This Trip To Easter Island Really Got Me Thinking Part 1 – Chez Jerome Easter Island B & B Review

Other posts about this Easter Island trip:

Priority Pass Lounge Review –  Primeclass Pacifico Condor Lounge Santiago, Chile

Flying the Great White Whale – LATAM Stealth 777-200 Santiago to Isla de Pascua, Chile

This Trip To Easter Island Really Got Me thinking Part 1 – Chez Jerome Easter Island B & B Review

This Trip To Easter Island Really Got Me Thinking Part  2- Hanging Out in Hanga Roa

This Trip To Easter Island Really Got Me Thinking PART 3 – Rapa Nui National Park

Easter Island accommodations are fairly expensive but not ridiculously so.  I booked a room just a few days before arriving.  There were few options under $100/night.  I settled on Chez Jerome, a Bed & Breakfast hotel, because it offered free airport pick up and drop off.  The rate was $75/night.

 

Exiting the small terminal, I spotted a man holding a sign with my name.  As it turned out, he was Jerome, the owner of the B & B.  We hopped in his truck and drove to the hotel.  It took just a couple of minutes.

Chez Jerome is located on the opposite side of the airport from the central part of Hanga Roa, the only town on Easter Island (Isla de Pascua in Spanish or Rapa Nui in the local language).  Jerome is from France.  He visited Rapa Nui a couple of decades ago, married a local woman, and stayed.  He is a good resource for information about the island, food, tours, etc.

The hotel is situated on the road to Orongo, one of the main tourist points of interest.  The second story of the main building overlooks the Pacific.  It takes a 15- to 20-minute walk to get to the restaurants and shops in central Hanga Roa.  Walking is safe anytime of day or night.  There is virtually no crime on Rapa Nui.

From Chez Jerome, the walk to central Hanga Roa goes right under the approach path to Mataveri International Airport (IPC) Runway 10.  Time it right and you will get a bit of a thrill as an airliner passes about 100 feet over your head.   There are two or three daily flights.

Jerome will provide a lift if he is going your way, or taxis are available.  The one-way taxi cost is about $6.  Alternatively, bicycles can be rented at Chez Jerome or several places in town.  I usually walked to and from town.

My reservation was for a single room with a double bed.  The rooms are more like bungalows.  Jerome assigned me to one capable of sleeping three.

Rooms come with a refrigerator and a microwave.  They were useful for leftovers and keeping a cold one on hand.  A closet with shelves is the only other furniture inside.

The bath was more than adequate with hairdryer, dental kits, and ample hot water and water pressure.

The room’s best feature is the veranda overlooking the yard.  It is the perfect spot for winding down before diner.  When I was there in early June bugs and mosquitoes were nonexistent.

The office, restaurant, lounge and business center are in the main building across from the bungalows.

Staying at Chez Jerome brought an unexpected benefit.  Jerome gave me a ride to town when I was going to the Varua Ora Rapa Nui show.

He had some costumes in the truck.  I asked if he was in the show.  No, he said he managed the show.  I got a great seat in the front row.

Other services at Chez Jerome include free parking, good WiFi, air conditioning, daily maid service, laundry service for a fee, and multi lingual (English, French, Spanish and Rappa Nui) staff.

Overall Impression

Chez Jerome is an excellent choice for a stay on Easter Island that won’t break the budget.  The bungalows are large and come with microwaves and refrigerators that most hotels lack.  The distance from shops and restaurants may be a drawback for some.  I found the walks refreshing, and being in a rush is not the way to go on Rappa Nui.  Jerome and the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable.  They do their best to handle any requests.