Where to stay in Les Saintes: the best hotels and accommodations

It’s been a while since I last wrote about Guadeloupe. But we’ve now lived here for more than three years, and we have no plans to leave! Today, I’m sharing a guide to where to stay in Les Saintes, an archipelago we love, just across the water from our home! We’ve just returned from a three-day weekend on Terre-de-Haut. While we were there, we tried several new activities in partnership with Manawa. You can read all about them in the full article I’ve just published on the Saintes archipelago!

To make the most of these beautiful islands, we recommend staying for three to five days. Most visitors come for just one day, but honestly, that feels too short to really get to know the place.

And since more and more of you are choosing Guadeloupe for your vacations, I suggest you read our articles on the islands of Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas. In the meantime, here are our top recommendations for hotels and other great places to stay in Les Saintes. As always, our recommendations are based on our own experiences and the feedback we’ve received. Our goal is simply to share our honest impressions with you. That’s why we’re trying to test more and more accommodation here in Guadeloupe, like the Hôtel des Colibris in Deshaies.

By the way, if you have accommodation in Les Saintes and you come across this article, don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like us to consider a partnership to test your accommodation and write a dedicated article. That allows us to share our honest opinion with our readers.

This article focuses on the best places to stay in Les Saintes. As always, I haven’t been able to cover every place to stay. Instead, I’ve selected the options I find most interesting, keeping in mind that both islands offer plenty of choices, although Terre-de-Haut has more.

We’ve also put together a comprehensive guide to the best seaside spots in Guadeloupe, which you might find useful if you’re also looking for other great places to stay.

If you’re planning a trip to Basse-Terre, check out our comprehensive guide to the best places to stay on the island.

Before diving into my selection of hotels and other accommodations in Les Saintes, here are a few pointers on where to stay, depending on the kind of trip you have in mind. Simply put, choose Terre-de-Haut if you want to be close to the restaurants, bars, and ice cream shops. For a quieter stay away from the crowds, Terre-de-Bas will probably suit you better. That said, Terre-de-Haut becomes much quieter after 4 p.m., once most day-trippers have left.

There are several ways to stay in Terre-de-Haut:

• In the village: It’s easy to get around, and you won’t necessarily need to rent a buggy. Despite being the livelier part of the island, the village is not especially noisy. So don’t worry—you should still sleep well! In fact, this is where we stayed last time.
• Outside the village (around Bois Joli, for example): It could hardly be more peaceful. However, you’ll need a buggy or another form of transportation, unless you rely on the hotel shuttle. There is still plenty to do, though. We’ve put together a helpful overview of things to do in Les Saintes in our Loisirs aux Saintes story.
• Anse Figuier, Rodrigue, Pompierre, Marigot: These areas are a little more isolated, so I recommend renting a vehicle for a more convenient stay.

Lately, many of you have been asking us which hotel to choose in Les Saintes. There are relatively few hotels in Les Saintes, and they are concentrated on Terre-de-Haut. Still, the main options are well reviewed.

We spent three days at this charming hotel over a long weekend. We came away with very fond memories of our stay. First, the location is convenient, within walking distance of Anse Crawen and close to Pain de Sucre, which you can reach by kayak or paddleboard, for example. It is a little outside the village, though, so renting a vehicle is more convenient.

The rooms are comfortable, clean, and air-conditioned, with terraces that are perfect for enjoying the sea view. We found the food rather expensive for what it was, so we chose to eat elsewhere for the rest of the weekend.
If you prefer active vacations, there is plenty to do nearby, including hiking, beach outings, and water sports. Hôtel Bois Joli is a good-value option for a relaxing family stay.

Book a stay

This welcoming apartment hotel is just 1.4 km from the famous Pain de Sucre beach. Set in a tropical garden, it offers a peaceful place to unwind. Its location is convenient too: you can easily explore the island on foot, by bike or by scooter, depending on how much time you have!

The accommodations are spacious and well equipped, with a full kitchen, private terrace, and bathroom. Another highlight is the warm welcome from the hosts, who are always happy to share advice. Amenities also include a barbecue and free parking. Village Le Pré works well for either a family vacation or a romantic getaway, with easy access to Terre-de-Haut’s beaches.

