To
get to Guadeloupe, most U.S. travelers will
have to fly elsewhere in the Caribbean and transfer.
You can take an American Airlines flight to
its hub in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then get
one American Eagle flight daily on to Guadeloupe.
There are also connections available through
Martinique (see chapter 16).
Air
Canada flies between Montreal and Guadeloupe
every Saturday year-round. Passengers can also
fly from Toronto on one of the daily nonstop
flights to Barbados. From there, passengers
can transfer onto other carriers (usually LIAT),
making the ongoing journey to points within
the French West Indies.
Air
France flies into Guadeloupe every day from
Paris, with efficient connections from Britain
and the rest of Europe. Air France also maintains
direct service to Guadeloupe from Miami, via
Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Airport
Guadeloupe Pole Caraibes
Address: Aerogares Guadeloupe
Phone: (590) 590 21-1432
Fax: (590) 590 21-1426
| Airline
Companies from and to Guadeloupe |
Air
Canada
Address: Aeroport Pole Caraibes, 97139 Abymes
Phone: (590) 590 21-1277 / (590) 590 21-1629
/ (590) 590 21-1330
Fax: (590) 590 12-1276 |
Air
Caraibes
Address: Immeuble le Caducée, Morne
Vergain
Phone: (590) 590 82-4747
Fax: (590) 590 82-4749 |
Air
Guadeloupe
Address:
Phone: (590) 590 89-6262 / (590) 590 82-4747
/ (590) 590 82-4700
Fax: (590) 590 83-7003 / (590) 590 82-4748
|
Antilles
Handling
Address: Aeroport Pole Caraibes
Phone: (590) 590 21-1462
Fax: (590) 590 21-1464 |
AOM
Address: 35 rue Achille Boisneuf, 97110
Pointe a Pitre
Phone: (590) 590 21-0910 |
Cubana
Address: Aeroport Pole Caraibes, 97139 Abymes
Phone: (590) 590 21-1477
Fax: (590) 590 21-1475 |
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If
you're already on the islands, you can
wing into Guadeloupe on LIAT , which flies
here from Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Croix,
St. Lucia, Martinique, Barbados, Grenada,
Trinidad, and Dominica. Air Caraïbes
operates about a half-dozen flights a
day into Guadeloupe from Martinique, as
well as at least one flight a day from
both St. Barts and French St. Martin.
Consider
arriving in Guadeloupe as many of the
locals do, on one of the daily ferryboats
operated by Express des Iles (tel. 590/83-04-43),
whose vessels originate every day in Fort-de-France,
Martinique, at 2pm, make a 30-minute stopover
in Dominica en route (departing from Dominica
around 4pm), and then dock at the quays
of Pointe-à-Pitre sometime at 5:45pm,
depending on weather, tides, and the vagaries
of island life.
For
timetables and information in Martinique,
contact Express des Iles directly at tel.
596/63-05-45.
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Rental
Car
You
may want to rent a car on Guadeloupe so you
can explore Basse-Terre; the loop around the
island is one of the most scenic drives in the
Caribbean. Car-rental kiosks at the airport
are open to meet international flights. Rental
rates at local companies might appear lower,
but several readers have complained of mechanical
problems, billing irregularities, and difficulties
in resolving insurance disputes in the event
of accidents. Therefore, we recommend reserving
a car in advance . Many of the major hotels
also have car-rental desks. You'll have to pay
a one-time airport surcharge. Prices are usually
20% to 25% lower between March and early December,
excepting July and August.
Driving
is on the right-hand side of the road, and there
are several gas stations along the island's
main routes. Because of the distance between
gas stations in outlying regions, try not to
let your gas gauge fall below the halfway mark
when driving outside of the capital.
-
Rent a car in Guadeloupe >>
Taxi
You'll
find taxis when you arrive at the airport, but
no limousines or buses. From 9pm until 7am,
cabbies are legally entitled to charge you 40%
more. Some, but not all, taxis in Guadeloupe
have meters, although the driver will either
activate them or not, depending on a complicated
set of parameters involving the time of day,
your destination, and his or her whim, even
though fares are technically regulated by the
French government.
| Taxi
Companies in Guadeloupe |
CDL
Address: 46 Rue Achille Rene Boisneuf 97139
Abymes
Phone: (590) 590 20-7474
Fax: (590) 590 82-9447 |
Societe
de Taxis Internationale (STI)
Address: 47 Rue Dugommier 97110 Pointe a
Pitre
Phone: (590) 590 83-1365
Fax: (590) 590 83-2933 |
TBM
(Taxi Baie Mahault)
Address: Belcourt 97122 Baie Mahault
Phone: (590) 590 26-0502
Fax: (590) 590 25-0341 |
Bus
Small
buses link almost every hamlet to Pointe-à-Pitre.
However, you may need to know some French to
use the system. In Pointe-à-Pitre, you
can catch a bus from the following departure
points: If you're going anywhere in Basse-Terre
you'll depart from the Gare Routière
de Bergevin. If the northern half of Grande-Terre
is your destination, catch a bus at the Gare
Routière de Mortenol.
For
the southern end of Grande-Terre, the buses
depart from the prolongement (extension) of
the Marché de la Darse. Infrequent and
somewhat erratic service is available daily
from 5:30am to 7:30pm. There is no direct bus
service from the airport to Pointe-à-Pitre.
Many visitors find it easier, especially when
they first arrive on Guadeloupe, to take a taxi.
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