Need cash when I land, best place in Guadeloupe? Airport or places in the city?
I made the mistake of using the Travelex counter at Pointe-à-Pitre Airport and got a horrible rate converting USD to euros. Later, I found Crédit Agricole and Banque Postale ATMs everywhere and my Monzo Visa worked perfectly. Lesson learned - avoid airport counters in Guadeloupe, just withdraw in town like you would in mainland France.
I just took €40 at the airport to grab a taxi, then withdrew more at a Crédit Agricole ATM in Le Gosier near my hotel. My Wise card worked without issue. A friend at E. Gwada Hostel in Pointe-à-Pitre used Société Générale downtown and got the same experience. Honestly, no need for exchange counters at all - just use ATMs, it’s France.
Since Guadeloupe is a French overseas territory, the euro is the official currency. At Pointe-à-Pitre Airport, exchange counters are available but the rates are high. It’s better to withdraw directly from ATMs run by Crédit Agricole, Banque Postale, or Société Générale in Pointe-à-Pitre or Le Gosier. Most foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work fine, and the fees depend on your home bank.