We had unanticipated difficulties checking into residence Yucca in Gosier, Guadeloupe, but they didn't last long and were not foretelling of the month in February / March we stayed. The room itself, a studio with a view from ground level onto a small port for pleasure boats, was small with a kitchen on the balcony, enclosed by a fence at the edge of the grassy area and with a rolling metal shutter on the balcony. Except for a few rainy evenings we had wonderfully colorful sunsets and a few rainbows.
We had to locate ATM's to pay as only cash was acceptable, a surprise to us and since we didn't have the Carte Bleu, the French ATM's were a problem with our American cards. This problem was corrected when we could get to the Bureau of Poste in the daytime.
On the other hand the proprietor sized us up pretty quickly - aging Americans that seemed pretty honest - and volunteered to wait for weekly withdrawals.
The room itself was a little tired - aging bedding, double sized sheets on single beds, curtains removed, hot plate stove in poor condition, overlarge TV taking up space on the desk/dresser instead of the wall bracket, sliding glass door barely sliding - it served our purpose. There was CNN. The courtyard was neat but neglected with straggly plantings. It was recently painted and clean, the beds and chairs were comfortable.
The no see-ums were by far the greatest nuisance in the evening and to deal with this we often kept the portable fan on the balcony directed across the length of it as a deterrent as there was no screening.
The biggest plus was was the attachment by an elevated walkway to the Creole Beach Hotel and the use of their facilities including a pleasant mahogany and slate furnished lobby/lounge with a family bar, patios, three cascading and interconnected pools with chaise longue, two dining rooms, both shady and sunny beach exposures with more chairs. The hotel also had activities like water aerobics, ping pong, a pianist daily, bocce and bikini fashion shows.
As to Guadeloupe itself, the climate was heavenly with 80's daily, almost never too hot. It was surprising that the locals were so troubled by what they considered unseasonable cold and rain while we thought the 15 minutes of rain every day or two was quite nice.
The approach to the Residence in most uninspiring as it is a sea of parking lots beyond which are a multiple of hotels and resorts. Once inside them or onto the beach areas, the ambiance is lovely and relaxing.
Food in restaurants was pricey but of greater concern were the few alternatives - unless you consider McD's and alternative, Two weeks into the stay we discovered the casino dining room which we had avoided to that point not being inclined to gamble. For 12 E 50 at lunch each meal was an event with an abundant salad / starters bounty, and entree and dessert bar. The ambiance was not to thrilling with loud slots adjacent and a huge video screen as the focal point in the room with old pop stars performances.
Wine was reasonable. We generally had a light meal in our balcony kitchen in the evening. The supermarket was down a healthy hill but on a bus route and had a good assortment of comestibles. There was also a convenience store with the basics closer to the resort.
The approach to the Residence is not too prepossessing as one is met with a sea of parked cars behind which are the hotels and residence buildings. Once inside or on the beach areas things are pleasant, tropical and relaxing.
We took day trips to Basse Terre - gloriously green and lush - to see the volcano and hike the waterfall trails and want to spend more time there next trip. My husband became enchanted with the machinery and ways of production in the distilleries so we saw quite a few of those and the nearby communities, sampling restaurants in those areas. The best and most interesting to our view is the Bologne distillery on Basse Terre. Their recycling and electricity production are most interesting.
I hadn't been to Guadeloupe in more than thirty years and the changes are enormous with a well developed road system and good public transportation. I recall a trip past in a jintney euphemistically called a bus with standing room only and chickens and goats filling the interstices of space, boxes and luggage strapped to the roof and careening around mountain roads as a breathtaking experience - and with two small children. There will be no more of that ! but it was fun and I missed it.
While most people speak a modicum of English few are comfortable with it so speaking decent French certainly adds to the experience. It is my first language but my husbands French is pretty limited but he is eager to return and so am I.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
