This past winter break when we were looking for a place to go with the family, Club Med la Caravelle Guadeloupe came to mind. We have been to several of their resorts in the past, and the kids seemed to enjoy them. We wanted a place in the Caribbean that wasn’t a long plane ride away. I found the perfect island of Guadeloupe, which is located in the Lesser Antilles, and is primarily French speaking.
What’s not to love about checking into a resort and being able to immediately put your wallet away in the safe? I’ll tell you: not having to worry about paying for any food or drinks because it’s ALL INCLUDED.
Club Med la Caravelle Guadeloupe is about a 45 minute ride from Pointe a Pitre International Airport (PTP). Upon arrival at Club Med la Caravelle Guadeloupe you are greeted by the GO’s with a refreshing tropical drink. Since most of the rooms aren’t available for check-in till around 3:00 p.m., I suggest you bring a small bag with a bathing suit. This way you can store your luggage at the desk and enjoy the pool or beach until your room is available. Remember to pack light because there aren’t any elevators!
Accommodation in Club Med la Caravelle Guadeloupe
We opted for a room with an ocean view, which was located near the main lobby and had a beautiful view of the ocean from our balcony. The room was very spacious, clean, and modern. The bathroom wasn’t very big, but it was adequate enough for the two of us. All the rooms have a mini refrigerator and a coffee maker. The resort uses a 220v outlet, so make sure you bring a European charger with you if you plan on charging your devices. The gift store does not sell chargers, so you can’t rely on them if you forget one or bring the wrong type.
Restaurants
There were two restaurants. The main restaurant was buffet style, and the food was excellent. There was always a large selection of beautifully prepared dishes offered in the buffets, including many items that appeal to children. During the day and evening light food was set out on a table in the bar area. Anyone who was inclined to do so could eat their way through the day! In addition to the main dining area there is a smaller restaurant directly on the ocean at the end of the beach, for those who prefer quieter meals. You need to make reservations in advance for the on-site restaurant.
The hotel beach was nicely shaded with palm trees, there were plenty of sun chairs available, and it had the clearest, calmest blue waters you’ve ever seen. If you enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving this is definitely a good place to indulge in those fun underwater activities!
Everyday local vendors walk up and down the beach to offer you bathing suits and other items. The vendors were not pushy or bothersome and most of us appreciated the beach shopping experience. They even carried a convenient credit card machine. The vendors were constantly changing bathing suits and walking around the beach to display them as if it was a runway. My girls and I all bought several bathing suits from the local vendors who were quite friendly. The downside is that it’s a public beach, which means you get some of the locals wandering the beach. So be sure to keep an eye on your stuff, just in case. The hotel does have security so I wasn’t very concerned.
If you need a revitalizing cocktail with your feet in the sand, or a snack on the beach, just walk over to the Mango Bar.
Activities
Available activities included Tennis, Flying Trapeze, Sailing, Paddle boarding, Kayaking, and Windsurfing. Additional fee-based activities including Scuba Diving and Jet-Ski.
Excursions
They offered several excursions that take you to different parts of the island. We hired a chafferer for a 1/2 day trip. He took us to a plantation to taste the local fruit, including sugar cane, which was followed by the highlight of trip for the family: Parc Des Mamelles and Crayfish Waterfalls. Parc Des Mamelles is a tropical forest where you walk 20 feet above the ground on a canopy suspension bridge system. They also have a treehouse village in the canopy for young kids, ages 8 and up.
Club Med la Caravelle Guadeloupe is great for a family vacation with the kids. The resort has a lot of activities to keep everyone busy. It’s a mainly French speaking resort, although some of the GO’s in Club Med la Caravelle Guadeloupe spoke little English.
Vicky Alonso
September 15, 2013 at 8:30 pmQué sitio tan maravilloso!!!