A hot tourist destination for Europeans and Americans alike, Guadeloupe – an overseas region of France – is a 700 square-mile paradise in the eastern Caribbean. There are luxury hotels, an internationally ranked golf course and casinos. You won’t want to miss this upscale destination where you can have a tropical environment and a European-infused culture. When you come, be sure to visit the Casino de Saint Francois in the carefully planned commune of Saint Francois.
Open daily from 10PM to 2AM, the Casino de St. Francois, may not be the largest or the most accessible, but what it lacks in long operating hours, it makes up for in elegance and atmosphere. Try your luck with one of the 80 slot machines and video gaming machines or play Blackjack or Roulette on one of the casino’s six tables. There is a dress code at the casino: pants, shirt and closed shoes – no shorts or sandals.
Before you game, book a room at the Hotel le Meridien la Cocoeraie, a 52-suite facility, each with private living room, full bath with Jacuzzi tub and an entertainment center. Guests of the hotel will also enjoy plush furniture, comfortable bedding and a romantic atmosphere. And only footsteps from the hotel are the company’s own private beach and lagoon, so be ready to hit the sand.
The Hotel le Meridien la Cocoeraie has its own restaurant – La Varangue, open daily from 7AM to 10PM – which serves up the finest in international cuisine. There are separate breakfast, lunch and dinner menus and all of the menu items can be sent to the room by the room service staff. When you’re done with your meal, head to the restaurant’s separate bar – Indigo, open daily 3PM to 2AM – where you can get fine international beer, wines and all your favorite cocktails, including the rum-based drinks that the Caribbean is famous for.
To relax, be sure you take in the leisure facilities at the Hotel le Meridien la Cocoraie. Start your day with a workout at the fitness facility, where you’ll find both free weights and cardio machines. Top off your workout with a beauty treatment or massage at the onsite health club and then hit the links at the nearby internationally ranked golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones. If that’s not enough for you, there’s tennis, freshwater swimming, ocean swimming, sunbathing and motorized and non-motorized water sports.
You shouldn’t have trouble finding something to do at night, either. St. Francois offers a booming nightlife. For something laid back and romantic, the casino has its own piano bar with daily entertainment and other live acts on weekends. There are several nightclubs in the city as well with a wide range of flavors and musical genres that play until morning. Dance the night away with a loved one, meet someone new or have fun with friends; the opportunity is there.
To find the Casino de St. Francois, fly into Guadeloupe International Airport and take a 30-minute drive to Casino de St. Francois, Avenue de l'Europe, Saint François, Guadeloupe.
