Guadeloupe

My wife and I are spending our 25th anniversary in Guadeloupe in May - 11days of fun! We have never been there before and are wondering if anyone has any suggestions about what to see and do? We have traveled around the Caribbean and been to St. Martin several times, but thought that this would be an exciting adventure. We look forward to any suggestions! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I spent about 5 weeks there in 2010. It's VERY different from St. Martin. It's a beautiful place unspoiled by american tourism (as of 2010 anyway). You need to speak French or be really comfortable "faking it". Rent a car, stay in several places like at least 1 or 2 locales on each wing of the butterfly. We spent weeks - literally - visiting different beaches. Also, spend a few days in Marie Galante - it's unreal.

Visit Deshaies on the north west coast. Lovely village, setting for the BBC TV series Death in Paradise.

Take a day trip out to Isles des Saintes. Our favourite place in all the Caribbean. Like being in a south of France village. All the shops and restaurants speak enough English so you don't need French.

We love Iles des Saintes. Terre du Haute is a Very beautiful island. Great little restaurants, we walked around most of the island when we were there.

We were just down there the week after New Years. Had a beautiful house in St. Francois on the East end with our own pool and hot tub right on the R.Trent Jones golf course. Great food, pastries. You need a car. Lots of driving. Very little English spoken but everyone is nice if you at least try some French. I have been swamped and not able to finish my trip report yet but will post one.

Oh, please do post a trip report! Very much looking forward to seeing it! (Glad we were able to meet up at Beachside..)

We are going their next month for 8 days. We are staying with friends in Pointe-Noire. The suggestions are helpful as we have not been there before and neither has our friends. We will have a car and my wife speaks French, so we should be able to get by pretty well.

Thoughts on the best beaches to visit would be helpful. I will write up a report when I return.

Guadeloupe is not that easy to get to. We plan to spend a few days before and after in St Martin. We will fly in and out of Grand Case to Guadeloupe.

Thank you all for your comments. We are looking forward to something fun and different!

I think the best part of visiting Gwada is that ALL of the beaches are beautiful - and different from each other. If you see a beach or a sign then just pull over and explore. The calm water and white sand thing is on Grand Terre: St. Anne, Anse de la Gourde, St. Francois, everywhere else is variations of every color you can imagine. One warning: I can't remember the name of the beach but it's the black sand beach on Basse Terre - don't swim there. It's super rough. I'm pretty sure there are warnings there but when I was there it was pretty daunting. We loved Anse de Clugny (I think that was the name) - it's north of Deshaies and you have to drive through what looks like someone's yard to get there but it was really nice. I don't think there was a beach I didn't like. Have a wonderful time.