Jeremy and I decided to go to Guadeloupe a couple of weeks before Christmas, when both of us had a bit of a work hiatus. I can't say we decided on it ourselves... We put some dates onto Skyscanner a week prior, and there were round trip tickets available for $198 each from JFK (!!!). There aren't any U.S. airlines that fly directly to Guadeloupe, as the majority of flights are from Paris, but Norweigian still has promotional prices to Guadeloupe and Martinique from the States. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a Caribbean destination less influenced by American tourism, or tourism in general really, compared to many of its neighbors. It's about a four hour flight from NYC.
The island is a French province (the residents are considered citizens of France) and has a heavy French influence--that includes French pharmacies, so be ready to stock up on skincare. The trickle of American tourists is fairly new to the island, so don't expect many English-speakers, or the doting customer service we Americans can often demand (we’re basically a bunch of Karens). The island is very developed, particularly the Grande-Terre half to the east, where the crowded, mazelike capital and many of the hotels and restaurants are located. Basse-Terre, the western half, is much more rustic and isolated. There are lots of adventurey things to do on that side of the island, but I'm not exactly that kind of gal.
Where to Stay: Auberge de la Vielle Tour is a historic hotel with large rooms that all seemed to have views of the ocean. La Créole Beach Hotel & Spa is updated and modern with a great bar area by the pool. For a more quiet and rustic experience, stay on the Basse-Terre side of the island.
Where to Eat: We kept coming back to Le Ti Maki, a relaxed restaurant whose chef is a fairly recent French expat. The restaurant's cuisine is also French, but with lots of local influence--the seafood was amazing and fresh. Le Zawag is a beautiful restaurant built into the cliffs in the back of the Créole Beach Hotel with a more upscale feel. L'Agouba is a super casual barbeque joint, where we had incredible grilled chicken and ribs. Thanks to the European influence dinner tends to be on the later side, always a welcomed plus to us New Yorkers. The St. Francois marina area on the eastern coast is very cute with quite a few great-looking restaurants. We ate at Au Widdy's, which we enjoyed. Plus, they offered us lots of free Ti' Punch, the island's signature drink made with homemade rum--I speculated the concoction had enough alcohol and sugar to put me into a coma, so I passed. Regardless, I always appreciate the gesture. (Jeremy seemed to enjoy his Ti' Punch.)
