Auberge Le Grand Large is on the beach at Ste-Anne (Grande Terre).Visited: June 2007
Posted by decarmody
This accommodation is located between the coast road and the beach. It is a peaceful group of bungalows amid a tropical garden. Fifty paces away is Caravelle beach at Ste-Anne.
It's about 60 euros a night in low season, and the owner is very friendly. I don't know that she speaks any English, however.
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The three things we liked the most were:
1) The food was amazing, both at the main restaurant Hibiscus (buffet style) and at La Biguine (à la carte restaurant);
2) Facilities were impeccable (rooms recently renovated, common areas, etc.);
3) Arrival, check-in, check-out and activities: everything was all well organized. To give you an idea: our plane landed at 11:30am and we were eating at the restaurant, checked-in, at 1:15pm… It’s hard to beat.
The things we didn't like as much:
1) Beach vendors (too many of them, too much pressure from them, too familiar);
2) Local members of personnel were not particularly welcoming;
3) Basic cocktails were not mastered by most barmen/barmaids (there were only few cocktails in the menu and barmen did not follow any recipe, so your drinks never tasted the same from one time to the other).
The food was absolutely amazing! Products were fresh and tasty, there was a great variety of products, and we saw different things every day. We are big fans of fish, and were well served at the buffet and the restaurant.
There was fish Carpaccio every single day (tuna, mahi-mahi, red snapper, etc.). There were different fish as main meals, some with sauce, some simply grilled or panned.
There was also a great variety of salads, meat, Creole specialties, and vegetables. The breads were excellent. We read many ecstatic reviews on the white chocolate bread, and can confirm it was indeed delicious! There was always a great variety of fresh fruits.
We certainly recommend La Caravelle to couples and families. We didn’t think it was the best resort for singles, because there were not many of them. Most people were between 35-45 years of age, many with kids. There were older people, too (up to 70-75). However, young ones (between 20 and 25 let’s say) were very rare. There were many families. We were not at all disturbed by the kids, though.
We intend to go back next year.
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We had a lovely February vacation.Visited: February 2006
Posted by embyrne
Club Med Caravelle is the best place for a couple or family to stay on Guadeloupe. The accommodations were lovely, and the beach and sports were fantastic.
All of the delicious French and Creole food was included in the room price. You'll meet lots of families and couples from France and Canada. Club Med keeps the kids active in special programs all day where they meet many new friends. Since food and sports are included in the price, this the best value on Guadeloupe.
Although Guadeloupe looked like a small dot on the map, it was actually huge. There was so much to see and do, that I did not have time to see the west island, Basse Terre, where the volcano and SCUBA were.
Basse Terre, Marie Galante, and two of Les Saintes islands were visible from Club Med. We took buses to tour the southern half of Grande Terre, including Gosier (lovely), Pointe-a-Pitre (bustling), Le Moule (tranquil), St. Francois (walkable), and Ste. Anne (everyone's favorite). I felt very safe everywhere I traveled in Guadeloupe. The bus drivers kept all of the fare money in large open trays at the front of the bus and they make change if you don't have the exact fare.
At Club Med, the windsurfing was great for all levels. Even people living in Guadeloupe came to the Club Med beach to windsurf.
There was a small snorkeling area near the rocks and corals on the point at the far end of the Club Med beach, but you will need to bring your own snorkeling gear. There was a hidden beach around the point that you can safely snorkel, too. I do not recommend snorkeling past the little beach to La Toubana Hotel. La Toubana has piled up rocks to try to make a small rocky beach, but the strong currents and crashing waves make this area unpleasant for swimming or snorkeling.
Club Med let their kayaks go anywhere within the reef that was visible from the sailing shack. The G.O.s will take guests on the big sailboat outside the reef, too. Guests are welcome to take the small sailboats anywhere within the reef themselves.
If you don't like the cold winter of Miami, I would highly recommend Guadeloupe. All of the people I met were helpful and there was so much more to see that I didn't have time for in only one week.
Taxis were very expensive, so I would recommend renting a car to get around Guadeloupe. Bus service between cities on Grande Terre was reliable and cheap (average $1 per trip, each way), so I would recommend that, too. The bus from Gosier to Ste. Anne to St. Francois was a great deal, and these were everyone's favorite nearby destinations. It would be advisable to learn to speak a little French before coming to Guadeloupe if you want to travel around a lot on your own.
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It was run down, but has potential.Visited: March 2005
Posted by peter_we
We stayed here for a week.
Our room was very run down.Tthe AC barely worked, the furniture and the furnishings were in bad repair. The room only had a shower and no bathtub. By US standards, this hotel was at Motel 6 standard. By European standards, it was a decent three-star place.