Book a stay

This property enjoys a peaceful setting overlooking the sea. It sits on the hillside in a fairly central part of the island. This 4-star property offers spacious, modern rooms with private bathrooms and kitchenettes. Each one has a large terrace overlooking the sea, which should be a lovely spot at sunset. Facilities include a hot tub and a spa.

If you want to explore the surrounding area, you can hire bikes or electric cars directly from the hotel. Overall, the residence combines high-quality amenities with a beautiful location. I recommend booking ahead to make sure you get a room. This may well be the next place we try.

Discover this charming hotel

Le Kanaoa is said to be the island’s oldest hotel, so it naturally deserves a place on this list. It is located in an idyllic setting with a panoramic view of the Baie des Saintes. The bay is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful in the world, and it is easy to see why.

The hotel has attractive rooms, a swimming pool, and access to a private beach. The hotel also has a restaurant. I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve heard good things about it. It serves hearty meals with a direct view of the bay. With its service, location, and decor, Kanaoa has plenty going for it.

Choose Kanaoa

If you’re not sure which hotel to choose, I’ve put together a table with all the essential information (price, ratings, location, etc.) to help you make the best choice for your vacation.

As its name suggests, this gîte is set in a tropical garden. Built entirely from wood, it feels cozy and is well equipped, with a modern bathroom, full kitchen, and two fairly spacious bedrooms. It offers a pleasant balance of comfort and nature. The hosts are attentive and always happy to share local tips. Another advantage is its proximity to beaches and restaurants. It is the kind of place where you can quickly settle in—and may find it hard to leave.

Book a stay

As with the hotels above, I’ve put together a table to help you compare the accommodations we’ve just covered. I hope it makes your decision a little easier, since choosing where to stay can be one of the hardest parts of planning a trip.

For a peaceful place to get away from it all, consider Résidence Soleil Demery, where we stayed on our last visit. The property has several comfortable studios with kitchens and terraces where you can make the most of the outdoors. There is also a garden pool at the center of the property. It is a welcome place to cool off after a day of exploring or simply relax. The location is convenient too, not far from the village or beaches such as Petite Anse and Anse à Dos. It could also be a good base for a diving trip. If you like simple, peaceful accommodations with a natural feel, this is a solid option.

Book Résidence Soleil Demery

Chez Maïté offers a comfortable apartment in a peaceful, flower-filled setting. You will have 40 m² to yourself, which is comfortable for two or three people, especially if you plan to spend much of the day exploring. The apartment is well equipped, with one bedroom, a modern kitchen, a large living room and, to top it all off, a terrace with a private hot tub. That is a definite bonus. The hosts often welcome guests with a glass of punch, a thoughtful touch on arrival. It is a peaceful place to spend a few days and a convenient base for exploring the island.

Stay at Chez Maïté

This is another pleasant apartment in a quiet corner of Terre-de-Bas. Despite the peaceful setting, you will still be close to sandy beaches and local amenities. In fact, there are two apartments to choose from: one for two people and one for four. Both have balconies with attractive sea and mountain views. Facilities include a modern kitchen, dining area and private bathroom. There is also an outdoor area with a garden and swimming pool. Overall, it is a good option for a quiet family vacation.

Check availability

For those drawn to the tranquility of Terre-de-Bas, the table below brings together the key details to help you compare your options.

That brings us to the end of this guide to where to stay in Les Saintes. We plan to publish more guides like this as we receive more and more questions about accommodations. We have even prepared a comprehensive guide to eco-lodges on the Guadeloupe archipelago. We have also published a guide to the unique accommodations in Guadeloupe!

As always, to help you plan your trip to the archipelago, take a look at our article on the cost of a trip to Guadeloupe!

See you soon with more recommendations!

Written by Sylvain PONS

Since 2021, I've been living in the Guadeloupe archipelago with Mélanie and our two children. We are exploring these beautiful islands and discovering the treasures that we are happy to share with you!

Despite our care, a mistake may have slipped into this article. If you find any, please don't hesitate to let us know so we can correct it as soon as possible and keep our information up-to-date!