Capital: Basse-Terre
Location:
Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico (10 times the size of Washington, DC)
Registration Embassy and Consulate:
There is no U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the French West Indies. For assistance in the French West Indies, U.S. citizens may contact the U.S. Consular Agency at 9 Rue Des Alpinias, Dedier, Fort de France, Martinique, Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., except local and U.S. holidays; telephone (011) (596) 71-96-90 or fax (596) 71-96-89. The mailing address is P.O. Box 975, CEDEX 97246, Fort de France, Martinique. For after-hours service, American citizens may contact the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, telephone 1-246-436-4950. U.S. citizens living in or visiting the French West Indies are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, and obtain updated information on travel and security within the French West Indies. The Consular Section is located in the American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) Building, Cheapside; telephone 1-246-431-0225; fax 1-246-431-0179; Internet: http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/bb1/wwwhemb1.html. The Consular Section is open for American Citizens Services from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, except local and U.S. holidays
Background:
Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island of Saint-Martin is divided with the Netherlands (whose southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles).
Ethnic Groups:
Black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Language:
French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Currency:
FRF; EUR
French franc (FRF); euro (EUR)
Euros per US dollar - 0.7525 (March 2007), 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996)
Climate:
subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
Population:
431,170 (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1%
Medical:
Medical care is available throughout the French West Indies. Martinique has the best medical care in the Eastern Caribbean, with 13 hospitals. Guadeloupe also has good medical care. Not all doctors speak or understand English.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties.
Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Traffic Safety:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the U.S. The information below concerning the French West Indies is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation:
Fair
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance:
Good
Availability of Roadside Assistance:
Poor to Fair
The roads in the French West Indies are the best in the Eastern Caribbean. Both Martinique and Guadeloupe have some six-lane highways. Roads are well paved and well maintained. Traffic safety is enforced by the police. Night driving can be dangerous, especially in the mountains and on winding rural roads. Public transportation in the form of taxis and vans is relatively safe.