On the other hand, the view from the room was magical, the staff was extremly helpful and friendly, and the entire island was a paradise. Also, the cleaning was impeccable, and the overall friendliness of the staff was extraordinary (by French standards).
The breakfast was very good. If you stay here, make sure that you have plenty of bug repellent. You will need it!
One thing may help, though: speaking French. Do not venture on this part of the island unless you have some command of French. Few people understand English, and even fewer want to speak it.
There were several extremely good restaurants close to the hotel that served unbelievable Creole and French cuisine.
We would return, but not for $100+/night. The price was very unreasonable.
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7/25/04 - I returned yesterday from my one-week stay at Club Med Caravelle with my friend (we're both 17), her mom, and her aunt. We were all extremely unimpressed with this resort having been to Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Basically, all there was to do was hang out on the beach, swim in the pool, volleyball, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, tennis, and fitness programs. It may sound like a lot, but it really didn't amuse teens for a whole week. And even the adults traveling with us got bored.
Virtually 99% of the guests were European, and only a handful spoke English. I don't speak a word of French, but my friend did, and we got around pretty well. I must say, we didn't encounter any particularly rude or unfriendly foreigners, as we expected. Everyone was generally courteous.
The food was pretty good. I'm extremely picky, and I found something to eat at every meal - the pizza at the buffet and the burgers at the beach bar were excellent! The nightly entertainment was pretty much terrible if it was put on by the GOs, but two guest dance troups came to perform and they were exceptional.
The nightclub was interesting... teens should go after 12 when middle aged people have stopped pretending to be youthful. I did witness discrete drug dealing on two occaisions as mentioned in some other reviews, but it was nothing to worry about. Most people seemed entirely unaware of it unless they were looking for drugs.
Local people were allowed to use the Club Med Beach, which could be irritating if you're a young, relatively cute female - they would call us over to talk to them, and try to get us to meet them and what not.
When I think of the rooms, the term "no frills" comes to mind- bed(s), dresser, closets, nightstand, bathroom, TV (english channels- BET, CNN, NBC), alarm clock, and this was the top-price "luxury room". Maybe the luxury was the CD player built into the alarm clock because that was the only non-essential thing in the place!
Oh well, you don't go to Guadeloupe to stay in your hotel room.
In addition, I highly recommend massages by Michele, and henna tattoos by Adrien. Also, the La Biguine restaurant was a nice alternative to the buffet for lunch/dinner
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Les Petits Saints was excellent.Visited: January 2002
Posted by jwpercey
This hotel provided excellent food and accommodations. They also had a beautiful view. The host and staff were amiable host. And there was a very nice pool overlooking the bay.
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Don't bother if you do not speak French.Visited: May 2003
Posted by queensny
Went to Club Med in Guadeloupe May of 2003. It was my first time at this village and my third vacation to a Club Med. A number of Americans made up approximately 1% or less of the guest population during my stay. Language was a problem, as I do not speak French and that was the language spoken by the majority of the guests. Meal time was a problem, because the few that spoke English did not make an effort to speak it. One gentleman said to me "When we go to the States we are expected to speak English, you come here you should speak French." Many of the people were very rude at the table and most of the G.O.'s did not speak English. It was a struggle.
Also during this time of year, the temperature was very, very hot and very humid. The entertainment in the evenings was horrendous. The facilities were kept very clean and the food was good. I had a massage by an Italian who did speak English, and her hands were wonderful. However, the ambiance at this club, was somewhat mellow and people were not very friendly (including the staff).
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I've visited three Club Meds before and always have had a great time. The management at Guadeloupe was completely uninterested in the fact that our room was in need of repair. The air conditioning did not work and we were told, "If it was not so hot, it would work better." The chef du village avoided my requests to meet with him and finally told me, "Americans have too high of expectations." The child's club had very little in English. My letter addressed to the Club Med vice president in Florida was not answered by him but by another person. I think the attitudes seem to originate at the top. I guess we were spoiled at the Club Med in San Salvador.
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An outstanding option in Guadeloupe.Visited: April 2003
Posted by jbullard
Our family celebrated a 75th birthday at Club Med Caravelle and we had a blast.
The kids (five of them from ages 15 to 11) signed up for whatever they wanted - and the trapeze was the highlight.
The rooms were simple, clean, and air conditioned; and the meals were delicious and could last two hours if you were not in a hurry. We also received free wine with each meal.
The trips to snorkel and scuba dive were excellent. The beaches were pure soft sand and the Parisian topless women were a bonus.
