Sainte-Marie, Reunion
Le Colonial
📍 22, Rue Louis Stephen, Sainte-Marie, 97438
Your stay — Le Colonial
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Sainte-Marie.
The Property — Le Colonial
Le Colonial is a compact, colonial-revival guesthouse with a whitewashed facade and a shaded veranda overlooking the Indian Ocean. The lobby is tiled, breezy and smells faintly of frangipani — expect ceiling fans and rattan furniture rather than air-con chill. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, characterful base within walking distance of Sainte-Marie's waterfront restaurants, not luxury or full-service amenities.
Chronicles of Sainte-Marie
Sainte-Marie was founded in the 17th century as one of Réunion's first French settlement points, growing around the port that shipped coffee and sugar. Its architecture is a mix of Creole wooden villas with louvred shutters and utilitarian concrete blocks from the post-war era. The town retains a low-rise, relaxed feel despite steady suburbanisation around the airport. Today it's a gateway for east-coast hikes and whale-watching, with a working harbour and a modest fishing-village identity.
Best Time to Visit
Full Sainte-Marie guide →Best months
August to October – the austral winter is dry, sunny and 22–26°C, and humpback whales are offshore. Crowds are manageable because peak Réunion tourism is July and December.
Peak / festival surge
July (austral winter school holidays) and December–January (Christmas/New Year). Prices at Le Colonial can rise 20–30% above off-peak rates. Local festivals: Fête du 20 Décembre (abolition of slavery) and the Saint-Paul market surge.
Budget shoulder season
June and November – lower hotel rates, still good weather, fewer visitors. June has cooler evenings; November is the transition to humid summer but before Christmas crowds.
Weather & packing
Sainte-Marie's east coast gets more rain than the west – even in July a short shower is common. Pack a light waterproof layer (not an umbrella) and always carry reef-safe sunscreen, even in winter.
Live City Briefing — Sainte-Marie
- Route du Littoral (main coastal road to Saint-Denis) has regular night closures for rockfall prevention work – check traffic updates before driving after dark.
- Several new beachfront cafés opened on Plataine Cocos in 2024, offering inexpensive seafood and snorkel-gear hire for 5€/day.
- The whale-watching season (July–October) is active; licensed boats book up quickly, so reserve at least a week ahead.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Le Colonial, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Ask for a room on a higher floor (above the 3rd floor) for a quieter stay, as the hotel is located on a busy street with traffic noise. The lift is located at the front of the hotel, so rooms on the higher floors may be less affected by the lift noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor, as they may be closer to the street and potentially more prone to noise from pedestrians and traffic. Also, rooms near the lift may be noisier due to the frequent use.
Best views
Unfortunately, the hotel's address on a busy street (Rue Louis Stephen) may not offer the most scenic views. However, rooms on the higher floors may provide a view of the surrounding cityscape.
Quietest floors
Upper floors (4th and above) are likely to be quieter, considering the hotel's layout and the location of the lift.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel's proximity to the street and the presence of a lift may generate noise. Additionally, being in Sainte-Marie, a city with a high volume of traffic, external noise is likely a consideration.
Insider tips
Request a room with a balcony for a bit more space and a possible view, if available. If you have a car, note that parking may be limited in the area, so it's best to check with the hotel in advance for parking arrangements.
- 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 — Le Colonial
free, 100 Mbps, no login constraints
serves all floors, no historic sections
PressReader digital newsstand available on room TVs and lobby tablets
15:00, early bag-drop available from 10:00, late check-out until 15:00, €50 fee after 15:00
available 24/7, €10 per item per day
step-free access, wheelchair accessible entrance, no structural limitations
valet parking available, €20 per night, nearest public car park is Parking Sainte-Marie, €15 per day, no EV charging available on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: €100 advance deposit and a €200 incidental card hold at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Église Saint-François-Xavier (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
- Mosque: Anjuman E. Saifee (1.9 km · ~24 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Duparc — 2.7 km · ~33 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Pharmacie de la Grande Montée — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Épicerie Laravine — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Pôle d'échanges Duparc — 3.0 km · ~38 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Most travellers withdraw cash from ATMs in Sainte-Marie; avoid airport exchange bureaux for poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in supermarkets and larger shops; contactless works fine, but smaller stalls and bakeries often cash-only.
Tipping is not expected; round up for good service in restaurants, leave small change for porters, taxis usually not tipped.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Standard espresso at a bar: around €1.50–2.
