Guadeloupe: Rated Tops for 2016!!

From the Boston Globe newspaper travel section this weekend, they have this headline: "hot places for travel in 2016" with Guadeloupe being one of those top areas cited and suggested for doing an upcoming visit/vacation.

Here are some of their story highlights on Guadeloupe: "A new low-cost, nonstop flight from Boston should boost the profile of this French island of 400,000. It’s a less pretentious — and more affordable — version of its neighbor Saint-Barthélemy and it offers more options for enjoying the natural surroundings, such as a hike up a volcano. There is a lack of big European and North American luxury hotel chains, which may be off-putting to some travelers, but the trade-off is some of the most gorgeous and quiet beaches your towel has ever seen. Direct flight? Yes. Best time to go: Now."

While we have not visited Guadeloupe, we did do our first major Caribbean exploring earlier this year. We did stop at St. Barts, Dominica and eight other very interesting locations. Guadeloupe seems very good to have on a future "to-do" listing.

Full Boston Globe Travel 2016 Ideas story at:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2015/12/26/hot-spots-where-travel/Yb1TAjlVZ3iq0UgYjAwbfK/story.html

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 33,824 views for these postings.

From the Fodor's travel website, they have this headline: "Go List 2016" with a nice amount of focus on Guadeloupe and its options, potentials. Sounds great!!

Here are some of their highlights: "Long considered an undiscovered gem among Francophiles and in-the-know Americans, the French-Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe is an increasingly sought-after destination among sun-seekers and nature lovers looking for an affordable alternative to St. Barth. Many of the beaches here, particularly on the outer islands, are unspoiled, and the mountainous Parc National de la Guadeloupe offers miles of hiking trails through tropical rainforests. With budget airline Norwegian Air’s recent introduction of nonstop service from Baltimore, Boston, and New York, it’s easier than ever to experience the sidewalk cafés, palm-fringed beaches, and small inns of this Creole-flavored, rustic-chic Caribbean island. Insider Tip:The official language is French, and many of the islanders also speak Creole. Most hotel staff and taxi drivers in the large towns speak English, but fewer do in the countryside. A French phrasebook can be helpful in more remote locations on the islands. When to Go: Rooms at the deluxe resorts can fill up from mid November through May, but the rest of the year the island is quiet and prices drop as much as 40 percent."

Full story at:

http://www.fodors.com/news/photos/fodors-go-list-2016?ref=4CDDF6747BF7#!4-guadeloupe

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 129,825 views for this posting.

Need some ideas about where to travel and visit in the future? Seeking some locations that are different and distant? You might check out this New York Times Travel Section that was delivered this morning. They have this headline: "52 Places to Go in 2016" with this sub-headline summary: "It’s a big world out there, so we’ve narrowed it down for you. From ancient temples to crystalline waters, here are our top destinations to visit this year."

In their top top list, they have several Europe and other locations that we have not, yet, visited. Many are now on our "to-do" listing.

11th on their best list is Guadeloupe. This Times story has a few of these brief story highlights: "Finally, there’s easier access to the French Caribbean, thanks to the low-cost carrier Norwegian Air’s new direct flights to Guadeloupe and Martinique from Boston, New York and Baltimore. And it’s just in time for Memorial ACTe in Guadeloupe, one of the world’s largest centers dedicated to the memory and history of slave trade, which opened last July in Pointe-à-Pitre. On the site of the former Darboussier sugar factory, the soaring silver lattice-clad space — which some have called the Pompidou Center of the Caribbean — is part of Unesco’s Slave Route Project and houses a interactive permanent exhibit that intertwines the history of slavery with contemporary art covering themes of the African diaspora, plus public genealogy and research libraries, contemporary art and photography spaces and, of course, a bistro overlooking the ocean for that taste of France. From March 4 to 6, Davis Cup tennis fans will descend on Guadeloupe's Vélodrome Amédée Detreaux for the France-Canada match — the first time the country has ever hosted the tournament outside of continental France. And it’s all in the midst of the islands’ verdant, dramatic landscapes and sand beaches."

Others have ideas, tips, secrets, suggestions, etc., from your visiting to Guadeloupe? Don't be shy!! Share more!

Full story at:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/07/travel/places-to-visit.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=mini-moth&region=top-stories-below&WT.nav=top-stories-below&_r=0

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 131,951 views for this posting.