The sailing, the kayaking, the archery, beach volleyball, and pool all added up to a very busy and somehow still relaxing visit.
The GOs were all helpful and language was not a problem. Most of the GOs spoke at least three languages and some of them five. The area was fogged for bugs at dawn and dusk, so there were no bugs.
If you don't enjoy this Club Med, you need help!
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It is perfectly situated right on the beach at St. Anne.Visited: June 2002
Posted by dale_carmody
This tiny group of bungalows in the midst of a gorgeous garden was hidden so well I almost didn't find it. The owner was outside tending the garden and was very friendly, even though she didn't know I would be staying here. They made an attempt to speak English, but bring your dictionary anyway.
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My husband and I stayed at Sereno for our honeymoon. We have never met a more gracious, warm staff than the ones employed here.
Our room, the food, the drinks and friends we made will bring us back every year. No doubt this is really a chic place to hang out, relax, and really feel part of the West Indies. Amazing!
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We stayed at Canella with our daughter, son-in-law and 2 year old grandson. It was a perfect location for our family group.
We were able to keep snacks and beverages in our kitchen and eat in when we felt like it. The restaurant was excellent and there were other places to try within easy walking distance.
The beach was fun for everyone and the hotel offered plenty for us to do.
Also, the staff was especially helpful when our daughter and grandson returned after we had all checked out. We had left them at the ferry for Domenica and when they found out there was no ferry that day, they returned to the hotel where they stayed until they could catch the afternoon plane.
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This hotel was not luxurious, but it was very well taken care of and located right on the beach in St. Anne and right in the middle of town.
The staff helped me out tremendously. They rented me a car so I could go see the other side of the island for a week. And then upon my return, they drove me to the airport for half of what a taxi would have cost - all with a smile.
This is a great place to stay if you have no car. You can just walk to markets, or take the local buses.
A note of caution--- minimal English was spoken at this hotel and in St. Anne. I received a very warm welcome as an American who speaks fluent French. Guadeloupe was beautiful and this town was a nice place to stay.
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The hotel is old but well kept. The rates are very high ($300 a night). Nothing to do in Gosier. The restaurant at the hotel is very slow and very expensive. The beach is small but nice and the swimming pool is heated (my wife loved it). Ask for a room near the beach if you like the sound of the waves. We did not visit the casino nearby.
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Stayed 3 nights in oceanfront room overlooking bay. There’s a very private patio for each room. Very friendly staff. The solarium off of the bathroom is a nice touch. Shallow calm bay is great for swimming and windsurfers. It’s somewhat remote to main towns and shopping. Great if you want "low-key" elegance and to relax.
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I had a great time during our stay at Caravelle, but the language barrier made social situations like meals difficult. Even though we knew some French many other vacationers were not willing to attempt to communicate. We met fewer than 10 Americans or English speaking people visiting during our stay. Other than this, I highly recommend this village.
Food and amenities were good and the staff was very helpful. The beaches were also very clean and many excursions were offered. I saw no sign of drug dealing here, as described in a previous review.
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Great value and great staff.Visited: February 2001
Posted by nickthedog
What a great small hotel! This charming hotel is proof that you don't need to spend a $1000 a night to have a great time in St. Barths.
Starting with the manager (Marithe Weber) to all of the staff, everyone couldn't have been nicer. The rooms, although small, couldn't have been cleaner—and the grounds and gardens were beautiful.
If you are on a budget it is definitely a great place to stay.
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My wife and I had our second visit to Club Med Caravelle, however, this time we had five Japanese relatives and friends accompany us. The village did not seem as crowded as during our previous visit (1999) and this time I would estimate that about fifteen percent of the GMs were from the U.S., far more than in 1999.
Despite the language barrier our Japanese cohorts had an absolutely wonderful time. The seven-year-old boy had a fine experience in the Kids’ Club, learning to play tennis, swimming, trapeze, etc. For the adults it was a restful break from a hectic lifestyle.
General comments: great food, beautiful beach, interesting excursions (even for second go-around for my wife and I), plenty of activities—and shopping much enjoyed by the ladies.
A surprise bonus: we met two GMs from England, Chris and Liz, whom we had met in 1998 at Club Med Paradise Island.
All in all, a wonderful eight-day vacation. We were not happy campers when we had to leave - c'est la vie! Our thanks to the many GOs who provided us with a great time.
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Caribbean 
Auberge Le Grand Large is on the beach at Ste-Anne (Grande Terre). 
It was fantastic. 
We had a wonderful holiday. 
It was run down, but has potential. 
Don't bother if you do not speak French. 