Doudou Hôtel

Things to do near Doudou Hôtel

1. Beaches near La Saline-les-Bains
   • La Saline-les-Bains beach (2 min drive): white sand on the largest lagoon of the island, calm inside the reef and good for snorkelling.
   • Trou d'Eau beach (4 min drive): the southern end of the lagoon, with shallow water that suits children.
   • Souris Blanche beach (7 min drive): a small beach on the Trois-Bassins lagoon, popular for snorkelling.
   • L'Ermitage beach (9 min drive): the best known lagoon beach on Réunion Island, shaded by casuarina trees.
2. Landmarks and nature near La Saline-les-Bains
   • Port de Saint-Gilles (9 min drive): the main harbour of the west coast, for dive boats and whale watching trips.
   • Aquarium de La Réunion (9 min drive): the fish and corals of the local reefs, at the port of Saint-Gilles.
   • Kélonia (13 min drive): the sea turtle observatory and care centre at Saint-Leu.
   • Bassin des Aigrettes (15 min drive): a natural pool and waterfall in the Ravine Saint-Gilles, reached on a short walk.
   • Musée de Villèle (18 min drive): the former sugar estate of Madame Desbassayns, now a museum of the island's history.
3. Restaurants near Saint-Paul
   • Thai Run (2 min drive): a small Thai restaurant with a handful of tables on Rue des Salines, with a menu that changes daily and spring rolls as its best known dish.
   • Vert Tu Oses (3 min drive): a French and Mediterranean restaurant with a shaded garden terrace and swings, known for its burrata risotto and toothfish in an aioli crust.
   • Rondavelle L'Uni Vert (3 min drive): a beach restaurant on the Route du Trou d'Eau with tables on the sand, cooking Creole dishes with ingredients from local producers.
   • La Bonne Marmite (3 min drive): an all you can eat Creole buffet on the Route du Trou d'Eau, with curries, grilled meats and rougails.
   • Planch'Alizé (4 min drive): a beach restaurant on Rue des Mouettes facing the lagoon, known for its tuna tartare with pineapple, with loungers and umbrellas for diners.
   • Chez Rosa (5 min drive): a simple Creole canteen on the Route du Trou d'Eau, open at lunchtime only, known for its curries and its bol renversé.
4. Nightlife near Saint-Paul
   • La Bodega 974 (3 min drive): a beach bar restaurant on the Route du Trou d'Eau with live music and exotic fruit cocktails.
   • Le Copacabana (4 min drive): a beach bar restaurant on Rue des Mouettes with tables on the sand by the lagoon, acoustic concerts and DJ sets.
   • Le Choka (4 min drive): a lagoon front bar restaurant with panoramic views over the lagoon, open until midnight.
   • Kazbar (13 min drive): a seafront bar on the Roches Noires beach with live music, sunset views and coconut punch.

Golf near Doudou Hôtel

• The nearest golf course to Doudou Hôtel, within 30 minutes by car:
  • Golf du Bassin Bleu (14 min drive): 18 holes, par 72, designed by Robert Berthet and opened in 1992, set at about 300 m altitude beside the Ravine Saint-Gilles with eucalyptus-lined front nine and ocean views on the back nine.

Scuba diving near Doudou Hôtel

• Dive centres within 30 minutes of Doudou Hôtel, nearest first:
  • Bleu Marine Réunion (9 min drive): a dive centre at the Saint-Gilles harbour, running since 1995, with its boats moored in front of the club.
  • Excelsus Plongée (15 min drive): a dive centre at the Pointe des Châteaux in Saint-Leu, affiliated to SSI, ANMP and FFESSM.
• Dive sites in the area:
  • Passe de l'Ermitage: a reef pass from 6 to 25 m with tunnels, canyons and caves, and a turtle cleaning station where sightings are frequent.
  • Grand Tombant de la Pointe au Sel: a deep wall from 30 to 60 m for experienced divers, with schools of trevally and tuna.
  • Bossy's Canyon: two walls, the first from 4 to 15 m and the second from 23 m to beyond 50 m, with a coral plateau between them.

Doudou Hôtel in La Saline-les-Bains

Doudou Hôtel is a 4 star boutique hotel of 38 rooms in the village centre of La Saline-les-Bains, on the west coast of Réunion Island, 250 m from the white sand beach and lagoon, with two heated pools, one of them for adults only. Formerly the Swalibo, it reopened in spring 2025 as the fifth hotel of the Morgabine Hospitality group. Its restaurant, Le Lambrecoeur, cooks Mediterranean dishes with Réunion touches, and a small wellness space gives massages for one or two. Doudou Hôtel holds the European Ecolabel and the Qualité Tourisme Île de La Réunion label.

Where is Doudou Hôtel?

• Location: 9 rue des Salines, in the centre of La Saline-les-Bains, in the commune of Saint-Paul on the west coast of Réunion Island, a short walk from the lagoon.
• Nearby: La Saline-les-Bains beach (2 min drive) and L'Ermitage beach (9 min drive).

