Caraib'Bay Hotel

Stayed in the Caraib'Bay Hotel with the family (4 kids between 1 and 13 years) for a few nights in late April and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The duplex houses are spacious, clean and cozy, and the breakfast is absolutely amazing - as is the pool area. The hotel is just a short walk away from one of the most beautiful beaches of the island (Plage de Grande Anse) and ideally located for day trips to some of the other beaches further south or excursions the the zoo or other activities in the jungle. The only two points I would raise are the lack of WIFI in the rooms (there is WIFI available in the breakfast area, but it didn't always work - then again, it probably wasn't the worst thing to see the kids (and parents) disconnect from the internet for a while each day. And we would have preferred to have a table in the house to be able to have dinner inside - the terraces are great but there is quite a bit of mosquito activity in the evening...

This is a beautifully authentic and tranquil hotel set in the most amazing gardens. You feel a million miles from the real world and are able to relax completely should you decide to stay within the confines of the hotel. If you are 'beach people', la Plage Grande Anse is precisely 11 minutes walk away and it is a beach from your imagination of what a tropical paradise should look like. Whilst the hotel can provide some tapas, within 5 minutes walk towards the beach is an excellent pizza van and also a van that sells wraps and bokits amongst other options should you need it. There is also the Papillon restaurant within walking distance if you're looking for something a little more classy. To venture further afield you will need a hire car which I would fully recommend as the local town of Deshaies is an absolute must for it's stunning location and excellent bars and restaurants. It's a 5 minute drive, parking is cheap (free after 7pm) and you can pick up bread from the amazing boulangerie and other supplies from the small supermarket opposite the library if you prefer to prepare your own lunch or dinner back at the hotel where there is a small cooker, microwave and equipment perfectly fit for purpose. Our duplex room was on two levels with the bed and lounge area upstairs and a small kitchen and bathroom downstairs. The air conditioning worked perfectly well and there is a ceiling fan if you need an extra boost. The bed was very comfortable and was made up every day except Sundays. The bathroom was clean and perfectly suitable for our needs and the whole duplex is tastefully decorated with art and murals by a local artist. Out front is a patio area where you can chill whilst enjoying the feeling of being in a rain forest. The biggest plus point of this hotel is the staff. The owners Catherine and Christophe make sure to speak to every guest and make you feel welcome but Sandrine and Coline added the fairy dust that made our stay here so special. They are so friendly, helpful and attentive to your needs, advising on things to see and do, making recommendations for where to eat and even making the reservations for us; we genuinely looked forward to seeing them each day. We were English in what is obviously a very French environment and had very limited French vocabulary (although we tried!) but still we felt part of the CBH family. It is truly an exceptional place that you will never forget once you have stayed.

We needed a hotel for a night in this part of Guadeloupe and ended up at the Caraib'Bay. We were only sorry that we didn't book the hotel for longer. The grounds are magical, filled with verdant greenery and flowers. Rooms are set in bungalow-type accomodations; ours was two floors and could easily have fit a family of five (it had several beds). The pool area is lovely, and fabulous Grande Anse Beach is just a short walk away. In short, this is a very special little spot; we were very sorry to leave.