The Coconut Villa would probably be considered a one star hotel in the
United States. By the end of our first couple of days in Haiti it could
definitely be considered a five star oasis. Forty caring, but underpaid
staff took excellent care of us. The establishment has over 60 rooms plus
a balcony for group meetings.
Security is very good. The grounds of the villa are completely surrounded by an eight foot wall. The entrance has full time security guards who effectively keep out all solicitors and other undesirables.
The entrance drive to the villa has low stone walls capped with red brick and lined with palm trees. On the left is three levels of rooms and on the right is a open yard which ends in a collection of antique automobiles. In front of you is a residence for the owner's grandparents. The road splits left and right in front of this house making a circle around it. To the left of the residence is the office, restaurant, bar and pool. Behind it is another two levels of rooms and additional parking. To the right is a small prayer garden with a station of the virgin Mary.
The office has a safe where money and other valuables can be stored. It also has phones and bottled water. Traveling through the office you will come to the restaurant which has a nice view of the pool. At the end of the restaurant is a bar complete with soft drinks (Coke, Pepsi and Haitian cola), Pristige beer and hard liquor. The ample kidney shaped pool is chemically treated. There is white plastic lounge furniture and the backdrop is a white wall with paintings of Haitian life.
The staff is very attentive and eager to please. They work long hours, but receive minimal pay. Jerry, the head waiter, is the highest paid staffer making (as of 4/12/98) 30 cents an hour. The dining room staff was quick and attentive. The room maid was just as impressive. She mopped the floor, cleaned all the bathroom fixtures, changed the sheets, dusted, brought clean towels and brought in a jug of bottle water. The grounds keepers had all the walkways clean and even swept the grounds with brooms made from dried palm branches.
Each room had a least two beds, a ceiling fan, a window air conditioning unit, television, telephone, chest of drawers, closet and bathroom with sink, toilet, mirror and shower. You should not drink the water from the faucet or shower as it has not been purified. Hot water in the room is not always available.
The staff will gladly spray the rooms for insects and a generator provides electricity when the city power is down.
The food is very good. All fruits and vegetables are washed
and the meats are cooked thoroughly. All beverages are opened by the staff
at the table. All ice comes from purified water. Indeed, the villa works
hard to ensure your good health while on the grounds. Continue reading
the journal to discover the types of food served.
Last updated April 18, 1998