Caribbean · Guadeloupe

Hi! We spent 10 wonderful days in Guadeloupe’s gorgeous climate. Our arrival got off to a shaky start, though—our suitcase was left behind at the airport, which caused quite a stir. A police officer was shouting at us to get out and cross the street. Then, a taxi driver refused to take us after we showed him where we were staying, right by the port in Pointe-à-Pitre. "No one goes there," he told us! Good thing we arrived during Carnival! A second driver finally agreed to take us, and I can say he knew every nook and cranny of his city.

The rest of the trip was amazing. The locals were smiling and welcoming. We didn’t rent a car, so we didn’t get around much and stayed in the Deshaies area—a real favorite. Plage de la Perle (Pearl Beach) truly lives up to its name! We liked Grande Anse Beach less because of the steep slope, which made walking tricky, and the waves were pretty intense. The landscapes in this part of the island are idyllic. We visited the botanical garden—it’s worth it—and went to the port in Deshaies. If we ever go back, we’ll rent a vehicle so we can explore more, because taxis aren’t cheap!

Hi there,

We’re a family of five (our kids are 6, 15, and 19) and we’d love to go somewhere warm with our feet in the water during the first two weeks of August 2026. We’d also like to do some cultural visits and a bit of hiking. We were thinking of Guadeloupe—I know it’s not the ideal time of year, but we don’t have much flexibility. Is it really a bad idea, or can we still enjoy it despite the weather?

Another option for us would be Madeira, which seems more reliable weather-wise, but it sounds like the beaches are less accessible and not as nice.

We haven’t really looked elsewhere because everything else (except the Canary Islands, Balearics, or Corsica) seems way too expensive. But if you’ve got any recommendations, don’t hesitate—we’re just starting to look into it.

Thanks so much,

Pierre

Hi everyone, I need your help! We’re planning to visit Guadeloupe and take the opportunity to explore the islands La Désirade, Marie-Galante, and Les Saintes. I initially planned to rent a car to get around the main island and then take the ferry from Trois-Rivières to Les Saintes, from Pointe-à-Pitre to Marie-Galante, and finally from Saint-François to La Désirade, following that route. But when I look at it, the car would sit unused for at least 5 days—that’s paying for nothing🙁. Is it possible to go from LES SAINTES to MARIE-GALANTE and then on to LA DÉSIRADE? We’d only rent a car once we arrive in Saint-François to continue exploring Guadeloupe. What do you think—is that doable? This trip is planned for April. Thanks so much for your help

Hi! We’re visiting Guadeloupe for the first time in January. We’re looking for accommodation near Deshaies to start our trip. A quiet spot, not too far from the sea so we can walk there. Any suggestions are welcome!

Have a great day!

Hi everyone,

I’m sharing the first episode my son made about his return sailing trip from Guadeloupe to Brittany on a 9-meter sailboat. It’s nothing fancy—just a moment of escape and shared joy. If you’re interested in this kind of adventure, feel free to ask him questions on his page. Have a great day! Eric

Sailing crossing

Hi everyone.

I’m here to share a really reassuring experience about boarding a flight from France to Guadeloupe without an ID card or passport.

Yesterday, I met up with my friend at her place around 4:00 PM. She told me to leave my bag in my car while we ran an errand because “nothing ever happens here.”

When we got back at 8:00 PM, my car window was smashed, and my bag was stolen. In a panic about forgetting something for the trip, I’d left my whole life in that bag—ID card, passport, driver’s license, health insurance card—total meltdown. It was 8:00 PM, and our flight was at 10:00 AM the next day.

We’re on the plane right now, and I’ll tell you exactly what we did.

At 8:30 PM, we went to the police station. No one was there, but there was a number to call for night emergencies. They sent a team to take our statement. We explained that clothes weren’t the issue but that we had a flight the next day. They initially said they couldn’t file the theft report until the next morning. We pleaded a little, and they finally opened the station for us. They gave us the forms for reporting a stolen passport and ID card.

These documents are called either: *"Receipt for theft report"* *"Theft report"*

Even before we finished, we started researching online to see if this paperwork would be enough. The info we found on this forum (from 2014) and what was clearly stated on the Air Caraïbes website totally crushed us. It seemed like it was completely hopeless. Only one person said it depended on the mood of the staff we’d encounter at the airport.

Awful night, total despair.

We arrived at the airport at 6:30 AM for a 10:20 AM boarding. We went to the Air Caraïbes baggage drop-off way too early to talk to someone. We explained the problem to the first woman we saw.

