This Caribbean Luxury Hotel Has Private-Pool Bungalows, a Sisley Spa and the Only Five-Star Hotel on a Beautiful Island

Above the sea in Sainte-Anne, La Toubana is a luxurious introduction to a French Caribbean destination still under the radar of many American visitors.

The first decision is between the pool and the beach. Up on the hillside, an infinity pool overlooks the Caribbean, with loungers facing the water and a bar close enough for an unhurried afternoon. Below, a small beach offers another place to settle in, with lunch beside the sea. Around the property, bungalows and suites sit among tropical gardens, their terraces opening toward the coast.

This is La Toubana Hotel & Spa, the only five-star hotel in Guadeloupe — and a compelling reason to discover a French Caribbean archipelago we’ve long considered one of the region’s most overlooked destinations. The hotel and Guadeloupe’s tourism board both identify it as the destination’s sole five-star property.

A Hillside Address in Sainte-Anne

La Toubana sits at the entrance to Sainte-Anne, on the southern coast of Grande-Terre. Its elevated position gives you broad sea views, while the beach below keeps swimming and waterfront lunches part of the stay.

The geography is worth understanding before you arrive. Guadeloupe is an archipelago, and choosing a hotel here also means choosing your starting point for exploring. La Toubana puts you near Sainte-Anne’s beaches, market and Creole food, with the option of longer excursions elsewhere in Guadeloupe.

We reported on La Toubana’s extensive transformation when the property relaunched following a multiyear renovation. The project reached across the hotel, from its bungalows and interiors to the spa, restaurant and lobby. Today, the combination of individual accommodations, a hillside pool and beach access gives you several different ways to spend a day without leaving the property.

Bungalows With Room to Stay Awhile

The accommodation choice deserves attention here. La Toubana offers bungalows, Ti Kaz accommodations with private pools, suites and private villas.

The bungalows have private terraces and traditional architecture. A Partial Sea Junior Suite Bungalow measures 60 square meters, with a separate living room, a bedroom and a terrace overlooking the vegetation and part of the sea. The layout gives couples extra space and accommodates a small family without everyone sharing a single sleeping area.

The Ti Kaz category adds a private pool to the bungalow experience. It’s a particularly tempting choice if you expect to spend substantial time at the hotel: you can swim before breakfast, return after an outing and keep an afternoon entirely to yourself.

Suites offer another step up in space. The Master Sea View Suite measures 161 square meters and includes two bedrooms, a living room, an equipped kitchen, a panoramic terrace and a private pool. It’s a strong option for a family or two couples who want shared living areas along with separate bedrooms.

Lunch by the Water, Dinner Above It

La Toubana’s two restaurants give you a natural division between beach hours and evening plans.

Toubana La Plage is the waterfront lunch address, where you can eat beside the sand before returning to a lounger. Le Grand Bleu serves cuisine with Caribbean influences overlooking the ocean. The hotel’s emphasis on local flavors keeps Guadeloupe part of the experience even on days spent entirely at the resort.

Le Bar de la Mer sits beside the infinity pool on the panoramic terrace, serving cocktails and tapas. A swim, a drink and a table overlooking the water can fill an afternoon without much advance planning.

A Sisley Spa Overlooking the Bay

The Spa by Sisley adds a substantial reason to reserve some time indoors. Its treatments draw on the French brand’s botanical approach, with facials, body treatments and massages.

There are three treatment rooms, including a double room, along with a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and a relaxation room overlooking the sea. You can book a treatment between beach time and dinner, or devote a longer stretch to the facilities.

Leave Time for Sainte-Anne

Even with a private pool and a restaurant downstairs, you should make time for the town.

Sainte-Anne is one of our favorite places to eat a bokit, Guadeloupe’s fried-dough sandwich. We’ve written about the island’s signature sandwich and the pleasure of finding it near the beach. An outing here can be pleasantly uncomplicated: browse the market, find lunch and spend time along the waterfront.

A longer stay also opens the possibility of exploring neighboring islands. We’ve devoted considerable coverage to Marie-Galante’s remarkable rum culture, a rewarding addition if distillery visits are part of your Caribbean travel plans.

Guadeloupe deserves enough time for both kinds of days: the ones spent exploring beyond the hotel and the ones reserved for a terrace, a swim and lunch by the sea. At La Toubana, you have a five-star address to return to — and every reason to leave an afternoon free.