The French archipelago, which lies roughly two-thirds down the arc of Caribbean islands, doesn’t (yet) have a single five-star hotel; its beaches are absent of mega-resorts. Guadeloupe rewards the intrepid, DIY traveler with remote rum distilleries, postcard-worthy beaches, and food that blends French technique with Caribbean traditions (think conch terrine or mango mille-feuille). Regardless of whether you’re a guest at Le Relais du Moulin, have dinner at Le Mango, its excellent open-air restaurant. The Indian plaids made their way to the French Caribbean islands in the 17th century, and became woven into the Creole culture. Le Comptoir du Nouveau Monde stocks artisanal Caribbean products like guava jelly and ginger syrup (3 rue Jean Calot, 590-690-26-19-50).

Source: Wall Street Journal November 22, 2017 18:55 UTC