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Guadeloupe Reviews

This Med Is Not The Sea
Sep 05, 2006 11:10 PM 3581 Views

I have been to many Club Med's, Fiji, Ixtapa, Haiti, (it's now closed) and on Bali. My husband had never experience a Club Med, so a few years back I gave him the trip as a gift.


I don't know how it works in your country but when the owners of Club Med feel certain clubs will not be full they do a promotion called, "Pay $1200.00 And Take A Change"...on a certain date.


It sounded like a great deal so I booked with Club Med and we waited to see if we were going to Club Med in Cancun, Guadeloupe or in Dominican Republic. We were told we would be going to Club Med in Guadeloupe.


We were flew to Mirabel Airport in Montreal and then on a Club Med plane to Guadeloupe.


Like all Club Med's there clubs aren't near the airport and it took us at least an hour to reach the club.


Club Med Caravelle is on the Grande-Terre Island, (1,780 km), with a population of about half a million people. There are 5 Islands in this island chain. Grande Terre is the largest.


The Islands are part of France and both French and Creole is spoken. The people who live here are Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu & an African religion, (4%) and Protestant, (1%). The Currency the (€), Euro. Club Med takes Credit Cards.


We needed a Passport and a Visa because they use the same rules as France.


Grande Terre is flat and dry with a lot of beaches. Like France all of them are open to the Islanders, (even the one at Club Med), and most of them a nude beaches. At the club they had a nude, topless and children's beach were any one could wear a bathing suit.


When you arrive you go into a room to get an orientation of the club. You're hot and sticky and the glass of fruit juice isn't enough. After your luggage is taken out of the van, a GO with a clipboard tells you what room you are in. After you have your room key, you are grouped with others who are staying in your general area and escorted to your room. Your luggage is dropped off at one of the nearby luggage depot areas and where you can pick it out. Then a GO takes it to your room.


After you check in you open a tab and are issued a white ID card, and a beach towel card, both the size of a business card. You are also issued a plastic holder attached to a braided rope. Your ID card, room key, and bar booklets fit into this plastic holder. It’s a convenient way to keep your possessions on hand (around your neck, under your shirt). You can buy a book of bar tickets, as well. (This is how you buy drinks at the bar).


The bar ticket books range from about $15 for a small book to $35 for an extra-large book. We drank bottled water & non-alcoholic fruit shushes and we ended up paying $35.00 for a ticket book!


The accommodations are similar to all other Club Meds, beach and garden views, air-conditioning, telephone, and a king size bed or two full size beds. The Caravelle rooms of Creole decor are housed in five separate lodges all over their property.


Our room was air-conditioned. There were 2 queen sized bed, a balcony, a Telephone, TV, a safe, a clock radio/CD player, Mini-fridge, Iron and ironing board, and Coffee maker.


In the bathroom there was a shower, toilet a sink and a hair dryer.


The a clock radio/CD player, TV and phone surprised me because Club Med's were suppose to take you away from the real World and let you relax.


There are two restaurants and bars on site, gazebo and open-air dining as well as a beach bar.


All of the delicious French and Creole food was included in the room price. You'll meet lots of families and couples from Canada, France and America. Food and most sports are included in the price.


You don't pay cash in the club you just sign for it, (no more Club Med beads). At one time water, (bottled), 1 cocktail before dinner and soda pop were free. Now they aren't.


The food was fine, great fruit, breads and local caught fish; basic staples always available, decent chicken, beef, pasta and desserts. I loved the cheese table the best.


During the day you can relax by the pool on a beach, go play golf, (for an extra fee), play tennis, go kayaking or snorkeling. If you don't know how the GO's, (staff or gentils organisateurs), will be happy to teach you.


I like the Spa. I learned how to go Pilate, had a few massages and watched a cooking demonstration.


My husband went to the internet kiosk, the beach or game room arcade.


We both loved to shop at the Boutique. I found the photographer annoying!!!


Breakfast was the same every day: Eggs how you want them made , pancakes, french toast, crepes, cereals, fruit, yogurt, cheeses, cold cuts, breads, breads and more breads, juices, coffee (good coffee, no cream, though), grits, various breakfast meats (bacon, sausage)....etc.


Lunch and dinner always included: hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken nuggets, spaghetti, french fries, steamed vegetable, potatoes (baked, mashed & Lyonnaise) and fritters, (zucchini, eggplant, coconut). There were various lettuces, vegetables, and meats for salads, as well as prepared salads. All the ingredients for every dressing could be found. There was a cheese station, a dessert station, an ice cream machine, a bread station, (lots of yummy breads) and a special station that was different each day. There was a fish offering, a chicken offering and a local offering, along with rice, and more vegetables. Each night there were special offerings: Ribs, roast Turkey, Roast Beef, Beef Wellington, Lobster (spiny, not Maine).


Some nights there was a theme. They served Oriental, Italian and Mediterranean food.


In the evening there is organized entertainment, dancing at the night club and theme nights.


If you have children they can go to the Mini Club. They can go to Circus School, play on a trapeze , go to the mini gym, learn how to build sand castles, in-line skating, the new Hip Hop Kidz dance program and have fun in a mini arcade.


Club Med’s has extensive buffets with plenty of choices for the little ones like hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza to international cuisine for the more adventurous eaters.


The kid shows by the GOs were cute, some very funny, and ran from like 8:45 pm to 9:30 pm.


Your children can eat with you or sit a children's table.


As a GM, (Gentile Member), overall, the staff was very nice and gracious but the attitude of the staff really varies. Some GOs are very friendly and helpful. Some are noticeably burned out and crusty. One night, a GO sat at our table got very drunk on beer.