Who is Doudou Hôtel best for?

• Couples: a heated pool reserved for adults, duo massages and the 45 m² Suite Doudou Kér.
• Families: four connecting rooms, Privilege rooms of 28 m² for 3 or 4 guests, a family pool and baby cots on request.
• Travellers who want a village base: the shops and restaurants of La Saline-les-Bains a three minute walk away, and the lagoon 250 m from the hotel.

Rooms and suites at Doudou Hôtel

• Standard Room: 17 m², some with a private terrace.
• Superior Room: 19 m² on the upper floor, with a private terrace.
• Privilege Room: 28 m² for 3 or 4 guests, facing the garden or the pool.
• Suite Doudou Kér: 45 m², the largest room in the hotel.
• Connecting and accessible rooms: four connecting rooms for families and rooms adapted for guests with reduced mobility.
• In every room: air conditioning, TV, minibar and coffee maker.

Restaurants at Doudou Hôtel

1. Le Lambrecoeur, Mediterranean and Réunion cooking
   • A 50 seat restaurant with a seasonal menu of Mediterranean dishes with Réunion touches, built on fresh local produce. Breakfast is served at the hotel.

Bars at Doudou Hôtel

• The bar: Doudou Hôtel has its own bar, serving cocktails, wines and soft drinks through the day.

Activities at and around Doudou Hôtel

• Lagoon: the La Saline lagoon, 250 m from the hotel, is sheltered by the reef and suits swimming and snorkelling.
• Concierge: the team plans outings around the island, from boat trips out of the port of Saint-Gilles to the hiking trails of the west coast.

Beach, pools and facilities at Doudou Hôtel

• Beach: the white sand beach of La Saline-les-Bains is 250 m away, a few minutes on foot, on the largest lagoon of Réunion Island.
• Pools: two pools heated in the southern winter, a family pool and an adults only pool in the garden.
• Facilities: free Wi-Fi, private parking, a meeting room and wheelchair access; the hotel does not accept pets.

Spa and wellness at Doudou Hôtel

• Wellness space: Doudou Hôtel has a massage room for treatments for one or for two.
• Treatments: massages, body scrubs and body wraps made with natural ingredients.
• Day packages: wellness day passes are offered to visitors who are not staying at the hotel.

Doudou Hôtel or Ness by D-Ocean?

• The two hotels are a few hundred metres apart at La Saline-les-Bains.
• Doudou Hôtel: a 4 star hotel of 38 rooms in the village, 250 m from the lagoon, with two heated pools, one for adults only, and Le Lambrecoeur restaurant.
• Ness by D-Ocean: a 4 star hotel residence directly on the beach, with 84 rooms and suites from 46 m², each with a kitchen, a 100 m² infinity pool and a spa with a hammam.

MariDeal offers near Doudou Hôtel

1. Other hotels around Saint-Gilles and La Saline-les-Bains:
   • Ness by D-Ocean (2 min)
   • Dina Morgabine Saint-Gilles (3 min)
   • Le Nautile beach Hotel (5 min)
   • Akoya Hôtel & Spa (5 min)
   • Hôtel Exsel Ermitage (7 min)
   • Le Relais de l'Hermitage Saint Gilles (7 min)
   • Tropic Appart'Hôtel (7 min)
   • WOOD Hôtel & Spa (9 min)
   • Hôtel Exsel Alamanda (10 min)
   • Hôtel Le Grand Bleu (12 min)

Doudou Hôtel FAQ

1. Where is Doudou Hôtel?
   • At 9 rue des Salines, in the centre of La Saline-les-Bains, in the commune of Saint-Paul on the west coast of Réunion Island, 250 m from the lagoon.
2. How far is Doudou Hôtel from the airport?
   • About 49 minutes by car from Roland Garros Airport in Saint-Denis, on the north coast of the island.
3. Does Doudou Hôtel have a beach and a pool?
   • Doudou Hôtel is not on the sand, but La Saline-les-Bains beach is 250 m away on foot, and the hotel has two pools heated in winter, one of them for adults only.
4. Is Doudou Hôtel good for families?
   • Yes. It has four connecting rooms, Privilege rooms for 3 or 4 guests, a family pool and baby cots, and the lagoon is a short walk away.
5. Does Doudou Hôtel have a spa?
   • Not a full spa: Doudou Hôtel has a wellness space with a massage room for one or two, offering massages, body scrubs and wraps, with day packages for visitors.
6. What is the restaurant at Doudou Hôtel?
   • Le Lambrecoeur, a 50 seat restaurant serving a seasonal Mediterranean menu with Réunion touches and local produce.
7. Was Doudou Hôtel called Swalibo before?
   • Yes. The former Swalibo reopened as Doudou Hôtel in spring 2025, run by the Morgabine Hospitality group.
8. What is there to do near Doudou Hôtel?
   • Snorkel in the La Saline lagoon, swim at L'Ermitage beach, visit the Aquarium de La Réunion at Saint-Gilles, or drive 13 minutes to see the sea turtles at Kélonia.