The Other South of France

I’ve spent a fair amount of time travelling and talking with people about travel.

I have noticed one of the places people love to go — and love to talk about going — is the South of France. From Nice to Marseille, there are a ton of small towns where people vacation. And of course, the big names like Cannes or Saint-Tropez.

People go because the water is warm.

The beaches are… fine.

But mostly, people go because they want to say they’ve been to the South of France.

Don’t get me wrong — if you dig a little, there’s great food. The shopping is everywhere. It’s beautiful in its own way.

But it is also epically expensive. And that’s all from first-hand experience.

But if you’re willing to do your “South of France” a little closer to home, I’ve got an option that rivals it.

The other South of France. But still the South of France !!

Right in the middle of the Caribbean sits a French overseas territory — Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe itself is a cool place, but down south is a small cluster of islands casually referred to as Les Saintes.

The main island, Terre-de-Haut, feels like a small village in the South of France dropped straight into the Caribbean.

A main walkable road.

Great beaches.

Amazing food — honestly, better fish than I’ve had in France.

Clear water.

And somehow… way more affordable than a trip to Antibes.

You’re still using the euro.

You’re technically still in France / the EU.

But without having to go to Europe.

From Terre-de-Haut, you can hop on quick ferries to other small islands. Spend mornings snorkelling over clear reefs and afternoons on tiny beaches that feel almost private. You’ll see dolphins cutting through the water on calm days and sea turtles lazily popping up around the reefs.

There are cliff walks with views that look straight out of the Med, little cafés for long lunches that somehow turn into sunset drinks, and bakeries where you grab a croissant. Some days are for exploring. Some days are for doing absolutely nothing but swimming and eating.

It’s that perfect mix of adventure and slowing down — without ever feeling crowded.

It’s a totally different vibe than Bequia or Dominica.

But if you’re looking for a great vacation — and you really want to tell people you went to the South of France — you now have another option.