Geography: Guadeloupe comprises Guadeloupe proper (Basse-Terre), Grande-Terre (separated from Basse-Terre by a narrow sea channel) and five smaller islands. Basse-Terre has a rough volcanic relief whilst Grande Terre features rolling hills and flat plains. All the islands have beautiful white- or black-sand palm-fringed beaches. There are also many lush mountainous areas with stunning and unspoiled tropical scenery.

Language: The official language is French. The lingua franca is Creole.

Time: GMT - 4.

Religion: The majority are Roman Catholic, with a minority of predominantly Evangelical protestant groups.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications:
Telephone: IDD is available. Country code: 590. Good internal network. There are no area codes. Phonecards (télécartes) are necessary to make calls from public telephones.

Mobile telephone: GSM 900 network. Handsets can be hired at the airport (cost: €46 for one week, plus deposit of €153). Network providers include France Télécom and Améris. Coverage extends throughout the French West Indies and in French Guiana. St Martin and St Barthélemy also have digital analog networks, system B, operated by St Martin Mobiles (website: www.stmartinmobiles.com). These analog networks are compatible with most US handsets, which can be activated on the island by dialling 0 or by registering online.

Internet: Local ISPs include wanadoo (www.wanadoo.fr) and Antilles-net (website: www.antilles-net.com).

Post: Airmail takes about a week to reach Europe.

Press: Newspapers are all in French. The main daily is France-Antilles.

Money:
Currency: Since 1 January 1999, the Euro, which was introduced in January 2002, has been the official currency for the French Overseas Departments, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. For further details, exchange rates and currency restrictions.

Currency exchange: All the major French banks are represented on the island. ATMs are available.

Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, Diners Club, American Express and Visa are accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services that may be available.

Travellers cheques: Accepted in most places. Their use may qualify visitors for discounts on luxury items. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros. US and Canadian Dollar cheques are also accepted in some places.

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1600; Sat 0800-1200 (closed Wednesday afternoons).

Public Holidays:
Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Mar 1-5 Carnival. Apr 21 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 8 Victory Day. May 29 Ascension. May 27 Abolition of Slavery. Jun 9 Whit Monday. Jul 14 Bastille Day. Jul 21 Victor Schoelcher Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 2 All Souls’ Day. Nov 11 Armistice Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 20-25 Carnival. Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 8 Victory Day. May 20 Ascension. May 27 Abolition of Slavery. May 31 Whit Monday. Jul 14 Bastille Day. Jul 21 Victor Schoelcher Day. Aug 15 Assumption. Nov 1 All Saints’ Day. Nov 2 All Souls’ Day. 11 Armistice Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day.

Health:
Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio No N/A
Malaria No N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by travellers over one year of age arriving from an infected or endemic zone within six days.

Food & drink: Mains water is chlorinated and whilst relatively safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advised. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafoods and fruit are generally considered safe to eat.

Other risks: Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools that are well maintained and chlorinated are safe. Hepatitis A can occur.

The sap of the manchineel tree is toxic and causes burns to the skin. Travellers should avoid contact with its leaves and fruit, and should not stand under the tree when it is raining. These trees, which look similar to apple trees, are often marked with a red sign on the trunk.

Health care: Health care is of a good standard, but health insurance is advisable to cover costs as the reciprocal health agreement between the UK and France may not apply in Guadeloupe.

Travel - Internal:
Air: Air 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 St Martin, Marie-Galante, La Désirade and St Barthélemy.

Domestic airports: St Martin (SFG) (Espérance) is 4km (3 miles) from Marigot. Buses and taxis are available. The airport is served by Air Caraïbes. Facilities include a bar.

St Barthélemy (SBH) is 2km (1 mile) from Gustavia. Taxis are available.

Sea: Regular ferry services ply around the islands.

Road: There is a good public bus service, taxi services and many car and van rental companies. Buses depart from Pointe à Pitre and Basse Terre to all towns and villages.

Documentation: National driving licence is sufficient, but at least one year’s driving experience is required. An International Driving Permit is advised.

Travel - International:
Air: Guadeloupe’s national airline is Air Caraïbes (TX). Air France operates at least one flight a day Pointe-à-Pitre from Paris. Other airlines serving Guadeloupe include Air Canada, American Airlines, Air Liberté, AOM and LIAT.

Approximate flight times: From Guadeloupe to London is 12 hours 40 minutes (including a stopover time of one hour in Paris), to Los Angeles is nine hours and to New York is six hours.

International airports: Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP) (Le Raizet) (website: www.guadeloupe.aeroport.fr), 3km (2 miles) from Pointe-à-Pitre. Buses and taxis to the city are available. The airport has two international terminals: Guadeloupe Pôle Caraibes and le Raizet. Airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change, ATM, duty-free shops, restaurants/bars and tourist information.
Departure tax: None.

Sea: Guadeloupe is a point of call for the following international, cruise operators: Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, Sun Line, and Princess Cruises. 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.