Noumea hotels

[helenma]

Hi all
travelling to Noumea for 5 nights in November. It's for my 50th so want to stay somewhere nice and only real option looks like Le Meridien. However, it also looks a bit out of the way. I'd rather walk around and find a cafe for breakfast / lunch than eat buffet at hotel. Baie des Citrons seems a bit more 'walker' friendly but I can't find a hotel there that seems up to scratch. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks
Helen

 

[Dalescott]

LeMeridien is brilliant, it's the only hotel in Noumea with it's own beach frontage. You can easily walk to shops and restaurant's from LeMeridien, just head out the front door of the LeMeridien. Walk thru the car park on the left and keep going till you get to the beach, you will see the shops. I can recommend the Stone Grill. There is a very very good bus service on New Caledonia and in Noumea particularly. The Japanese Restaurant in side LeMeridien is award winning and having been to Japan a number of times, as good as any in Tokyo. Take the day tour around the south of the Island it is good, and well worth it, I will post details tonight.

 

[eric2011]

Hi, IMHO 5 days in and around Noumea will be enough. Im not going to put cough on the place but it is quite expensive for food and drink and it is hard for public transport.The locals IMO don't really like tourists.
That being said, I stayed at the Hilton hotel and was quite happy but I had a rental car to get around and sightsee

 

[Steady]

The locals IMO don't really like tourists.

A polite way of saying it - IMO

 

[Dalescott]

Unlike Fiji you can eat outside of the hotel or resort, and not regret it later.

 

[Dalescott]

Two photos of LeMeridien

 

[Daver6]

Having been there a few months ago, a few thoughts.

We actually spent most the time on Ile des Pins at Le Meridian and it was amazing. You're captive to the resort and food isn't cheap. I would strongly suggest considering a Club Marriot membership as it would more than pay for itself.

We then spent three nights at the Hilton. Nothing special, but nothing wrong with it either. Location is good. Maybe a 15 minute walk to Baie des Citrons and about 10 to 15 to Le Meridian. It might not have its own private beach, but a 100 metre walk from the hotel and you're at the beach. Escapade Ilot Maitre looked good, but obviously you're captive there too.

If the purpose to laze around a resort or explore Noumea and surrounds? If the later, you'll want to hire a car. Any questions about anything in the area, ask away. Oh, I can't recall the name, but the French inspired restaurant at Le Meridian Noumea was excellent.

View from the Hilton room to the beach. Plenty of places to eat nearby.

 

[dk4]

Hi Helen, the thing I have learnt about location and - big, spacious, relaxing resorts with manicured grounds: is, that they are rarely next to the main tourist drag, because the cafe/bar/restaurant strip is always in a built-up area with high traffic flow (and associated noise), and large resorts (by their very nature) aren't.

So it is more often than not, a compromise to find "location" if you are after big resort style with easy access to the main strip. Anyway, I stayed at Casa del Sole apartments, which are functional with a small kitchen but large balconies, mine was overlooking the main cafe strip / Pacific French Riviera.

For my tastes the view was perfect, especially at sunset. And they even had a South Pacific power point in the bathroom, not just the European one - useful!

 

[helenma]

Hi all

Thanks so much for your suggestions and advice.
Purpose of trip is a mix of laze around but also explore area. Not interested in hiring a car on this trip would rather just potter around the local shops / cafes. Will check out the Japanese restaurant mentioned above. What is the best way to get airport shuttle? Arrange thru hotel booking? (Looks like we will be staying at Le Meridien). Anyone know how much the Club Marriott membership is for a year?

*Edit* I did google Club Marriott to check out membership cost and a consultant will get back to me apparently. Bracing myself now for sales pitch!

 

[Daver6]

Club Marriott was $400 from memory.

We hired private driven car to take as from NOU to Magenta airport. Just over $100 from memory. Depending on what the hotel charges for their shuttle, I'd consider this.

 

[helenma]

Hi, thanks.

Just rang up and joined the Club Marriott was $210. I think very basic membership, she did say something about a $400 membership with extra features but I was just looking at the 25% off food and beverages and birthday month advantages (free wine with dinner etc). Will be a suck it and see if worthwhile as only there 6 days (5 nights).

I presume $100 transfer was for two people?

 

[Cossie]

Hi, IMHO 5 days in and around Noumea will be enough. Im not going to put cough on the place but it is quite expensive for food and drink and it is hard for public transport.The locals IMO don't really like tourists.
That being said, I stayed at the Hilton hotel and was quite happy but I had a rental car to get around and sightsee

Not our experience at all, maybe it's the cruise ships they have more of a problem with. There was a cruise ship in port on one day and 'downtown' was crowded.

We also caught many local buses, quite often to the end of the line. We stayed in a high rise which was more like an apartment hotel, but it was fine and good views as well. Took very few photographs though.

As per dk4 we stayed in the Casa del Sole apartments, with a view westish, no problems, we cooked a little, mostly breakfast, happily go back there again.





Our shuttle from the airport was from a recommendation on here, not overly expensive, was there when he said he would be, I'll search and see if I can find his name.

Can't find find it, maybe it was before the forum upgrade, perhaps that's the reason.

 

[Daver6]

That's great value. Given its 25% includes alcohol with meals its pretty easy to get value out of it. If just having drinks, make sure you "make it a meal" somehow

Correct, transfer was for two people, but really, it was the cost of a sedan...which actually was a SUV. Cost might have been more like $120 to be honest. Company was Arc en Ciel and I used Amex concierge to organise it for me.

 

[Steady]

Company was Arc en Ciel and I used Amex concierge to organise it for me.

I used Arc en Ciel 20+ times (between 2008 and 2010) and can happily recommend them. It’s easy to book direct (google) and they had no problems with English speaking clients

 

[helenma]

Hi all and Daver6

Yes, 25 % off all food and beverages (with or without meal). Am sure we can find $210 worth of value somehow! Thanks for the heads up re membership as obviously lasts longer than the 6 days we are there and I imagine will pay for itself in that week. Also because it is a birthday month we get 'free' bottle of wine with every two meals.I asked the salesperson if that also includes breakfast meals and had to interrupt the awkward pause with 'just joking', before she could say no. I am always skeptical as to things like 'free' wine in regards to quality but we prob won't recognise any wine at all on their menu and realistically I always feel better being a member ( potential upgrades etc). So thanks

 

[helenma]

And thanks also re transfer info. I just want to get off plane and get going and not muck around. Have in head now that $100-$120 reasonable. and guess same on way back. Good to know and be organised

 

[Daver6]

L'Hippocampe is the name of the restaurant we dined at at Le Meridian. Excellent meal was consumed there and the sommelier knew his stuff. Wine lists there (New Caledonia) are very much French derived. Some good value to be had. Ask for help from the sommelier if you don't know much about French wines.

Enjoy...I'm a little jealous

 

[Jacques Vert]

We're in New Caledonia now; trip report here:

Ticking all the Boxes in Noumea