What Grand-Cul-de-Sac is actually like
Grand-Cul-de-Sac sits behind a reef. The reef closes the bay, so the water inside stays shallow and flat, with no real swell. That suits small children and it suits board sports — this is where people go to kite, windsurf and paddle. It is a different kind of water from the open-ocean beaches such as Flamands, Gouverneur or Saline, where the swell is real. If you want waves, this is not your side of the island. If you want water a child can stand up in, it is.
Ten bedrooms, twenty guests: be honest about the fit
Ten bedrooms and twenty guests puts this house in a narrow category: a family reunion, a wedding party, several couples travelling together. For four people it makes no sense. Two things are worth settling before you book. The first is the bed configuration — ten rooms for twenty people can be organised in several ways, and I will get you the exact layout rather than describe one I have not checked. The second is logistics. Twenty people means several rental cars and a real plan for provisioning. I would rather sort that out with you in advance than watch it improvise itself on arrival.
What is included, and what I will not claim
The villa has air conditioning, wifi with a high-speed connection, television, and a private pool that is heated. An airport transfer is listed among the services. Beyond that list I am not going to describe rooms, terraces, levels or outlooks I have not verified for this particular house, and I will not tell you how far anything is from the door until I have checked it. If something matters to you, ask, and I will confirm it before you book.
Living on the lagoon side
Grand-Cul-de-Sac is closed off by a reef, and that is its defining feature. The water inside stays shallow and flat, with no real swell, so children can stand up in it a long way out. It is also why the board sports are based here: the wind runs across the lagoon, which is what kitesurfers and windsurfers come for.
That wind is the thing to understand before you book. If your idea of a holiday is a still, silent terrace, this is not the right side of the island. Nor is it the right spot if you want waves or deep water to swim in — for that you drive to the open-ocean beaches, Flamands to the north-west, Gouverneur or Saline to the south.
You will use the car here, for shopping, restaurants and most beaches. I am not going to quote you drive times I have not timed myself, but nothing in Grand-Cul-de-Sac is walkable the way the quays of Gustavia are. Ask me and I will give you real figures rather than round numbers.
What the villa has
- Air conditioning
- Airport transfer
- Wi-Fi
- High-speed internet
- TV
- Private pool
- Heated pool
Common questions
How are the twenty sleeping places split across the ten bedrooms?
I will not state that from memory. Ten rooms for twenty guests can be arranged in more than one way, and the difference matters if you are placing couples, children or friends. Send me your group and I will confirm the exact configuration in writing before you commit.
What does Tourmaline Estate cost?
Rates on request. I do not publish a figure for this villa, because the only number worth having is the one for your actual dates and party size. Tell me when you want to come and how many of you there are, and I will come back with the real quote.
Is Grand-Cul-de-Sac the right base for a group of twenty?
It depends what you want from the water. The lagoon is closed by a reef, so it is flat and shallow — good for young children and for kite, windsurf and paddle. If your group wants open-ocean swell, you will be driving to another coast most days. Either way, plan on several rental cars and book them alongside the villa.
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.