Packed sandwich or a bouchon from a bakery: ~€5–7.
Main course at a simple pizzeria or snack bar: €10–12.
Bouchons (samosas, spring rolls) and grilled chicken with rice from roadside stalls near markets.
Hyper U and Score are the common supermarkets in Sainte-Marie.
Affordable basics at the large Géant Casino or hypermarket clothing sections; beachwear markets are seasonal.
Local bus (Cars Jaunes) single ride ~€2; day pass ~€5. From airport, take bus A1 to central areas for about €2 (taxi is €25+).
Cook with local produce from open-air markets; buy a rechargeable bus card for cheaper per-ride fares; avoid buying bottled water at tourist spots – tap water is safe in Sainte-Marie.
Emergency Contacts
Sainte-MarieWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Sainte-Marie, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Le Colonial
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie de la Grande Montée — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Roland Garros Airport (RUN) - bus stop outside terminal → Sainte-Marie town centre (stop: Mairie Sainte-Marie)
💡 Buy ticket from the driver (exact change needed) or use the 'Karta' app. From Mairie, it's a 10-minute walk east on Rue des Hibiscus — no hills.
Sainte-Marie town centre (Mairie stop) → Saint-Denis city centre (Gare routière)
💡 Bus lines 10 and 11 both serve this route. Sit on the left for ocean views on the way into Saint-Denis. No luggage limit, but avoid peak hours (7-9am, 4-6pm) if you have bags.
Roland Garros Airport (RUN) → Chambres d'hôte Maillot Nicole
💡 For a fixed fare, use the official taxi stand at arrivals. Ask for Nicole at the guesthouse if you need a reliable driver.
Anywhere in Sainte-Marie → Chambres d'hôte Maillot Nicole
💡 Uber works well in Sainte-Marie but only for short hops — for airport, use a real taxi. Download 'KTA Pik' (local app) for better availability and lower prices than Uber.
About Sainte-Marie
Wikipedia ↗
Sainte-Marie (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃t maʁi] ) is a commune in the French overseas department of Réunion. It is located on the north side of the island of Réunion, just east of, and adjacent to, the capital of Saint-Denis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Le Colonial?
Ask for a room on a higher floor (above the 3rd floor) for a quieter stay, as the hotel is located on a busy street with traffic noise. The lift is located at the front of the hotel, so rooms on the higher floors may be less affected by the lift noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Le Colonial?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor, as they may be closer to the street and potentially more prone to noise from pedestrians and traffic. Also, rooms near the lift may be noisier due to the frequent use.
Is Le Colonial noisy?
The hotel's proximity to the street and the presence of a lift may generate noise. Additionally, being in Sainte-Marie, a city with a high volume of traffic, external noise is likely a consideration.
Which rooms have the best views at Le Colonial?
Unfortunately, the hotel's address on a busy street (Rue Louis Stephen) may not offer the most scenic views. However, rooms on the higher floors may provide a view of the surrounding cityscape.
What are insider tips for staying at Le Colonial?
Request a room with a balcony for a bit more space and a possible view, if available. If you have a car, note that parking may be limited in the area, so it's best to check with the hotel in advance for parking arrangements.
What time is check-in at Le Colonial?
Check-in at Le Colonial is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Le Colonial have Wi-Fi?
free, 100 Mbps, no login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Le Colonial?
€1.50 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Le Colonial?
Packed sandwich or a bouchon from a bakery: ~€5–7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Le Colonial?
Local bus (Cars Jaunes) single ride ~€2; day pass ~€5. From airport, take bus A1 to central areas for about €2 (taxi is €25+).
When is the best time to visit Sainte-Marie?
August to October – the austral winter is dry, sunny and 22–26°C, and humpback whales are offshore. Crowds are manageable because peak Réunion tourism is July and December.
Top Attractions in Sainte-Marie
💡 Visit early morning to see the light through the stained glass. The churchyard has a few old tombs worth a glance.
💡 Allow 30 minutes. The staff are friendly and may offer a quick tour if they're not busy. Closed on public holidays.
💡 Go Saturday morning when the fish vendors are there. Bring cash; few take cards. The best souvenir is a packet of vanilla pods — cheaper than at the airport.
💡 The best swimming is at high tide when the reef pools fill. Avoid the far north end where the current can be stronger. Weekday mornings are near empty.
💡 Bring water and snacks — no café on site. Best in late afternoon when the heat drops and families come out.