We stayed in the Rex Papillion on St Lucia in April 2006. There were two couples, one of whom had stayed there the previous year.

After a hair-raising hour and a half minibus journey from the airport to the resort. We checked into the resort and were greeted by an unsmiling receptionist. The smart reception area was in the sister hotel, the St Lucian. However, on reaching the block in the Papillon where our room was situated, it was not nearly so nice. In fact the unfurnished room beneath ours had it

The rooms were cleaned every day and bedding and towels changed daily. The food was excellent and varied. The staff were friendly, the entertainment was ok, we went early into the town and returned to the hotel later.

Despite all that was good, alot of people including ourselves felt that people staying in the papillon were treated different to those who stayed in the St Lucian, you wore a different coloured wrist band and people from the St Lucian were given priorty at the bar which was very insulting, so much so that I removed my band from my wrist and kept in my bag, their waiters were dressed smarter and they had glasses rather than plastic cups to drink out of. I felt if the 2 hotels stood on their own it would be better.

I was a bit concerned when I read some reviews regarding the food at the Papillon in St Lucia.

I love my food and my partner is a very fussy eater. As far as I'm concerned food is an important part of your holiday abroad! I need not have worried. Food was lovely and varied. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all buffet style.

The hotel it's self was lovely situated in the hub of St Lucias nightlife. There is some noise from the bars (especially the karaoke one across from where our room was!) but it wasn't loud enough to keep us awake.

The staff were very friendly.

The room was large, had a queen sized bed and a good sized balcony over looking the pool area and the sea. We had the misfortune of having to stay and extra two nights on the island due to cancelled flights home. Both hotels were very poor compared to the Papillon and one had a rating of a 5 star!!

I would recommend the Papillon to anyone.

Following our 9.5 hour flight from Manchester to Hewanorra International, St Lucia with Britannia Airways (links to flight reviews are given at the end), the transfer through the airport was easy. Once disembarked and inside arrivals, passport control and immigration was painless. The immigration card we filled in on the flight was handed in with our passports. The original top layer was retained by immigration and the copy stamped and returned in the passport ready for our departure. We were surprised to find that our baggage was already waiting for us in the baggage collection hall when were arrived; it only took about 10 minutes! After collection, we were asked a few questions by customs about our visit to St Lucia (where we were staying and purpose of stay) before meeting the Thomson rep. A mini bus was allocated to our group and we were on out way to the hotel within 20 minutes of touchdown, very efficient. We were staying at the Rex Papillon located in Rodney Bay. Rodney Bay is in the north-west of St Lucia whereas the airport is located in the far south of the island. Although the island is only 27 miles long, the volcanic nature of the island meant some steep hills and tight bends. The transfer to the hotel was approximately 1.5hrs but he scenery during the transfer was breathtaking with mountains covered in tropical rainforests and banana plantations in all directions.

Once at the hotel, the porters told us to go and get a drink and they would take care of our baggage. We were directed through the lobby area where we were greeted by the reception staff with a tray of fruit punch and a tray of rum punch. The fruit punch was very refreshing, rum punch a little strong but we were on holiday after all! Once everyone was enjoying their fruit/rum punch, the reception staff talked us through the hotels check in procedure. It was straight forward, just had to fill in some personal details and passport numbers. A refundable room deposit of $100US was payable, the first time I