Although Guadeloupe looked like a small dot on the map, it was actually huge. There was so much to see and do, that I did not have time to see the west island, (Basse Terre), where the volcano and SCUBA were.


Basse Terre, Marie Galante, and two of Les Saintes islands were visible from Club Med. We took buses to tour the southern half of Grande Terre, including Gosier, (lovely), Pointe-a-Pitre, (bustling), Le Moule, (tranquil), St. Francois and Ste. Anne was everyone's favorite.


We found that rum and madras fabric cloths when we were on tour. We tried a plate Colombo (chicken, rice, curry), that they eat in India.


I felt very safe everywhere I traveled.


Thanks for reading my review.


©LL2006


I saw you, naked in the rain!
Aug 25, 2001 04:10 AM 4192 Views

As the standards on Mouthshut get increasingly higher, I will split this into two sections.


For those who appreciate the story and personal side of things, I will write a travelogue of the time I spent in Guadeloupe in 1987, when my ship HMS Southampton spent 4 days alongside.


Then for the factual people who prefer to know the ins and outs of the Islands, I will give stats and facts in the second half.


Thank you and let the games begin!


Distant music played games with my hearing as it fought with the waves to dominate the still, evening air.


We held each other close as we walked along the shore.


The sand was still warm as it ran between my toes, uncovered and breathing their fair share of tropical bliss.


The trade winds were kind to us that night, merely brushing the leaves of the coconut palms that scattered the shoreline of this majestic Island.


We stopped and looked into each others eyes, that look you have when you have only met a person a few hours ago, but you know your going to have fun!


She was Italian, but spoke better English than most.


We had met on the dance floor in the Club Med, and she was laughing at my uncoordinated dancing manoeuvres, similar to that of a turkey walking.


A couple of Pina Coladas later and we were both laughing and joking, in pigeon English (mine being Geordie, I did not have to change it much.)


We escaped from my shipmates and danced around the swimming pool, stopping on the wooden bridge that split the pool in two, and our lips met.


The kiss was long and passionate, the type that is reserved for the first time.


We embraced each other, and then made our way to the golden beach to sit under the palm trees and talk (!)


The air was warm enough to spend the whole night outside, and we positioned ourselves discretely away from the beach to have some privacy, and enjoy the tropical flora that Guadeloupe had to offer.


Here we curled our bodies together and enjoyed the night and all Mother Nature had to offer.


The crickets played their violins all night, and they played our tune.


Tree frogs joined the chorus, along with the shrill interlude of native bats that flew missions around the many Palms.


Lost in our own passion, we drifted into a different world, and left the Island, if only in mind.


The very next morning was a memorable one for more reasons than one.


My first real taste of a tropical sunrise was thrust upon me like a kaleidoscope!


I felt like an art lover who had seen his first Monet, or Van Gough!


The colours were plentiful and vivid, and somehow alive.


I woke Bella (Not her real name, but I just cant remember it, typical bloke I hear you women say!) and together we watched the sun rise over the volcanic mountains that were Guadeloupe’s backbone.


Slowly, as the sun lost its colour, we strolled back to the hotel.


The floors were a welcome coldness on our bare feet, as we made our way to the large marble staircase that dominated the reception area.


Whispers and giggles could be heard from the hotel staff, almost as if they new what we had been up to!


The door to her room opened and the style and comfort here, did not disappoint.


A large, very comfortable bed, dominated the centre of the room, surrounded by various mock Georgian furniture, and ample closet space.


The bathroom was majestically designed with gold, fish shaped faucets and gold effect taps.


After a few hours, we went down to the pool and relaxed a bit more, drank more Pina Coladas, and had a great few days.


The romance ended when my ship sailed away from Guadeloupe, as she waved goodbye from the jetty, much to the amusement of my fellow shipmates, who managed to stretch that one out for quite a while.


THE END


PART TWO. GUADELOUPE, THE FACTS


Compromising of nine Islands, Guadeloupe is territorially owned by the French.


Although Tourism is Guadeloupe’s main source of income, they do have a fair percentage of arable land, which produces its second source of income.


Soufriere is Guadeloupe’s only recorded active volcano.


Population is approx half a million, and the main religion is that of Christian, again mainly due to the conquers of the Island being Christians.


Main language spoken is French, although it may resemble Creole in places.


These islands suffer more than most from Hurricanes, and are best avoided June through to October.


Unemployment is close to 30%, thus maintaining a Shanty Town alter ego to the islands glamour, which hotels like Club Med offer.


The Island is mainly visited by American cruise ships, and most of the tourist empire can be found within walking distance of the ports.


Located south east of Puerto Rico, and slightly north of St Martin, more popular tourist resorts, Guadeloupe offers more privacy and less commercialisation.


Scattered around the ports are many little shack like cocktail bars, with their homemade rum puncheons being a speciality.


Local children will try and sell you many trinkets and coconut shells carved into various shapes and forms.


It is not safe to walk the streets at night alone, unless in a very public area, which is patrolled well by the local Gendarmerie.


The resort areas have their own security, normaly a local with a bow and arrow (don’t mess or try and joke with these people, they are very proud of their job!)


Heat is evenly spread throughout the year, with a large rainfall during the hurricane season.


French francs are the currency and American dollars are also taken.


They have a McDonalds I am afraid.


Any more info can be found at https://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gp.html


Any more info about me and “Bella” is strictly confidential as there are children on this site!!!


Thank you.


Angus


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