We spent a weekend at the Xaragua March 2005, as a retreat from a missions work team in Port au Prince. The pictures of the exterior are beautiful, but times have changed in Haiti since the 2000 review. The hotel is almost a ghost town, a few Haitians, some UN soldiers and the rare team like ours. Often the hotel is empty. The rooms have deteriorated from what they probably once were. ie. no light in the bathroom, boxspring sitting right on the floor (no bed frame), no chair in the room. There were exactly three lounge chairs outside. The pool was well maintained and the beach area clean. Vendors on the property are persistent in trying to sell you their crafts and souvenirs. Haitian food served outdoors buffet style, was nicely prepared and generally good. Overall, we had a pleasant retreat weekend in a hotel resort that has hit hard times.

I was in Haiti as an election observer during the 2000 elections and stayied for a couple of days at the Xaragua. The hotel is located app.100 kms from Port-au-Prince on the highway to Gonaives. Nice place to stay, located on the beach with a view of the island of Gonaives. Well kept rooms, swimming pool and a restaurant. No entertainment, probably risky to go to the nearby town of St. Marc after dark. As most places in Haiti outside the capital, lacking customers. Probably most suitable for a weekend or a seminar session.