2 Best Hotels in Guadeloupe

You'll feel like the king of the hill as you rock yourself to sleep in a hammock on the terrace of your apartment or gaze down on the sea below. The apartments (for four to six people) with terrace kitchens are appealing and well-maintained. Couples should ask for the newest studios, which have handcrafted stone and tile work. Tricolor bougainvillea surrounds the pool, and the beach is a 10-minute walk away. Guests share the barbecue grills and picnic table—the English-speaking manager has a fresh fish and lobster connection. Bicycles are rented out.

The result of a remarkable 10-year saga, this quirky and inventive rain-forest resort consists of both tree houses and ground-level bungalows, as well as a wonderful restaurant—Le Poisson Rouge—and a moderately priced spa. Owners Sylvie and George Carreyre built the tree houses first for their family and then for paying guests. The newer accommodations are more upscale, romantic, wildly colorful bungalows with gingerbread fretwork, but all of the bungalows and tree houses have a funky, rustic charm. The restaurant, which serves both lunch and dinner from Wednesday through Sunday, specializes in inventive preparations of the freshest seafood; the menu changes daily. The spa, like everything else here, has a magical, Zen quality and offers treatments in addition to yoga, tai chi, and some spiritual training.