ENTRY
DOCUMENTS
In
addition to local entry requirements, your air or sea carrier may
request additional documentation for passengers. Please check with
your carrier in advance of travel.
Valid
passports are recommended for all US, Canadian and European Union
citizens traveling as tourists to Guadeloupe.
For citizens of other countries, a visa may be required in addition to
a passport.
A return or ongoing ticket is also required of all visitors.
No vaccination papers required unless arriving from an endemic area.
NOTE:
Entry requirements are subject to change. For updates and additional
information, please contact:
The French Government Embassy
4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington DC 20007
Tel: 202-944-6000, Fax: 202-944-6212
Office Départemental du Tourisme (Guadeloupe Tourist Office)
5 Square de la Banque, B.P. 1099, 97181, Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe,
F.W.I.
Tel: 590-590-82-09-30, Fax: 590-590-83-89-22
or
visit: http://www.france-consulat.org
CUSTOMS
Items for personal use (e.g. tobacco, cameras and film) are admitted
without formalities or tax if not in excessive quantity. For other
items, French regulations apply."Rien à déclarer" marks
the line for travelers with nothing to declare.
LANGUAGE
French is the official
language but islanders often use a local Créole among themselves.
English is only spoken in the larger hotels and tourist areas.
Attempts to speak français are usually appreciated on all the islands
and mini-phrasebooks or dictionaries may prove invaluable. Most U.S.
bookstores carry simple cassette learning tapes that can assist in the
proper pronunciation of a few basic phrases. Don't forget that a smile
is the easiest and most universal form of communication.
MONEY
MATTERS
Local currency is Euros but U.S. dollars, traveler's checks and major
credit cards are widely accepted. The value of a Euro is similar to
the U.S. dollar making it easier to use than Francs. You will often
get a better rate of exchange at the local banks than you will at the
hotels. Major banks are in Pointe-à-Pitre and open 8 a.m. to noon and
2 - 4 p.m., Mon. thru Fri. Some also open Sat. mornings. Although
there is not a lot of crime on this island, visitors should not leave
their essential items unattended. Most hotels have a place to store
your important documents or valuables.
ELECTRICITY
Voltage is 220 AC, 50 cycles. Appliances made in the U.S. and Canada
require French plug converters and transformers.
HEALTH
& SAFETY
Probably the greatest danger to travelers in the tropics is
overexposure to the sun. Remember to work on your tan gradually and
use plenty of sunscreen. Of course, it's also a good idea to take
along some mosquito repellent. In shallow water, watch out for sea
urchins, sharp coral and jellyfish. Always wear fins (palmes) when
snorkeling and ask the locals about swimming and diving conditions
before you go in the water. Outside of the rarely seen fer-de-lance
snake on Martinique, there is not much in the way of really dangerous
land critters in these islands. However, the Manchineel tree (le
Manceniller) puts out a highly toxic sap. You should never stand under
one in the rain or taste its little green berries. These trees are
usually marked with red paint by the locals. Tap water is drinkable in
most places and excellent local bottled water is available in stores
and restaurants.
ISLAND
ETIQUETTE
Remember that you are a guest in another culture. Please don't expect
others to speak English; you are in France. If you make some efforts
to speak a little French, it will be greatly appreciated. Please don't
take photos of the local people without asking their permission first.
If you treat others with respect and kindness, they will reciprocate.
Please don't expect speedy service; everything moves at a slower pace
in the tropics. If you can downshift and relax, you will blend right
in and have a great time doing so.
WHAT
TO WEAR
At hotel pools and at beaches near hotels, topless swimming and
sunning is common. The only clothing-optional beach is a small cove at
Plage Tarare near Pointe-des-Châteaux. At all other beaches, it's
always a good idea to see what the locals are wearing (or not wearing).
In town, relaxed, informal resort wear is acceptable. Scanty beach
attire and short-shorts are considered improper in urban areas.
Jackets and ties are rarely required. We recommend a hat and
sunglasses for solar protection and a jacket or light sweater for
higher elevations.
MAPS
Available on the island from the tourist office or service
stations.
MARRIAGE
Documents needed for foreigners to wed: birth certificate (or copy
with raised seal); certificate of good conduct (including
certification of "single status"); residency card (one of
the couple must have resided on the island at least one month);
medical certificate (including blood test) issued within 3 months of
marriage; French translation of English language documents. A
"Bulletin de Mariage" and "Livret de Famille'' are
delivered at ceremony. No fee is involved.
MEDICAL
FACILITIES
There are five modern hospitals in Guadeloupe, and more than two dozen
clinics. Hotels and the Guadeloupe Tourist Office can assist in
locating English-speaking doctors.
PET
REGULATIONS
Cats and dogs over three months old are admitted temporarily with
certificates of origin and good health (or anti-rabies inoculation),
issued by a licensed veterinarian from the country of shipment. Check
with hotels regarding their policy on pets.
RELIGIOUS
SERVICES
Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, Hindu, Jehovah's Witness,
Methodist, Evangelical, Jewish (Synagogue) and others.
TELEPHONE/MAIL
To phone from Guadeloupe, a "Telecarte" makes local and
international calls easier and less expensive. "Telecartes,"
sold at Post Offices and other outlets marked "Telecarte en Vente
Ici", are used in special booths marked "Telecom" found
all over. Many phones will now accept VISA, MasterCard or other credit
cards for long distance calls. Operator-assisted calls are higher in
cost.There are no coin phones.
Postage stamps can be purchased at post offices (hours are irregular
and lines can be long and slow), cafés-tabacs and at hotel newsstands
or souvenir shops.
TIME
ZONE
There is one hour difference between Guadeloupe and the east coast
of the U.S. when Eastern Standard Time is in effect. Thus, when it is
8 p.m. in Guadeloupe, it is only 7 p.m. in New York. Time is indicated
the French way, i.e., 1 p.m. is 13 hours.
PHOTOGRAPHY
To protect against damage to high speed film by airport x-ray
machines, we recommend transporting your film in lead-protected bags.
Film can be very expensive in the tropics. You will get your best
outdoor shots by shooting in the early morning or late afternoon. Of
course, if your camera accepts filters, a polarizer will help you
capture those post-card blue skies. If you want to shoot pictures of
the local people, please remember to ask their permission first.
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