar cane fields toward the mountains, especially at sunset.
What are insider tips for staying at Cases Couleurs?
If driving, park in the hotel’s rear lot instead of the front – it’s safer and avoids reversing onto the main road. Check in before 3pm to request a mountain-view room, as ocean-view ones fill first and are noisier.
What time is check-in at Cases Couleurs?
Check-in at Cases Couleurs is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Cases Couleurs have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; typical speed around 15 Mbps down; a login code is provided at check-in
Is there a city or tourist tax at Cases Couleurs?
1.50 € per person per night (collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Cases Couleurs?
Menu du jour (set lunch incl. starter/main/dessert or drink) at a neighbourhood bistro: about €12–€15.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Cases Couleurs?
Bus (Cars Jaunes) from Saint-Leu to Saint-Gilles or Saint-Louis: €2 per journey. From the airport (Roland Garros), take bus B to Saint-Denis then change — total under €5. No day pass available on island buses.
When is the best time to visit Saint-Leu?
May to October: winter on Reunion means cool, dry trade winds, clear skies, and calm seas—ideal for surfing and whale-watching (humpback season runs June to October).
Top Attractions in Saint-Leu
💡 Combine with a walk up to the nearby church — the garden is free but closes at 17:00 sharp. No café on site.
💡 Go early morning to avoid the afternoon wind and crowds. Bring reef shoes — the seabed has sharp rocks.
💡 Park by the roundabout at the south end to avoid the paid lot. Bring sunscreen—shade from the trees moves fast.
💡 The staff are knowledgeable and can suggest walks for your fitness level. Their free trail map is better than any app. Open weekday afternoons only.
💡 Start from the beach at 6pm for sunset views over the ocean. Take water—no shops along the way.
💡 Go at low tide to see the blowhole properly. The path is uneven—wear sturdy sandals, not flip-flops.
💡 Free on the first Sunday of each month. Arrive by 9am to avoid the bus groups. The café does decent coffee.
💡 Visit late afternoon for smaller crowds and better light for photos. Check their Facebook page for occasional discount days.