4 Best Hotels in Guadeloupe

The magic of this 10-acre complex—with a contemporary, colorful lobby, cosmopolitan bar, and dual pools—lies in the fun atmosphere that the staff is able to create as they unite the disparate, mostly French clientele. All of the rooms have been renewed and boast new artwork by a painter known for his rendition of tropical fauna. The separate Mahogany section is the hotel's pride, holding the fully renovated, minimalist, standard rooms and one- and two-bedroom bi-level suites. Large terraces with kitchenettes have sea views. Expert, Parisian-trained technicians staff the spa, which also welcomes nonguests. So do the laudable, moderately priced restaurants: Le Zawag and the Route des Épices buffet. Whether you enjoy aqua aerobics, yoga stretch, playing pétanque (French boccie), or moving to a zouk band, there's always something to do. The bar serves the best rums from throughout the Caribbean.

The seafront section of Bois Joli, which sits apart from the main hotel, houses Terre-de-Haut's best guest rooms—the architecture and design suggest a luxury yacht, including dark wood accents and portholes. Large rooms have quality bedding and contemporary baths and are just a bit more than regular rooms (and worth the upgrade); corner rooms have the best views. Seafront bungalows are a better choice for families, where bunk beds and the proximity to the pool and beach offer kid appeal. Breakfast is pleasant, and the restaurant turns out generous portions of French-Creole cuisine. The village is almost two miles (3 km, about 40 minutes by foot) down the hill; most guests learn that they do not want to walk back.

This rental complex is in a small market town in the heart of Basse-Terre—the mountainous, wild side of Guadeloupe, where eco-sports and scuba diving are the main draws. The architecture is meant to resemble a plantation great house (it’s a stretch, though) and deluxe apartments are connected by a water installation that is a modern take on a distillery’s aqueduct and water wheel. It's just 20 minutes from Guadeloupe’s international airport; but, alas, it's 30 minutes from any beach. The villas are named after rum punches (liqueurs). Villa Coco, which includes three bedrooms, has a terrace that overlooks a private pool. Weekly rentals are the norm.

The globe-trotting Frenchman who designed these seven Indonesian teak cottages resembling Guadeloupean cases from the 1920s that overlook a long unspoiled beach, Plage de Grande-Anse, has passed on; his son and daughter have now taken charge of this small paradise. The raised, open-air bungalows have wool and silk carpets and four-poster beds with mosquito netting (some have private outdoor hot tubs). You can lounge on elevated Indonesian beds, get a massage, or dip into the pool just steps from the sea. If you want to watch TV or go online, you will have to go to the reception area, where both are free. Dinner is available both for guests and for the public with 24-hour reservations. Flavorful Creole meals with French overtones are what to expect. In the summer, rates drop by half.