Luxury holidays in Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is a bit of a conundrum - an island in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, which is part of France, with a Spanish name. The 'island' is actually in two parts, with bridges connecting its western and eastern sections, but is usually thought of as a single land mass. It uses the euro, and is treated as part of France rather than as a separate overseas territory, even though the French mainland is over 4,000 miles away - this technically means the island is part of the EU, too. And its name derives from the Spanish town of Guadelupe, originally from the Arabic 'wadi' and the Latin 'lupe', together meaning the Valley of the Wolf.

Cruise the coast of Guadeloupe

Like most island destinations, Guadeloupe's coastline is a huge part of its appeal for international travellers, and you can see an ever-increasing number of large cruise liners arriving as time goes by. These are a sightseeing opportunity in and of themselves for many people, and for a more personal experience, you might want to take to the waves on a smaller boat trip, either under the supervision of a tour guide or, if you are experienced at handling marine craft, you may be able to hire a vessel of your own for the day.

A land of sweetness and light

Guadeloupe's sugar crops are still an important part of the island's light industry, and this agriculture also leads to another valuable product - rum. The locally produced liquor is sold on the export market, but you might also want to try some while you are on the island for an authentic taste of Guadeloupe.

When should I visit Guadeloupe?

Guadeloupe has a typical Caribbean climate, with relatively high temperatures all year round, peaking at highs of 31°C from June to October inclusive. Even outside of this time, the average highs for each month stay above 29°C, with rain roughly every second day. The autumn months are the wettest overall, and the start of the year from January until March is the driest period, making Guadeloupe an excellent option if you want some early-year sunshine. With a very steady climate throughout the year though, there is really no bad time to go to Guadeloupe for fairly dry, warm and sunny weather, which will feel especially hot in contrast to the UK winter.

What's on offer on a luxury holiday?

Luxury holidays in Guadaloupe are all about taking time out for you. If you want to sip some of Guadaloupe' s famous rum, it's there for you. If you want a room with a view of the Caribbean coast, your luxury hotel will make it happen. The whole point of a luxury holiday is to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Paying a bit extra for your luxury holiday is worthwhile to guarantee an unforgettable break. Guadaloupe offers attentive yet respectful service that is so important to luxury holidays, and while you may not have snow-capped mountains, you will have some of the finest views in the Caribbean to enjoy, right from your hotel.