Guadeloupe: Bwa Chik Hôtel & Golf

The French-Caribbean Guadeloupe Islands are situated in the beautiful southern Caribbean Sea. Often referred to as a single island, the two largest islands, Basse-Terre to the west and Grande-Terre to the east, form the shape of a butterfly and are separated by the magnificent Salee River. The smaller islands of Marie-Galante, La Desirade and lles des Saintes, also form part of the stunning Guadeloupe Island group. Visitors can look forward to exploring the spectacularly scenic Guadeloupe National Park, home to the majestic La Grande Soufriere Volcano as well as the magnificent Carbet Falls. Other popular activities include: hiking through lush rainforest along jungle trails, which are spread all over the archipelago; soaking in the famous hot springs of ‘Les Bains Jaunes’; as well as enjoying excellent sightseeing, whale watching, kayaking, snorkelling, and diving.

Currency

Since January 2002 the Euro (€) has been the official currency for the French Overseas Departments, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion. Notes are in denominations of €5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros.

Banking

Banking hours: Monday- Friday 08h00-12h00 and 14h00-16h00, some are open Saturday 08h00-13h00 (closed Wednesday afternoons).

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa cards are accepted. ATMs are available in every town. Traveller’s cheques are 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 traveller’s cheques in Euros. US and Canadian Dollar cheques are also accepted in some places.All banks and most hotels will change traveller’s cheques and foreign currency. All the major French banks are represented on the island. There are bureaux de change in all of the main towns.

The national airline is Air Caraïbes. Air France, Corsairfly and XL also fly direct from Paris to Guadeloupe. Norwegian offers direct flights from the USA.

Roads are paved and tend to be in good condition. Drivers do tend to drive fast and tailgating is common. Traffic rules and signage are the same as in France. Renting a car is the easiest way to explore Guadeloupe. Most of the major car hire firms are represented, and prices are reasonable. You need a valid passport, driving license and international driving license, and a credit card in the name of the principal driver. Drivers must be at least 21 years of age. Most of the larger hotels also offer car hire services.

Taxis are available in all the main towns and can also be found outside the airport at most times. Always check the fare with the driver before getting in, and remember that fares are significantly higher between 21h00 and 07h00 daily and on Sundays and holidays. Guadeloupe has a reasonable bus network, but it is generally the slowest way to get around. Most bus routes start and end in Pointe-a-Pitre. The destination of buses is usually displayed in bus windows. Bus stops have blue signs which depict a bus.

Ferry services are available between Guadeloupe to Martinique, Dominica and St Lucia. Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre; also the smaller Guadeloupian islands of Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and Desirade.

Guadeloupean cuisine features many Creole specialities, but there is also a strong French influence. Seafood appears on most menus, and curry dishes are also popular. Spices and herbs are used generously, and local fruit such as the star-shape carambole, giraumon (a type of pumpkin) and malanga (a type of root) are also common ingredients. Guadeloupe has numerous patisseries and cafes serving French pastries with a Creole twist. The more formal restaurants will require appropriate dress.

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, seafood and fruit are generally considered safe to eat.

Tipping in a restaurant is normally around 15 %.

Guadeloupe enjoys warm tropical weather throughout the year with the main rainy season occurring from June to October. Showers can, however, occur at any time although they are usually brief. The humidity can be exceedingly high at times.

For the most part, electrical sockets in Guadeloupe are one of the two European standard electrical socket types: The 'Type C' Europlug and the 'Type E' and 'Type F'. Also reported to be in use is the 'Type D' Indian socket. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all three types.

Electrical sockets in Guadeloupe usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts AC. If you're plugging in an appliance that was built for 220-240 volt electrical input, or an appliance that is compatible with multiple voltages, then an adapter is all you need.  If your appliance isn’t compatible with 220-240 volts, a voltage converter will be necessary.