What Gouverneur is actually like
Gouverneur is on the south side of the island, and it is residential. Gouverneur beach is one of the wild ones: no restaurant, no beach club, no rental chairs, no shade. You bring what you need and you carry it back. The road down to it is steep and narrow, which is exactly why it stays empty and why it does not suit everyone. Above the area sits Lurin, residential and higher up. If you want life, noise and shops on your doorstep, Gouverneur is the wrong choice, and I would rather say so now.
The house, in plain numbers
Six bedrooms, twelve sleeping places, a private pool that is heated. Air conditioning, wifi on a proper broadband line, television, and a kitchen. Six and twelve is a straightforward ratio, but it tells you nothing about how the beds are actually laid out: doubles, twins, who ends up where. That matters when you are two families, or friends splitting a house. Ask me and I will confirm the exact bedroom configuration before you commit, rather than let you guess from a number.
Getting around from here
You will need a car. In Gouverneur there is nothing within walking distance, no bakery, no shop, nothing. Everything, groceries included, is a drive. The airport is at St-Jean, and an airport shuttle is listed among the villa's services; I will confirm exactly what that covers when you book. After arrival day, plan on a rental vehicle for the whole stay, and book it early in high season, because the island does run out. This is normal here, not a fault of this house, but it surprises people arriving from a city.
Who this suits, and who it doesn't
Here is the honest trade. The water is open ocean, not a sheltered lagoon, so the swell is real on some days, this is not the flat, shallow water you wade into at a serviced beach. If what you picture is calm water with a beach club a few steps away, you will be happier somewhere set up for that, and I would sooner point you there than talk you into a stay that works against what you came for.
What you get for it is the quiet, and the people who are happy here came for exactly that. One practical note before you decide: the drive down is fine for the rental cars that take it every day, but if grades make you tense behind the wheel, you will feel this one. If quiet and empty is the whole point of the trip, this fits you; if you would rather stroll to dinner, you will be more comfortable closer to St-Jean.
What the villa has
- Fitness room
- Full kitchen
- Air conditioning
- Airport transfer
- Wi-Fi
- High-speed internet
- TV
- Private pool
- Heated pool
Common questions
How are the twelve sleeping places split across the six bedrooms?
I will not guess in writing. Six bedrooms and twelve places can be arranged in several ways, and the difference between doubles and twins decides whether a group of friends or two families works here. Ask me and I will confirm the exact configuration before you book.
Do we really need to rent a car?
Yes. Gouverneur is residential, with nothing walkable, no shop, no bakery, no bar. Every trip, including groceries, is by car. An airport shuttle is listed among the villa's services for the arrival, but for the rest of the stay you should have a vehicle of your own.
Is Gouverneur beach a good base for a whole day out?
It is beautiful and it is empty, but it is completely unserviced: no chairs, no bar, no shade, and the access road is steep. It is open to the ocean, so there is real swell some days. Bring water, an umbrella and your own food, or plan to drive elsewhere for lunch.
Rates and availability
Rates depend on the season and the length of stay, so I quote them case by case rather than publishing a figure that would be wrong half the year. Tell me your dates and who is travelling, and I come back with the real number and what is still open.