Guadeloupe is a great place with various sceneries and the neighbouring islands (Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, La Desirade) also have different atmospheres. The places to stay at are not so expensive compared with resort prices in the English-speaking Carribeans. However, should you go in February, this is the time for school holidays in France, so it might be a bit crowded... Feel free to e-mail me if you want more details on the island.

Any details on secluded beaches? I'm planning a trip in February and this is my first time there.

Thank you.

On the main island of Guadeloupe, you can go to the following beaches : Grande-Anse (near Deshaies, located north-west), Ste Anne's beach + Caravelle beach (south), Anse du Souffleur (Port-Louis, north), Capesterre (south-east coast of the west island). My suggestion is for you to take an hotel in Le Gosier (near Pointe-a-Pitre) where there also are beaches. Then you can easily drive around the island as Gosier is on the south coast in the center of the island. You also have to go to Les Saintes and Marie-Galante. They are very different from the main island and you will find empty wonderful beaches in Marie-Galante.

The solar eclipse is February 26, if you're using this as the basis for your trip. Not to bore you, and with the help of AP..."the shadow will race eastward and across the Galapagos Islands west of Ecuador, clip northern Venezuela and Columbia and streak on to straddle a string of Caribbean islands : Aruba, Curacao, Guadeloupe, and Antigua. The path of total eclipse ends off Africa's Atlantic Coast". I found reservations tough because of this, so I booked Acupulco and will pray for decent viewing.

I've got a photography workshop scheduled for Martinique February 17 - 26th - also Carnival Time!
Space is still available. If interested, visit:
http://www.wowpages.com/photo or email me for more information.