Orky-Mel

Set below the green rise of Petite-Île, the garden here catches sun most of the day, and the pool is open to every guest on the property. The Hoarau family runs two forms of stay on the same plot: a self-contained gîte on the ground floor, with its own entrance, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a fitted kitchen, and five chambres d'hôtes, each with its own sitting area and bathroom. Both carry a rating from the Gîtes de France Réunion network, a mark given to island homestays for the quality of welcome and upkeep. In the evening, the household runs a table d'hôtes rather than a menu-driven restaurant, meaning the meal is cooked to the number of guests seated, served family style from the pot, and changes night to night. It is a working home as much as a place to stay, with the owners living close by and available through the day. Two terraces and a closed garden give outdoor space beyond the pool. Rooms suit both a couple and a larger family group booking the whole gîte together.