She immediately reassured us that we’d be able to fly. Basically, if you have the police or gendarmerie document for the theft or loss, it’s 100% okay. No issues with that.

We had to fill out a first form swearing we were telling the truth about our checked baggage, then a second one for customs after our carry-on bags were inspected.

Didn’t report the theft or loss before arriving at the airport? No problem—there’s an office in the airport that handles that. Basically, we didn’t *have* to go to the police station.

The only really important thing is to arrive *very* early to have time to sort everything out. If you show up at customs or boarding without anything prepared beforehand, you’ll obviously be turned away.

If this post reassured or helped you, feel free to leave a comment so this forum ranks higher on Google. I wish I’d read something like this last night—I would’ve slept better. This morning, my alarm went off at 4:00 AM, and unlike usual, I had a *hard* time waking up, like I was heading to prison.

That’s it. Nico and Solène, 40 years old.

Hi there, I’d like to cycle around Guadeloupe during the Christmas holidays. I was wondering if it’s dangerous, if it’s easy to rent a bike, and to find accommodation along the way? Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I bought tickets for Martinique in April 2025 for 15 days, without really looking into what there was to do, and with the idea in my head that we could: hike, do water activities, swim, visit rum distilleries...

But... I’m worried I’ll get bored over 15 days and I’m considering maybe spending 1 week in Guadeloupe and 1 week in Martinique. For example, I don’t know how to spend a whole afternoon at the beach. 2 hours, max.

I know it’s a personal question and depends on how you travel, but I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve done it: - Did you feel too rushed? - Is it reasonable to do? - How much time would you spend on each island?

I’m open to all your comments.

Thanks so much.

Have a lovely afternoon! :)

Hi there, In March 2026 I’ll be at the Club Med in Sainte-Anne and I’m thinking of heading to Les Saintes at the end of my stay. Do you know what the most convenient way to get there is? Thanks so much!

What would you recommend at the airport to get to Ste Anne... Taxis or rideshares? Can you point me to a good one?

Hi everyone, I’d like a translation into Guadeloupean Creole for: - "Because I love you, my love"

Thanks in advance for your replies

Hi there, My friend and I are traveling together between October and November 2025—no exact dates yet. We’d love to step away from the typical travel agency packages and are hoping to rent a car locally and stay with locals, living with them rather than in a vacation rental.

Does anyone know if this is possible? Thanks in advance for your advice and tips! Warm regards to all

Hi there, I’m planning our upcoming trip to Guadeloupe. We’re looking for a place to stay where human contact is a priority, with air conditioning, close to the beaches, and clean.

We’ve had several responses. After doing some research online, I was able to rule out quite a few options. But now I’m deciding between: Kokoplaj, tipayoune (issue: no AC, just fans—is that a problem?), Résidence Le Zandoli, and Gwada Rêves.

If you have any info or experiences to share, I’d love to hear them! ;-) Thanks for your help! See you soon...

hi need some info—I’m torn between Martinique and Guadeloupe for April. also, which island is bigger in terms of trip length? thanks in advance

Hi On a layover in Pointe-à-Pitre—where’s a good place to stay for one night? Thanks

If you're heading to Basse-Terre in Pointe-Noire, Guadeloupe, **do not** stay at Ara Wakam cabin. It looks tempting on Booking, but it’s a total **SCAM**. There aren’t two bedrooms as advertised—just a double bed in the living area and two single beds in the attic, where it’s **scorchingly hot** and the fan is **extremely noisy**. But the worst part? It’s **THE HOUSE OF MOSQUITOES**. No windows, shutters with gaps that don’t seal—nowhere to escape. The owner is dishonest, and the concierge is arrogant. We lost **800 €**.

Sophie Meret

Hi, I'm looking for a car rental for January 2020 in Guadeloupe. There are several agencies I've seen reviews for—has anyone dealt with Autolagon before? Thanks!

Hi, I’d like some info on buying flight tickets for 4 people to Guadeloupe. Like many, I’m looking for reasonable prices. Where can I buy tickets and pay in installments so it’s not too much all at once? Best regards,

Hi everyone,

We’re a couple with an 8-year-old daughter, and we’d love to head to the islands this summer (late July to early August) for 15 days to enjoy the beaches, beautiful landscapes, snorkeling, and see sea turtles.

We’re torn between Mauritius and Guadeloupe (where we went about ten years ago as a "just the two of us" couple).

We’ve read a few things about both destinations: - About Mauritius: July and August are during the southern winter, so temperatures are cooler, and the water isn’t always very warm (it’s all relative, though!). On the east coast, it can be quite windy and therefore cooler. - About Guadeloupe: July and August are the rainy season, but the rain is mostly at night and in the morning. That means warm, sunny days with nice warm water!

