On the Ground

On the Ground

Cabs meet flights at the airport if you decide not to rent a car. The metered fare is about EUR 20 to Pointe-à-Pitre, EUR 20 to Gosier, and EUR 60 to St-François. Fares go up 40% on Sunday and holidays and from 7 PM to 7 AM. You can take a public bus from the airport to downtown Pointe-à-Pitre, but that's not an advisable alternative if you have a lot of luggage. And there are no recommendable hotels in the city.

Renting a Car: If you're based in Gosier or at a large resort, you'll probably only need a car for a day or two of sightseeing. That may be enough, since roundabouts, mountain roads, standard shifts, and fast, aggressive drivers are stressful. Your valid driver's license will suffice for up to 20 days. You can get a rental car from the airport or your hotel. Count on spending between EUR 48 and EUR 70 a day for a small car with standard shift; automatics are considerably more expensive and must be reserved in advance. Some companies, including Europcar, charge a EUR 20 drop-off fee for the airport, even if you pick the car up there. Allow at least 30 minutes to drop off your car at the end of your stay—the chances of getting lost returning your car are such that you truly should allow a full hour.