Social ConventionsThe atmosphere is relaxed and informal. Casual dress is accepted everywhere, but formal dress is needed for dining out and in nightclubs.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline is
Air Caraïbes (TX) (website:
www.aircaraibes.com).
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsPointe-à-Pitre (PTP) (Le Raizet) (website:
www.guadeloupe.aeroport.fr), 3km (2 miles)
from Pointe-à-Pitre. The airport has two international terminals: Guadeloupe Pôle Caraibes and Le Raizet.
To/from the airport: Buses and taxis to the city are available. Car hire is available.
Facilities: Banks/ bureaux de change, ATM, duty-free shops, hairdresser, post office, restaurants/bars and tourist information.
Getting There by WaterGuadeloupe is a point of call for international
cruise operators. Many
ships ply between Guadeloupe and Martinique, and also connect with Miami and San Juan (Puerto Rico).
Ferries and
catamarans sail regularly from Pointe-à-Pitre to Dominica, Martinique and St Lucia.
Compagnie Générale Maritime has weekly ‘banana boats’ carrying passengers between Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica and St Lucia.
OverviewGuadeloupe is an Overseas Department of France, and the duty free allowances are the same as for France.
Plants and vegetables of any sort are prohibited, as are animals and food of animal origin from Haiti.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirAir Caraïbe,
Air Guadeloupe,
Air Martinique,
Air St Barth,
Air St Martin and
LIAT connect Guadeloupe with the smaller islands in the group.
Air France also offers a limited inter-island service. There are domestic airports on the islands of La Désirade, Marie-Galante, St-Barthélemy and St-Martin.
Domestic airports
St-Martin (SFG) (Espérance) is 4km (3 miles) from Marigot. The airport is served by
Air Caraïbes.
To/from the airport: Buses and taxis are available.
Facilities: A bar.
St-Barthélemy (SBH) is 2km (1 mile) from Gustavia.
To/from the airport: Taxis are available.
Getting Around by WaterRegular ferry services ply around the islands.
Getting Around by RoadThe roads in Guadeloupe are of good quality and the Point de la Gabare bridge over the Rivière Salée connects Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre. There is a good public
bus service which arrives at most towns every 15 minutes.
Taxi services are available but fares increase by 40 per cent from 2100-0700 and on Sundays and public holidays.
Car and
van rental is available. Driving is on the right. Buses depart from Pointe-à-Pitre and Basse-Terre to all towns and villages.
Documentation: National driving license is sufficient, but at least one year’s driving experience is required. An International Driving Permit is advised.
NoteSt-BarthélemyThe only way to see the island is to drive; car rental agencies are available and everywhere can be reached within 20 minutes. Compared to the main islands the roads are of poor quality. There are two petrol stations on the island; both of them are closed on Sundays. St-Barthélemy has two taxi stations, one at the airport and one at the public dock in Gustavia.
St-MartinThere are two tourism buses available on St-Martin provided by
Transco and
Winston Sightseeing Tours (for contact details see St-Martin Tourist Information, see
Tourist Information section). Car hire is also in plentiful supply as are two-wheel rental firms. There are a number of taxi companies.
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