The Insiders' Guide to St. Barths: Guadeloupe Enroute to St Barts

Guadeloupe July 5 to July 13 2003

Part One

Wife, two kids and nanny/niece depart lax Saturday night after hour-thirty minute delay stuck on tarmac for aa repairs (never can figure out why they don't complete repairs before the plane is stuffed with passengers-but that is for another time and place) arrive in Orlando, fly to San Juan and eventually arrive at PTP Guadeloupe at around 2pm Sunday;we are all tired but have made all connections and the kids talk nothing about anything except for when we will go to st barts. Check into two rooms $200 per night (including breakfast buffet) and find the suites at La Cocoteraie in St Francois more than adequate;plus I have prearranged with power antilles for internet service both here and later in st barts and the computer is up and running in no time.

First night have decent dinner at hotel La Cocoteraie and manage to spend 190E with one bottle of Sancere Red-waiter informs me service or tip is not included but manager of hotel, who is from Colombia has previously introduced himself to us while dining at same time at restaurant, has already made clear to us that the tip or service charge is included and that if we like the service we can add more or wait till we leave and tip then. Do not know how this procedure might exactly work since waiter one night might not be working on night before we leave and how do you tip extra for the week at one time to waiter when more than one waiter has served you with perhaps different levels of service. Decide that if we tip extra it is at the time of meal to reward waiter responsible for extra service, maybe my upbringing but so be it.

Second day at hotel enjoy large heated pool, several short rain showers and three meals. There are only three or four other families from continental France in the hotel plus a honeymoon couple from DC who have been to St Martin (Grand Case) and will go on to Angilla next;they also flew to st barts and back for only one day while staying in st martin. We meet a very friendly bi-lingual couple from Paris with a 7 year old bi-lingual child at the pool;all three of the kids plus nanny spent the day at the beach or pool with all parents joining in. When the couple from Paris said they were in Guadeloupe for a month I had at least two thoughts-why stay only on Guadeloupe for that long and did they know what they might be missing by not venturing to st barts. Anyway they were quite eager to explore Guadeloupe with us and we have made plans together for some excursions beyond the hotel pool and beach to see more of Guadeloupe. One comment from the Parisian indicated that he has heard the islanders do not particularly like tourists from Paris-while I had several thoughts especially along the lines of well if you cannot even travel in a part of your own country with ease how will islanders treat a north American from usa-I was mute because all interaction so far with island residents, though limited to hotel experiences, has been positive. Wait and see with an open mind my wife reminds-so i do and am.

Edited by gregb (07/07/03 09:43 PM)