Bwa Chik Hotel & Golf

Bwa Chik Hotel’s attention to design goes beyond what's typical of mid-range hotels. Its exterior has a beachy look, with a smart black-trimmed facade and an entrance fringed by palm trees. Inside, the lobby’s dark, sophisticated decor is reminiscent of a trendy lounge. Bold, red accent walls and vivid artwork pop against a predominantly gray-and-black color scheme. The use of shape is also interesting, with boxy stools set alongside octagonal side tables and furniture that incorporates round logs. Rooms are simpler but continue the abundant use of recycled wood. As in most of Guadeloupe, a French territory, guests are mainly French-speakers, but the staff does speak some English. Guests are mostly couples, along with some families and groups of friends on golf vacations. The pool is a popular spot where guests hang out during the day, and there are typically a few clusters of people gathering around the bar in the evening.  

Bwa Chik Hotel is located along St. Francois’ main thoroughfare. True to the hotel’s name, it’s located across the street from the Golf International de St. François, a popular 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones. St. Francois rivals Gosier as Guadeloupe’s busiest tourist resort area, with shops, bars, hotels, and restaurants fanning out from the marina. The Casino de Saint-Francois is a five-minute walk from the hotel, and Plage des Raisins Clairs beach is about a 15-minute walk away. While this public beach isn’t one of the island’s most beautiful, it offers a wide stretch of white sand and calm waters.The hotel is a 15-minute drive from Pointe des Chateaux, and the town of Gosier is about a 40-minute drive away. Pointe-a-Pitre International Airport is a 45-minute drive away. 

Bwa Chik Hotel’s 54 modern guest rooms are almost devoid of color, with white flooring and bedding paired alongside dark-tile floors and drapes. Walls are free of artwork, and driftwood-style headboards and tables complete the rustic-chic look. All rooms include flat-screen TVs, personal safes, and free Wi-Fi.Balconies furnished with simple white tables and chairs offer views of the pool or the golf course across the street (neither of which are particularly impressive or terrible). Small bathrooms have shower/tub combos and square vessel sinks. Pleasant myrrh-scented shower gel/shampoo combos and bars of soap are provided.Duplexes have living areas with sofa beds on a main floor, and bedrooms set on a mezzanine floor. Terraces include outdoor kitchenettes with two-burner stove-tops, microwaves, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges. Kitchenettes are stocked with a small selection of cookware and dishes.

While there’s nothing particularly stand-out about the hotel’s amenities, they cover the basics well. The hotel has a small outdoor pool set on a roomy tiled deck. The pool deck is enclosed by a low white fence and is surrounded by comfy beige lounge chairs. It offers views of the hotel’s attractive facade along with tropical greenery. There’s a serene lounge area just outside the pool fence with billowing white curtains and creative recycled wood seating.The hotel bar, Birdy, is set in the intimate lobby. The bar is quite striking, with wood paneling, decorative green glass bottles, and floating shelves. There are a few high-tops along the bar for seating, and there are plenty of comfortable chairs in the surrounding lobby. Live jazz performances are hosted here once a week.A free continental breakfast is served in a lovely open-air restaurant facing toward the pool. The restaurant features more of the hotel’s distinctive recycled wood artwork, a white vaulted ceiling, and colorful patio furniture. Breakfast is a simple buffet of cereals, pastries, and fruit, along with a few hot items like sausages.The hotel’s business center is a narrow table with one PC located along a hallway off the lobby. (The printer wasn't working during our visit, but staff was able to print documents at the front desk on request.)Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel (the front desk provides a log-in code). There’s no designated parking lot specifically for the hotel, but plenty of free street parking is available out front, and there’s a lot adjacent to the hotel that’s shared with the neighboring shops.