Guadeloupe / Island Essentials

All travellers to Guadeloupe will need to know the essential island facts. The information on Guadeloupe shown below is current (2011).

Airport

Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP) is the main airport of Guadeloupe and is situated just 3km north of the capital Pointe-à-Pitre. There are also a couple of smaller domestic airports built to connect the other islands in the archipelago.

Check-in/Check-out

As a general rule check out times are at around 12 noon and check in is some time after 2pm. This may not be inconvenient because the majority of international arrivals into Guadeloupe arrive in the mid afternoon. Some properties may be flexible on check in or check out times by prior arrangement. If you are arriving on island earlier in the day, let them know and they may be happy to provide a day room or shower facilities subject to availability.

Departure Tax/Taxes

There is no departure tax from Pointe à Pitre (PTP) airport.

Electricity

The voltage in Guadeloupe is 220 AC and runs on 50 cycles, the same as in the French mainland. Electrical sockets on the island only take round pins so you will probably need to bring a French plug converter and possibly a transformer to use your electrical items.

Embassies/Consulates

There are no embassies or High Commissions in Guadeloupe and the closest political representation is generally in Barbados.

Canada

There is no resident Canadian government office in Guadeloupe. Canadians can obtain consular assistance and further information from the High Commission of Canada in Barbados, Bishop's Court Hill, St Michael, PO Box 404, Bridgetown, Barbados, t 1246 429 3550

United Kingdom

Honorary Consul, Guadeloupe, t 82 57 57

United States 

American Consulate in Martinique, 14 rue Blenac, Fort de France, 76 rue Lazare Carnot, t 60 27 73

Emergencies

Police – t 17 
Ambulance – t 18

Nudity

Topless sunbathing is perfectly acceptable and common all over the island. There is a nudist beach at Plage Tarare on the northern side of Pointe des Châteaux. Swimwear however should be reserved for the beach and you are asked to cover up in the towns. 

Service Charge/Tipping

As in metropolitan France, service is included in most services on the island, but with so many visitors from the States where tipping is the norm, the edges have become a bit blurred. If you feel that you've received excellent service, feel free to tip extra as the staff will more than likely appreciate the gesture. Taxi cab drivers may expect a tip for longer trips.

Time Zone

Guadeloupe is in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone, which is four hours behind GMT (Britain in winter) and five behind France and mainland Europe. During the winter it is an hour ahead of the eastern seaboard of the USA.

Guadeloupe has no daylight saving time, so when the clocks go forward in summer in the northern hemisphere the island is five hours behind Britain, six behind France and Europe and on the same time as Eastern Standard Time in the USA.