LE JARDIN MALANGA

We returned to Le Jardin Malanga for a week's holiday over Christmas, for the second year in a row. And we have already reserved for the same time next year! Perhaps that says it all. We love this place. If you want to explore the Basse Terre half of Guadeloupe, this resort offers the perfect base. But for us, it is an oasis where we can relax and read, "away from it all" as they say, We see no reason to go anywhere. Certainly, you won't find better food anywhere in Guadeloupe. The dinners every evening are always a highlight of the day. The special Christmas Eve dinner is a tour de force. Chef Riccardo and his partner Helena, the general manager, are the perfect hosts. The owners of Le Jardin Malanga must feel very fortunate to have such fine people in charge of their property. I simply cannot recommend this place too highly - it is more than worth the price. Just look at the photo taken from the front porch of our cottage!

My wife and I stayed at the Jardin de Malanga for seven nights in February on the third leg of our Guadeloupe, Marie Galante and Martinique holiday. We arrived late evening having caught the afternoon express ferry from Marie Galante. We received a warm welcome from the director, Christine - who whisked us straight into the restaurant as we arrived nearly an hour after the dinner service had started. We had a semi-detached one bedroom bungalow, with a view from the terrace over Les Iles des Saintes. The internal space comprised a large double bed with a work top and an arm chair. There was black out curtaining on the sliding glazed doors which did a good job in excluding the light. The room was cooled by an air conditioning unit. Facilities included a coffee making machine and a small refrigerator. Outside there were two deck chairs as well as a table to relax with a good book whist enjoying the view over the beautiful gardens. The bath room had a bath and a shower attachment. Having a stand up shower was tricky as the water went all over the window and the floor. It was easier to have a bath. The water was hot and delivered at a good pressure. There was a remote controlled screen over the bathroom window for privacy. There was also a separate toilet. There was a safe in the wardrobe, operated by a combination number. There was ample storage to hang clothes as well as numerous shelves. There wasn’t anywhere to put cases away so they stayed beside the bed. We were on a bed, breakfast and dinner basis. Breakfasts comprised pastries and bread, a selection of fruits, yoghurt and cold cuts and cheese. Although there was always the same food items, there was variety in the meats and fish, and with the fruits provided. It set us up nicely for the day. Dinners were of the highest quality, with locally sourced fish and meats. The execution of the dishes showcased Michael’s talents. We enjoyed every meal, delighting in the exquisite flavours and the artful presentation. What truly sets this hotel apart is Christine’s contribution to our stay. She is the most engaging hostess who is passionate about ensuring that guests have the very best experience whilst staying in Basse-Terre. We relished the pleasure of chatting to her - so generous of her time which made us feel more like house guests. Her warmth and humour will stay long in our memories and we were so glad to have shared a week in her company. She and her husband, Michael work exceedingly long hours and are to be admired for their dedication and commitment to the hospitality we enjoyed so much.

We had high expectations. It was a rustic setting in the back-country above Trois Rivières, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe. We had trouble getting through the double doors because they got stuck with one door open from previous client. Caroline the director met us and escorted us to our room. We got a brief overview of the place. The pool is smaller and unheated and so not too inviting. We found room to be mixed. It was nice but there are no amenities. The safe had no instructions and we required help to get it to work. The bathroom tub has low pressure water and the temperature us very difficult to adjust. There was no hair conditioner. Towels were few. They were unchanged in three days of stay because we failed to put them on the floor. The breakfast was ok but unvaried with no yoghurt and bad coffee. The dinner was fine for the most part. The pre-dinner cocktails were not available until 6pm. There is no TV which is part of their philosophy. After 9pm it is pretty much lights out. I unfortunately lost their beach towel in a downpour in the mountains running back to my car. The towel was ordinary, but they imposed a draconian rule of 30 Euros for the lost towel which I found to be totally excessive.