Of course, it’s impossible to predict the weather six months in advance, but we’d love to hear your thoughts on these destinations.

Thanks in advance for your feedback,

Gaëlle and Laurent (and Emma!)

Hi, We’d like to travel to Guadeloupe as a family (5 adults) for Christmas 2025. We’re leaving on the first Saturday of the school holidays and returning on January 1st—we can’t leave outside of the holiday period. Could you give me a rough idea of what a reasonable price is for that time? Is booking as soon as reservations open a good deal, or should we wait? Thanks for your help. Isabelle

Hello and happy new year in advance,

Is the airport in Guadeloupe "Pointe-à-Pitre Maryse Condé" and "Aéroport Pôle Caraïbes" the same?

Because on my Air France ticket, it now says "Pointe-à-Pitre Guadeloupe Airport - Maryse Condé PTP."

Thanks again,

Serge

Hi, I’d like to know—when leaving Guadeloupe via Pointe-à-Pitre Airport, do you have to pay an exit fee in cash?

Thanks

Hi there,

We need your help—we’ve decided to go to Guadeloupe for our honeymoon. We’ve been offered three different places but we’re struggling to choose. We’d love your input on the location of each accommodation and your opinions if you’ve stayed there. Carib Bay, Deshaies Les Galets Rouges, Bouillante Le Cocotel, Saint-François We’ll be there for 9 days and 7 nights in February, and we’ll have a rental car.

Thanks in advance for all the tips on activities, dining, and even shopping!

Chris

Hi there, the title says it all. I’m thinking of heading over there in October, even though my main goal is Dominica—but I’m not sure if the island is open to tourists yet. Anyway, I don’t know the Caribbean islands at all, so are Martinique and Guadeloupe very different? In terms of population, prices, beaches, activities, etc.? And of course, all this assuming we don’t go back into lockdown by then… Thanks in advance

hi, I’m heading to Guadeloupe in December for 12 days with my family—teenager, younger child, and my wife. I’m looking for folks who can help me plan this trip. I already have accommodation in the hills of Saint-François. Still need to map out daily outings and budget for meals. Thanks in advance!

Bonjour, Je part en décembre au Club Med de la Caravelle en Guadeloupe et après je voudrais faire un tour pour visiter la Guadeloupe.

Je voudrais visiter la basse terre et la grande terre.

Pour infos j ne conduit pas, je n'ai pas le permis.

Quelqu'un peut me conseiller quoi faire car je connais car j'y suis jamais aller.

Existe t'il une agence de voyage qui peut me faire un programme.

Merci d'avance.

Bonjour à tous ! Mon copain et moi allons fêter nos 3 ans de couple en Guadeloupe. (il est lui même Guadeloupeen) J'aurais aimé trouver un restaurant avec une belle vue sur la mer, ou dans les terres avec un joli cadre... Et à prix correct, je ne veux pas d'un attrape touristes ! J'ai envie qu'on fête cet évènement dans un joli lieu ! Connaissez vous des restaurants de ce genre ? Je suis véhiculée et je serai à petit canal, je peux conduire 45 min environ. Merci à vous !

Bonjour tout le monde,

Suite au coronavirus, j’ai modifié les dates de notre vol Aller Martinique Retour de Guadeloupe. Je dois maintenant modifier le vol entre les 2 îles que j’avais réservé chez Air Caraïbes mais les dates en décembre ne sont pas encore disponibles sur leur site. Quelqu’un sait me dire à partir de quand ce sera disponible? Je ne reçois aucune réponse via leur page Facebook ni via messenger

Merci

Sylvie

Bonjour a tous

J ai mon conjoint qui est bloqué en gouadeloupe, son vol de retour était prévu pour le 1er avril mais son vol à été annulé comme beaucoup, nous avons vu un vol via air France le 29 avril mais nous avons peur de reprendre un billet car il y a les attestations. Sa résidence principal est bien en métropole et elle est indiqué sur son passeport peut il rentre avant la fin du confinement ? Faut il une attestation ? Si oui quel motif doit on mettre ? Merci à tous pour vos retour

Bonjour,

Je me rend en Guadeloupe prochainement et j'aimerais louer une maison là-bas pour les vacances, donc ne pas séjourner dans un hôtel.

Avez-vous des conseils ? Des avis ? Des bons plans ? ou des maison à éviter ? un partage d'expérience ?

Merci pour vos futures réponses !