Guadeloupe

Urban stress melts away when you take off in a new Peugeot across the Gabarre Bridge toward Basse-Terre. Find a station that segues from sexy French love songs to creole soul and American vocals. Route 1 will take you over velvet green mountains and through variegated rain forests. Detour at any sign that reads centre ville and witness the relaxed pace in the center of town. Back on the road again, you will see makeshift farm stands with a tumble of root vegetables and exotic fruit. What could be better? Try it in a convertible!

Although Guadeloupe is thought of as one island, it is several, each entity with its own personality. "The mainland" consists of the two largest islands in the Guadeloupe archipelago: Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, which look something like a butterfly. The outer islands—Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, and La Désirade—are finally being acknowledged as wonderfully unique, unspoiled travel destinations. Tourism officials are now wisely marketing their country as a plural, Les Iles de Guadeloupe. See which one is your place in the sun. Vive les vacances!

Less »