Is your trip to Guadeloupe getting close? Great news. Not it is time to prepare and pack. This guide below will help you get ready for the money, the language, the weather and the food as well as pack the right clothes an camera gear. Get ready and enjoy your trip!
GET YOUR PLAN TOGETHER
First thing first, if this is not done yet, you need to decide where you want to go and what you want to see and how you want to get there. Check out my post about planning your trip to Guadeloupe.
LANGUAGE
The official language of Guadeloupe is French. Here are some words to get around
- Hello – Bonjour / Salut
- Please - S'il vous plait
- Thanks – Merci
- Goodbye - Au revoir
- Water - Eau
- Sparking water - eau pétillante
- Cheers! - Santé!
- Yes - Oui
- No - Non
However the local dialects is Creole. So if you want to connect even more with the locals, here are a few expressions:
- Hello - Bonjou
- Please - Si ou plé
- Thanks – Mèsi
- Goodbye - Ovwa
- Water - dlo
- Sparking water - dlo pétillante
- Yes - Wè
- No - Awa
WHAT TO PACK for the Caribbeans
Well it is a beach country in the Caribbean islands, so nothing out of the ordinary
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Sun glasses
- Hat
- Flip-Flops
Plus
- Pullover for the nights which can get cooler
- Good hiking shoes if you plan on visiting the centre of Basse-Terre
Note: It was raining so much while we were hiking in the rainforest that my friends even hiked in her swimwear!
And in your medicine box:
- Mosquitoe repellent
- Sun cream
- Motion sickness pills if you plan on taking a boat
And get ready with my travel packing checklists.
PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
Nothing in particular except your normal gear.
Underwater camera is a great bonus. I am so sad not to be able to share with you pictures of the vibrant marine life I saw in Petite Terre especially the lemon shark and the huge turtle that swam with me.
And I noticed only when I returned to the main island that they were selling some one-use cameras where I paid for our tour.
MONEY IN GUADELOUPE: currency, tipping
- The currency is the Euro (this is part of France)
- There are ATMS in all cities around and credit cards are taken almost everywhere
- Plan to get some cash to use on the nice markets such as the one in Saint Anne
- Tipping: Service is included in price. leave a tip only if you are extremely satisfied of the service
FOOD & BEVERAGES: what to expect
Beverages
- Enjoy the tasty coktails that all restaurant and hotels proposed. Fruits are really good and cocktails are fantastic
- If you like RUM, welcome to paradise
- Beers and wines are present, but this is not the right place for it. RUM is king
- Tap water is drinkable
Food
- Meat, Fish, you can enjoy a large variety of dishes, french and creole cooking
- Fruits are strongly present in the main dishes and in desert
BON APPETIT !
WEATHER IN GUADELOUPE
- All year temperatures average between 20 and 30 degrees Celcius
- During the dry season (December to April) - good stable weather, although the volcano on Basse-Terre tends to block clouds
- It often rains in the tropical rainforest inland Basse-Terre
- It rains a lot during the wet season; June to November
- Hurricanes may occur any time from June through November most likely in September
OTHER USEFUL INFO TO KNOW
- Wifi: most hotels and restaurant offers free wifi
- Visa: check with your consulate. EU passport holders do not require a visa
- Electricity: 220 volts, 50 Hz, standard european plug (2 rounds)
- Emergency numbers: Police 17, Firestation 18
Want to see MORE of GUADELOUPE?
Discover more things to do with planning information and photos in my online Guadeloupe Travel Guide.
Don’t hesitate to share more advice or ask questions in the comments below
Enjoy your trip!
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