I've spent months on Guadeloupe in recent years. Most of it anchored in Deshaies or Pointe a Pitre or in the Iles des Saintes. I've got a slight advantage in that I speak French, but I think that English is understood more on Guadeloupe than on Martinique.

Anyway, despite an impressive highway system, distances and travel times are never short when moving about. I usually rent a car and recommend that you do so as well. I spend most of my time on Basse Terre (the part of the butterfly with the mountains, despite the name). If you enjoy that terrain and hiking, you are going to be in for a treat.

Before going into detail, I'd like to ask where on the island you will be staying and if you are looking for beaches, adventures, hiking, tours (e.g. Rum/Sugar). Will you have a car?