Pierre & Vacances Premium Residence Les Tamarins

Guests arriving at the Pierre & Vacances Premium check-in at the hotel’s modest, open-air lobby, which is decorated with cream-colored pillars and heavy wooden furniture. The front desk is found near the entrance, while a bar and pool table are set toward the far end. Reception, and all other facilities, are shared with the hotel’s sister property, Sainte-Anne Village Club. The hotel’s grassy lawns fan out in both directions from the lobby, with guest room buildings flanking it on either side. Paths bordered by landscaped greenery wind through the 35-acre property, overlooked by the guest room buildings’ plantation-inspired facades.The main pool, L'Instance Creole buffet restaurant, and the snack shack are found beyond the lobby. The grounds gradually curve down from here toward the beach and Le Mille Sabords restaurant. Families with young children tend to gather around this busy area, with loud pop music tracks fueling the high-energy atmosphere. Middle-age and older couples usually spend their time around the quieter wing of the property, which includes a smaller pool, peaceful beach, and Le Balaou restaurant, as well as the Well-Being Center. As with most of Guadeloupe, guests should expect a predominantly francophone crowd, although staff are fairly fluent in English as well. 

Pierre & Vacances Premium is located down a winding residential road, just off one of the island’s main highways. Parking and reception lie beyond a gated entrance with 24-hour security. The hotel is set between the tourist towns of Sainte-Anne and Saint-Francois, which can be reached in seven and 14 minutes by car, respectively. Saint-Francois is home to the island’s golf course, and both towns offer beaches, in addition to diverse shopping and dining options. The hotel is conveniently located for exploring Grande-Terre by car; however, there are no attractions or tourist-type amenities within walking distance, so guests without rental cars are likely to find the location quite isolated. Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport is just under a 40-minute drive away. 

The hotel's guest rooms are dark and drab, with clunky wooden furniture, tiled flooring, and dull artwork. Brick-colored throw pillows and aqua curtains don’t pair particularly well with the mustard yellow walls. All have free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Studios have sofa beds, while two-bedroom apartments can accommodate up to six guests.  Kitchenettes are located out on large balconies or terraces, which offer views of the sea or lush grounds. But some guests complain that this arrangement means preparing food in the heat without air-conditioning. All include kettles, traditional or microwave ovens, dishwashers, mini-fridges, and ceramic stovetops, along with a decent range of cookware and cutlery. Simple patio tables and drying racks are also provided. Basic, beige-toned bathrooms have round sinks surrounded by ample counter space, as well as separate toilet vestibules with odd, saloon-style doors. Many have narrow, box-like showers, while others have bathtubs. Fig-scented shower gel and bars of soap are provided. 

Pierre & Vacances Premium has a lengthly list of facilities that might suggest a more high-end resort, though some features lack the polish of a more upscale property. The sprawling main pool features a spacious teak and concrete sundeck, along with an arched bridge and a small kiddy pool. Stretching for 7,000 square feet, the open deck offers little natural shade, but beach umbrellas are available. The second pool found at the upper end of the village is smaller and quieter. It has an infinity edge overlooking the grounds, with the sea partially visible between the trees.  There are two beaches, one in the Premium area of the property and one in the Sainte-Anne Village Club area. A water-sports shop on the Sainte-Anne Village Club beach offers equipment rentals. Both beaches are beautiful stretches of soft, pale sands fringed by a few palm trees. Palapas and plastic white loungers are available for guests. The hotel has two breezy beachfront restaurants, Le Balaou and Le Mille Sabords, along with a large buffet restaurant set in a separate Creole-style building. Reviews from diners are mixed, and the food is fairly expensive across the board. The best value is the snack shack located near the main pool, which offers pizzas and other light fare, and stays open until late into the evening. Expect to pay extra for breakfast. Half-board rates are available as well.There’s a tiny fitness center with a small selection of cardio and weight machines. Guests gain access through an inconvenient booking process that involves choosing an appointment time within the center’s limited hours, and picking up the key at the activities counter in reception. Deep Nature Spa offers massages, scrubs, manicures, and other treatments. Families are catered to with free kids’ clubs for children 3 to 12 years of age (separated into three age groups). Free self-parking is available with a guarded access gate, and free Wi-Fi is offered throughout.