If relaxation is what you seek, whether that means sitting in a rainforest garden watching the birds or hiking to hot springs and waterfalls, Papillote is the place to be. Our third stay there was, as always, a treat. The management and staff are very friendly and accomodating, the rooms are airy and comfortable, the food is wonderful, and the grounds are beautiful. A dip in one of three spring fed hot pools dotted around the grounds is a special treat after a long hike.

My wife and I stayed here for four nights in January 2006. It is a quiet, nice place to relax. There are three beautiful waterfalls within a short walking distance, and it is educational to see a rainforest in action. The three hot springs on the property are clean and a comfortable temperature and close to the rooms. The food in the restaurant was good, and the hiking guide/driver "Alfred" recommended by the hotel is super-nice, knowledgeble, and responsible. The snorkel and whale watch operator recommended by the hotel, Dive Dominica, was terrific. Even though it is the rainforest, there aren't many mosquitoes.

Things about the hotel that it might have been nice to know in advance, and that you can know thanks to our experience: There are a lot of steps so it's not particularly handicapped-friendly. There are a couple of cats on the property. The dinner menu is limited -- usually only one choice a night -- so if you have dietary restrictions you may need to plan ahead. The front desk dropped the ball in arranging some things, so if you are relying on them to make travel arrangements or wake you up, be prepared with a backup plan or follow through to make sure they do what they said they would do. It's the rainforest, so it rains quite a bit. This hotel is a 20 minute ride or so to the coast where there are beaches and other restaurants, so if you don't rent a car, it can cost you some time and taxi fare to travel back and forth. Most of the good hikes nearby also leave from a taxi-ride away. If you do rent a car, beware that the roads in Dominica are narrow and people drive on the left side of the street (different from U.S.).

All that said, I'd recommend this place for those looking for an affordable wilderness retreat. We found it a really relaxing escape. The waterfalls are really something.

My girlfriend and I stayed at this hotel in mid-August. We took a chance since reading prior reviews had us scared of hydro noise, bugs, concrete, and nasty people. I would like to say that this hotel and this Island infact were amazing. Never before have I seen such interesting things, I recommend the botanical tour....you will learn that most of the food you eat for dinner is grown on site. The Boiling lake hike was the highlight of the trip, now this hike is not for the faint of heart...it is intense but a once in a lifetime experience. I highly recommend the Papillote and the amazing island of Dominica.

The retreat is in the rainforest, with a beautifuly manicured garden surrounding mineral plunge pools, which are very relaxing after a day of hiking or waterfall swimming. The hotel may not be near the beach, but it is just steps away from an enormous and beautiful waterfall that's fun to climb in.
In general, I prefer to stay at hotels near the beach, but in Dominica, Papillote is your best bet because it is a social, family oriented hotel with a great atmosphere, far away from slummy Roseau. It's very easy to wake up early to take a cab or bus down the hill to spend a day snorkeling or diving, but you'll be glad to reterat to Papillote at the end of the day.
Dinner here is far superior to lunch, which might explain some mediocre reviews posted about the food. I ate all over the island, and this is pretty much as good as it gets on Dominica.
And let's not forget the rooms. The best is the honemoon suite - it has a high four-posted wooden bed and lovely furniture.
We were not bothered AT ALL by noise from the hydro-electric plant. I had been warned about it in advance, but honestly, the tree frogs were louder.