TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit accepted |
| Currency |
(EUR)
Euro |
| Electrical |
220 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 596 |
Time:
GMT - 4.
Electricity:
220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Climate:
Warm weather throughout the year, with the main rainy season occurring
in the autumn. Showers can occur at other times of the year, but
they are usually brief. Cooler in the upland areas.
Clothing:
Lightweight, with waterproof wear advised for the rainy
season.
Food
& Drink: The island’s cuisine is characterised
by French and Caribbean influences and often features seafood,
including lobster, red snapper, conch and sea urchin. Island specialities
include stuffed crab, stewed conch, roast wild goat, jugged rabbit
and broiled local dove. Colombo is a dish of goat, chicken, pork
or lamb in a thick curry sauce. Creole cuisine is also widely
available and is an original combination of French, Indian and
African traditions seasoned with exotic spices. Meals are ended
with tropical fruit.
There is a great supply of French wines, champagne, liqueurs and
local rum. Local specialities are ’ti punch, a brew of rum,
lime juice, bitters and syrup; shrub, a Christmas liqueur consisting
of rum and orange peel; and planteur, made from rum and fruit
juice. Guava, soursop, passionfruit, mandarin and sugar-cane juice
are all common. There are no licensing restrictions.
Shopping:
French imports are worthwhile purchases, especially wines,
liqueurs and Lalique crystal. Local items include rum, straw goods,
bamboo hats, voodoo dolls, baskets and objects of aromatic vetiver
roots. A discount of 20 per cent is given if payment is made by
travellers cheques in some tourist shops.
Shopping
hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1500-1800, Sat 0900-1300.
Currency:
Since 1 January 1999, the Euro, which was introduced in January
2002, has been the official currency for the French Overseas Departments
(Départements d’outre-mer) French Guiana, Guadeloupe,
Martinique and Réunion. For further details, exchange rates
and currency restrictions, see France section. US Dollars are
also accepted in some places.
Credit
& debit cards: Diners Club, American Express and
Visa are accepted. MasterCard has limited acceptance. Cards can
also be used in cash dispensers. Check with your credit or debit
card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services
which may be available.
Travellers
cheques: Accepted in most places, and may qualify for
discounts on luxury items. To avoid additional exchange rate charges,
travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros or
US Dollars.
Banking
hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1230 and 1430-1630.
