La Villa De La Plage

Bordered by a tropical garden and set right on the sand at Saline-Les-Bains, the villa looks straight out over Réunion's longest white beach and the lagoon beyond it. The pool is lined in slate, dark against the palms, and the terrace catches the same water view the rooms are named for. It is a small house. Four guest rooms, each with air conditioning, a minibar, Wi-Fi, and an outdoor shower, sit around a garden run by Delphine and her husband, whose own family grew up here. Kayaks, paddleboards, masks, and snorkels are free to take down to the reef-protected water in front of the property, and bikes are available for exploring the coast beyond it. Breakfast is served daily with fruit from the garden and homemade jams; in the evening, a rum arrangé is poured for guests watching the sun go down over the lagoon. A massage can be arranged on the terrace under the trees, and a night can be spent under the stars rather than a roof. For larger groups, a neighbouring house, Villa Jolie Créole, sleeps up to twelve and also overlooks the sea. Between the pool, the reef, and the beach path, there is not much reason to leave the property, though little of Saint-Paul lies far away.