My husband and I visited Deshaies from the US for a weeklong stay at Au Jardin des Colibris. We've traveled to other Caribbean islands, and Guadeloupe had by far the best infrastructure (particularly roads) of any we've visited. We never felt unsafe or hassled as tourists there, even when we arrived at almost 11 PM and had to drive a rental car across the island from Pointe-a-Pitre to Deshaies at that hour.

Accomodations in the French Caribbean can be a little different than what you might expect elsewhere. Au Jardin des Colibris offers "gites", which are more like renting a house, including a kitchen, than something like a hotel or Bed and Breakfast. Since this was our first experience in a gite, we didn't realize that while bedsheets, dishes, silverware, pans, dishsoap, a hammock, and 2 towels were provided, we were on our own for toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags (and disposal of said garbage in the city), handsoap, beach towels, and food/drinks. The room is not cleaned and towels are not automatically replaced until after you leave, and you do need to pay for cleaning of your room if you don't wish to clean it yourself. We still very much enjoyed our stay, but it took us a few hours to figure out where to purchase necessities (Greg and Matthieu helped) and get settled. Also, the resort does not take credit cards (an electronic wire transfer or cash are the only options) which was a bit of a hassle. Just a heads up for Americans that might be expecting a traditional hotel experience!

Other reviews of this property have mentioned that the location is idyllic, and that is absolutely true. Deshaies is a sleepy, but friendly, town that includes a few good restaurants, a useful grocery store, an ATM/post office, and a gas station. It's also right by Grande Anse, the most popular beach in the area, and Plage Leroux, a quieter, more secluded beach. We also took 30-40 minutes to drive to the Parc Nationale de Guadeloupe for hiking, and Plage de Malendure for snorkeling and kayaking. A really big supermarket and other good restaurants were also close by in Sainte Rose.

I never saw anyone use the pool at Au Jardin des Colibris, which is probably because the beautiful beaches were so close by, but the porch of our gite was extremely nice to have. We ate a relaxing breakfast each morning there and were visited by many chickens, 3-4 friendly cats, and countless little birds and hummingbirds. Mosquitoes were almost non-existent, but there were insect repellent candles in the room for ambiance at dinner and to discourage the few insects that might have come.

Two final tips: high school level French would be very helpful, particularly away from the resort. And also, don't use Google maps to find Au Jardin des Colibris. The directions are completely wrong! Contact Matthieu directly if you need directions.

We'd definitely recommend Au Jardin des Colibris for a romantic, private, and extremely relaxing getaway. It would also be a great place to take small children due to the good infrastructure, safe water supply, and ability to set your own schedule and make your own meals. We were the only American tourists on the island for almost our entire trip, which was refreshing. I hope this review helps more of us find our way down there.

Au Jardin des Colibris may be the most charming hotel I've ever stayed in. Each bungalow (they are of varying sizes) has fantastic privacy, and a beautiful garden. The owners are very friendly and will give you all the information you need to know to have a great time on Guadeloupe (although speaking some French is helpful). Deshaies, as a base, is ideal for exploring Basse Terre. The hummingbirds, and especially the small yellow birds called "sucriers," really will visit you at breakfast each day! This is a wonderful place to relax after a day of adventure, or just the beach, on Guadeloupe.

We just spent 2 weeks Au Jardin des Colibris with 2 young chlidren aged 3 and 5 years old. We all really enjoyed our stay. The location is quiet and nice, the village near by is small but has all that you need (shops, restaurants,...) the beaches are fantastic. From Deshaies, you can visit around (La Soufrière, Parc des Mamelles, Grande Terre, Basse Terre, waterfalls, etc...). it is also a strategic place for the one who like hiking.
The lodging (yellow one) has a nice terrasse, is nicely decorated and cosy. The kids enjoyed the tropical garden and all the animals. Our hosts were very friendly and helpful.
We can recommand the place!

Really nice place to stay in Guadeloupe, extremely nice gardens with plenty of animals (especially colibris), very near to beautiful beaches (La Perle) and very nice, always helpful hosts (Sophie et Matthieu).