The main tourist areas city center of Point-Ã -Pitre, Le Gosier, St. Anne, St. Felix... are pretty safe, especially by day. When it gets dark, you should avoid walking around in Point-Ã -Pitre alone and stay on the main roads and plazas and be aware of smaller side streets. Always try to keep a low profile as a tourist to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
There is no particular disease but you should protect yourself from the sun.Sanitary and medical facilities in Guadeloupe are good.Health care in Guadeloupe is controlled by a state-owned organisation Sécurité Sociale.Doctors are available in almost every village.Tap water is usually safe for consumption. Public sources of water are unsafe if labeled with "Eau non potable" no drinking water.Visitors from European Union should bring a E111 form with them. Ask details at your local health care organisation.
respect
While officially a part of France, the country does not have a very europeanized way of life. In fact, life in the Caribbean has a much slower pace. Busses run very infrequently, taxis are hard to find, smaller stores open or close not always on time, queuing in stores is sometimes very time consuming... Try to fall into the local pace and do not complain about minor annoyances as Guadeloupeans will see that as an offense to their way of life. And they are proud of the distinction between caribbean and metropolian French life style!
talk
French is the official language, although Guadeloupean Créole very different from French is the native language. Everyone speaks French but few people understand English.
See also: French phrasebook
phones
Country code: 590
Dialing within Guadeloupe: all numbers have 10 digits. Landlines begin by 0590 and mobile phones by 0690.
Dialing to Guadeloupe: international prefix + 590 + phone number without the first 0 this leads to dial twice 590 which is normal. If you dial from France, just use the 10 digits number.
Dialing from Guadeloupe: the international prefix is 00.
Calling to a mobile phone is more expensive than to a landline. Number beginning by 0800 are free phone. Number beginning by 089 are premium-rate.
Few foreign mobile phone companies offer international roaming to Guadeloupe so double-check before leaving. Your company should provide specific roaming to Guadeloupe since it has deferent mobile phone companies than in mainland France.
Alternatively, you should be able to get a Pay-as-you-go SIM card from various locations. There are two companies offering wireless services: Bouygues Telecom Caraïbe (http://www.bouyguesteleco...) and Orange Caraïbe (http://www.orangecaraibe.com/).
post
Post offices are found in all cities.Letter boxes are colored in yellow.
emergency phone numbers
emergency services: 112 which can be called from any mobile phone, even if not connected to a GSM network;
fire brigade: 18;
police station: 17;
specialised emergency medical service called SAMU: 15.