Canella Beach Hotel-Restaurant

From the dark lobby to the weather-worn facade, Hotel-Residence Canella Beach looks past its prime. Renovations were on-going during our visit in April 2016 and will include refreshes of almost all areas of the property. The renovated rooms we saw are promising, but in the meantime, updates are visibly overdue.

The front of the hotel faces toward its large parking lot, and a path through the lobby leads back to several groups of faded, multicolored three-story buildings overlooking a gated pool. Beyond the pool, another palm tree-lined path stretches toward the restaurants, bar, and beach. While the lobby features clashing brown-leather bucket chairs and bright-yellow walls, the restaurants are more appealing. Casual and open-air, they're furnished with black-wicker or multicolored-plastic furniture and are fringed with palm trees. 

The hotel is most popular with couples, although the large suites and duplexes also draw a fair share of families. The hotel caters to families with secure, gated access to the pool for safety, and babysitting services. Like most hotels in Guadeloupe, this one mostly attracts French-speaking guests, but there are an above-average number of Anglophones as well. Staff speak English, French, Spanish, and Italian.  

Hotel-Residence Canella is a beachfront property that has its own little sandy stretch. The hotel is also located down a quiet cul-de-sac, less than a 10-minute drive from Gosier town center. Gosier is the most central town on Grande-Terre -- with most sights located less than an hour’s drive away -- and it’s therefore one of the most popular tourist bases. The town of Sainte-Anne is about a 30-minute drive away, while Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport can be reached in about 15 minutes.

The area around the hotel is mostly populated with other hotels and a few restaurants (most of which are located inside hotels). There’s a large Casino Geant grocery store about a five-minute drive away, in addition to attractions like Fort Fleur-d'Epée and Aquarium de la Guadeloupe within five to 10 minutes' drive. The best places to head for nightlife are the Casino du Gosier and Bar de la Vieille Tour, a six-minute drive and 20-minute walk away, respectively.

Hotel-Residence Canella Beach was in the middle of renovations during our April 2016 visit; they're expected to be completed in November 2016. There’s a significant difference in quality (and cleanliness) between the renovated and un-renovated guest rooms. Renovated rooms look quite modern with white bed linens, dark-wood furniture, and pleasant floral artwork. Unrenovated rooms have drab duvets with dated patterns, busily printed curtains, and light-wood or red-wicker furniture. All rooms have free Wi-Fi (although the connection can be spotty), flat-screen TVs, and small sitting areas, most with sofa beds. Safes are provided. 

Kitchenettes are also standard, most of which are set beside private terraces. All include two-burner stovetops, microwaves, and mini-fridges. A limited selection of cookware and cutlery is provided, as well as simple patio tables and chairs for seating. Renovated rooms have dark-wood or red-chrome cabinets, while un-renovated rooms offer older off-white ones.

Renovated rooms feature glass-walled showers with rainfall showerheads, as well as above-counter sinks and separate toilet cubbies. Unrenovated rooms have showers or tubs and dated, sometimes poorly maintained fixtures. Off-brand bottles of shampoo and bars of soap are provided.

Duplex Apartments and Suites can accommodate five or six people, respectively, over two floors. Superior Junior Suites feature bathrooms with hydro-massage facilities and sleep four. 

Hotel Canella Beach's large pool is set within a courtyard surrounded by the hotel’s buildings. The pool’s plain, tiled deck is dotted with yellow-green lounge chairs. A beach-style entry on one side creates a shallow area for children, and a small whirlpool set on an elevated platform overlooks the rest of the pool area. The pool area is enclosed by a low fence, and a key code is required to enter.

The hotel backs onto a private stretch of pale sand beach dotted with a few palm trees. While the beach isn’t particularly large or spectacular, it’s pretty enough and relatively quiet. The hotel provides lounge chairs, beach umbrellas, and towels.

The open-air restaurant, La Véranda, serves a free buffet breakfast as well as dinner. The breakfast buffet includes cold items like pastries and cheese, as well as a few hot dishes like bacon and scrambled eggs. Birds flying in and grabbing food off the buffet (and sometimes people’s unattended plates) is a nuisance, although this is an issue for many hotels in Guadeloupe. The restaurant is cheerful, with colorful artwork and paneled ceilings painted lime green, but the food is pretty average. Live music, craft markets, and other entertainment events are hosted here occasionally, with the schedule varying depending on the season.

What appears to be the terrace of La Véranda is actually a second restaurant called Le Flibustier. This casual restaurant serves lunch and light snacks during the hours when La Véranda is closed. The casual decor is similar to La Véranda’s, but Le Flibustier also has lovely views of the beach.

There are two tiny shops in the lobby, which collectively sell beachwear and souvenirs, as well as snacks and other sundries. There’s also a little library offering a mix of used French and English paperbacks. Guests are invited to borrow books, or alternatively, keep them and leave one of their own books in exchange.

The hotel’s two meeting rooms can accommodate up to 120 people. The rooms are fairly nondescript, although their big windows offer great views of the beach. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout, but the connection strength varies around the property. Free parking is also offered on-site. Dogs are allowed for a fee.