Guadeloupe
| Frequently Asked Questions
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
FAQs What is the population The population of Guadeloupe is about 440,000.
How big is the country/island The Guadeloupe archipelago is 658 sq miles, including the main islands of Basse Terre, which is 327 sq miles, and Grande Terre, which is 228 sq miles.
Can I drink the tap water The tap water is safe to drink.
What are the best things to buy here You'll find excellent buys on anything French made, such as designer perfumes,china, crystal, cosmetics and fashion accessories. For great buys on duty-freeitems head over to St Martin and/or St Barts.
For souvenirs with local flavour look for pottery, hammocks, straw and wicker items, doudou dolls, local white or old rum, locally grown coffee, spices, madras cotton items, handmade lace, hand-painted fabrics, sculptures and paintings by local artists, Creole-style jewellery and items made from coconut fibre, shells and banana and palm leaves.
Every first Sun of the month there are flea markets at the Darse of Pointe-à-Pitre and near the beach of Raisins Clairs in Saint-François; on the second and fourth Sun of the month at place de la Liberté in Moule; on every third Sun at the beach of Galbas in Sainte-Anne; and on the last Sun of the month in Saint-Claude.
Are there nude beaches Nude beaches are located at Anse Tarare near Pointe-des-Châteaux and Pointe du Petit-Bas-Vent in the north of Basse Terre.
What are the main industries The main industries are tourism, agriculture (sugar cane, bananas, eggplant and flowers), light industry (rum and sugar production), construction and cement.
What is the drinking/gambling age The legal drinking and gambling age is 18.
What native dishes should I try The national dish is colombo, a meat or fish stew spiced with caraway, pepper, coriander, ginger and hot pepper, and served with rice. Other dishes to try include fresh seafood, stewed lambi (conch, pronounced conk), chatrou (octopus), stuffed crabe de terre (land crab seasoned with coconut and hot pepper), chadron (sea urchin), ouassous (freshwater crayfish), breadfruit migan (breadfruit slices cooked slowly with lemon juice and salt pork), accras or amarinades (hot doughnuts made from cod or vegetables) and bébélé (plantains, green bananas, congo peas, tripe and salt pork). Wash it all down with some Ti-punch, made with rum, cane sugar or cane sugar syrup and lime.
Can I use my calling card from here AT&T: Service is available from pay phones and/or select hotels for country-to-country calls using AT&T Calling Cards, AT&T Corporate Cards, American Express, Diners Club, Discover/NOVUS, MasterCard and Visa. Dial 0 800 990 011 + area code + local number and follow the voice prompts.
BT: Dial 08 00 99 02 44, input your account number and PIN, then dial the number you require.
Canada Direct: Service is available for country-to-country calls with calling cards from Bell, MTS, Aliant, SaskTel and Telus. Dial 08 00 99 00 16 to reach a Canadian operator directly.
MCI MinutePass: Dial 08 00 99 00 19 and follow the voice prompts for country-to-country calls.
Sprint: Dial 08 00 99 00 87 and follow the voice prompts.
For more information see the section in General Info: Telecommunications.
How should I dress to go out Dress in Guadeloupe is casual. Still, it is unacceptable to wear beach attire and short shorts in public. Smart casual is appropriate for evening events. Lightweight clothing is appropriate. If you plan on hiking the rainforest bring rain protection, a light sweater/jacket and waterproof hiking shoes.
Can I use my hair dryer and electric shaver Electricity is 220 volts, 50 Hz with standard European wall plugs. Appliances from North America require transformers and adaptors.
How much should I tip Tip about 15%. Most hotels and restaurants automatically add your tip to the bill, so check first as it is not necessary to leave more unless you feel the service was above average. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but if they have been especially helpful you may wish to tip them.
Disclaimer:
Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All information should be verified prior to travel.
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