Guadeloupe's Currency and Credit Cards

Whether enjoying guided eco-tours in Basse-Terre, or shopping for fine fashions in Grand-Terre, travelers have a number of ways to pay for services and goods in Guadeloupe. Major credit cards are accepted throughout the island, as are cash and traveler's cheques.

As an official overseas territory of France, Guadeloupe uses the currency of much of Europe, the euro (€). Currently a strong world currency, the euro is issued in note denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500. Euro coins are issued in denominations of €0.01, €0.02, €0.05, €0.10, €0.20, €0.50, €1, and €2. Select establishments in Guadeloupe may accept United States dollars, although this will not be the rule. The exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and euro fluctuates, and currently the dollar trades for $1.20(USD) for €1. The British Pound currently trades against the euro at £1 to €1.14. Travelers can exchange their cash at banks and change bureaus located in Point-à-Pitre and elsewhere. Small vendors, taxis, and other businesses may accept cash only. Travelers who visit the smaller islands should travel with cash. Traveler's cheques are widely accepted on the islands.

Banks in Guadeloupe include Banque des Antilles Francaises, Banque Nationale de Paris, Banque Populaire, Credit Agricole, and others. ATMs are available at bank branches and in the airport. ATMs dispense euros and typically accept cards on the major networks. ATMs may not be available in some areas of Guadeloupe, especially on the outlying islands. Bank hours are typically 8:00 a.m. to Noon, and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Select banks have hours on Saturday mornings.

Although there are numerous options for paying the bill in Guadeloupe, travelers should always keep a small amount of local currency handy for vendors who do not accept credit cards or traveler's cheques.